To disseminate and promote the thought of St. Francis de Sales in order to perpetuate his spiritual legacy
Losing your bearings in an uncertain world
Every era is marked by its upheavals, its conflicts that pit people against each other, making the future uncertain. However, a spark within us whispers that it is time to act, to become an actor, like Francis de Sales in his time, of a meaningful change.
You are not here by chance!
Need to rediscover the universal values of Francis de Sales
Opening
"Meekness, temperance, honesty, and humility are virtues with which all the actions of our life should be tinged."
Quote from Saint Francis de Sales
His motto, " All through love, nothing through force, " is central to all his works. St. Francis exemplifies the highest evangelical virtues to such an extent that he is called "Doctor of Love."
Francis de Sales stands out from his contemporaries by his non-violent attitude. The will that accompanies him in each of his battles is, and will undeniably remain, persuasion through love. This value carried by his spirit of fraternity leads him to lead numerous diplomatic missions.
Humanism
"A great misfortune among men is that they know so well what is due to them and feel so little what they owe."
Quote from Saint Francis de Sales
In 1607, he founded the Florimontane Academy, a society of scholars and learned men. The purpose of this foundation was to educate and instruct as many people as possible. In this respect, he foreshadowed Pascal and the moralists of the 17th century. He wrote numerous books and became one of the first great spiritual authors in the French language. He favored contemporary French and a simple style. This strategic choice of language and style allowed him to connect with his readers and be understood by all. He also wrote "letters" that were displayed publicly and distributed to homes. A pioneer of periodical communication, he is recognized as the patron saint of journalists and writers.
Spirituality
"Men do more through love and charity than through severity and rigor."
Quote from Saint Francis de Sales
St. Francis and the Salesian spirit. His teaching advocates a benevolent and patient approach in human relations and invites us to adopt more enlightening values and principles in our daily lives. He provokes a spiritual renewal through the richness of his personality as much as through the quality of his writings. He combines action and contemplation and fights to reconcile humanism and Christian thought. His fight thus focuses on the improvement of the clergy as much as on the teaching of lay people of all conditions proposing new forms of personal commitment.
The story of François
His career
"I am so much a man that I am nothing more."
François (1567-1622) was born at the Château de Sales , near Thorens, located in the lands of the Duchy of Savoy and close to the Calvinist city of Geneva.
At the age of 11, he already aspired to become a priest . But his father had other ambitions for him and sent him to Paris. Under the tutelage of his tutor, Jean Déage, he studied rhetoric, law, as well as Latin, Greek, Hebrew, philosophy, and rhetoric. This knowledge allowed him to "learn the duties of nobility" but also to understand the world and humankind. Francis spontaneously developed a strong interest in theology . He focused particularly on the question of human freedom, seeking to give a "more fitting place to the Grace and Mercy of God."
Although he came from a noble family and was the eldest of many brothers and sisters, he renounced his noble titles and his birthright very early on to wear the cassock in 1593, at the age of 26. This choice was in line with the wishes expressed by his mother well before his birth.
The following year (1594), driven by his values of openness, humanity, and spirituality, he volunteered to convert the people of Chablais to Catholicism. In contrast to the drastic methods by which the Duke of Savoy and the Capuchin friars intended to convert the people of Chablais, the Abbé de Sales, thanks to his eloquence, engaged in dialogue with diplomacy, calm, and gentleness.
He wielded considerable influence within the Catholic Church and was highly regarded by those holding temporal power, notably Dukes Charles Emmanuel and Victor Amadeus I of Savoy, the Regent of Savoy Christine of France, and the French Kings Henry IV and Louis XIII. In 1602, in Paris, Henry IV offered him the position of Bishop of Paris, which he declined in order to return to Savoy, declaring, " I am Savoyard by birth and by obligation ." It was there, in Thorens, that he was ordained Bishop of Geneva.
In 1604, during a sermon in Dijon, he met Jeanne de Chantal and Jacqueline Coste, a former servant from Geneva. They would become two of his greatest disciples.
The Visitandine Order
"It is not by the greatness of our actions that we please God, but by the love with which we do them."
The Legacy of Francis de Sales
1. Lands preserved by the family for 500 years
2. The influence of his thoughts in the world
"Noise does little good, good makes little noise"
Salesian communities around the world, present in 132 countries and on 5 continents.
The Salesians of Don Bosco
Congregation founded in Turin in 1859 by John Bosco. Its vocation is to provide education to young people.
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians or Salesians of Don Bosco
Congregation founded in Turin in 1872 by John Bosco and Mary Dominic Mazzarello.
The Visitandines
The Visitation Order has around 2500 nuns spread across nearly 150 monasteries around the world, including 2 in Haute-Savoie.
Europe
- 7 communities in Germany
- 2 communities in Austria
- 1 community in Croatia
- 1 community in the Czech Republic
- 3 communities in Poland
- 1 community in Hungary
- 1 communities in England
- 1 community in Ireland
- 19 communities in Spain
- 3 communities in Portugal
- 30 communities in Italy
- 1 community in Belgium
- 15 communities in France
- 2 communities in Switzerland
North America
- 3 communities in Canada
- 12 communities in the USA
- 9 communities in Mexico
Central America
- 1 community in Guatemala
- 1 community in Panama
- 2 communities in the Dominican Republic
South America
- 12 communities in Colombia
- 3 communities in Ecuador
- 1 community in Peru
- 2 communities in Brazil
- 1 community in Paraguay
- 1 community in Uruguay
- 2 communities in Chile
- 2 communities in Argentina
Africa
- 3 communities in Burundi
- 2 communities in Rwanda
- 2 communities in Congo-Brazzaville
Asia
- 1 community in Lebanon
The Oblates & Oblates of St Francis
The Oblates & Oblate Sisters of St. Francis are members committed to following the teachings of St. Francis de Sales, devoted to prayer, charity and community service. Their primary mission is to live according to Salesian values, emphasizing meekness, humility and love of God and neighbor.
The missionaries of St. Francis
The Missionaries of St. Francis, on the other hand, are religious men and women who go on missions throughout the world to spread the Salesian faith and values. Their work includes education, health care and assistance to disadvantaged communities, always in the spirit of benevolence and dedication inspired by St. Francis de Sales.
All other communities and establishments attached to the Salesian spirit
Finally, all the other communities and establishments attached to the Salesian spirit form a vast network of schools, social works and charitable organizations. Their objective is to promote a human and Christian education, instilling the values of respect, solidarity and cooperation in a framework of spiritual life inspired by Saint Francis de Sales.
3. His writings
Words. They will be François' only "weapon" throughout his life.
Through words and through his writings (including many letters) that have spanned the centuries, he never ceased to enlighten, accompany and instruct men and women of all conditions. Thanks to simple examples from daily life and his deep conviction of the importance of "small virtues", he helped everyone to answer their questions.
Endowed with great sensitivity, driven by inexhaustible generosity, he allows everyone to discover Salesian spirituality with simplicity.
To discover and refer to the writings of St. Francis is to find the path to wisdom carried by the relationship with the Divine.
Introduction to the devout life
Treatise on the love of God
The book of controversies
Spiritual conversations
The richness of his work has inspired many authors in the centuries following his death and up to the present day. Translation, analyses, fictionalized stories are all additional ways to discover and become familiar with the man and his extraordinarily modern thinking.
Our foundation in a few words
Foundation recognized as being of public utility
Created in 2020
A team of 50 people
Our team of 50 passionate professionals is comprised of historians, researchers, academics, and theologians. Together, we explore and deepen our understanding of history, academic fields, and theology. With our diverse skills and perspectives, we adopt a multidisciplinary approach to ensure comprehensive and meaningful results. Our shared commitment drives us to excel and make significant contributions to our respective fields.
Our projects
For 500 years, men and women around the world have shared, perpetuated and brought to life the values of Francis on a daily basis. Their work is often unrecognized, their actions are sometimes limited or slowed down. Together we can go further, in order to make known and bring to life the thought of St. Francis.
Strengthening the dissemination of the thought of Francis de Sales
Expand the multidisciplinary team, (Research, Communication, Commercial,) united by the same values, which works on different cultural objectives:
To make visible, to convey the thought of Francis de Sales in France and throughout the world.
To demonstrate the modernity of his thinking and values in the face of the difficulties of our time.
To demonstrate the accessibility of his vision. Everyone, regardless of their geographical and spiritual background, will be able to find a new inner balance and a source of piety.
Create a cultural center on the very birthplace of Francis de Sales
This place will bring together Salesians, Christians from all backgrounds, lay people and people of all faiths.
Established on the lands inherited and preserved by the family, this future place of pilgrimage and spirituality will be in the immediate vicinity of the Château and the Chapel built on the very site of the room where he was born.
The museum center
This upcoming construction will be located on the meadows at the entrance to the access road to the castle and will be aesthetically integrated into the environment.
Creation of a museum that will be dedicated to:
- St. Francis, his life, his work and his legacy
- St. Jeanne de Chantal and The Order of the Visitation; history and heritage
- Savoy, its history linked to the Sales family, furniture and works of art
This educational project will be based on:
- Preservation of his works and his personal effects
- Research
- An immersive experience and interactive thanks to technology
The conference center
The riding school will be transformed to accommodate this center surrounded by 30 hectares of unspoiled, silent and peaceful nature.
This place will welcome all the Salesians of the world as well as anyone wishing to progress in their knowledge and commitment to the values of humanism, openness and spirituality.
These meetings dedicated to exchanges, sharing of knowledge and innovative ideas will also be a strategic lever to identify the best ways to bring to life and disseminate the thoughts and writings of Francis throughout the world.
Developing the Way to allow everyone to walk in the footsteps of Francis de Sales
Embark on a 65km route through the heart of nature, linking Allinges (74) to Thorens Castle. Explore landscapes and visit monuments that mark the history of Francis I. This walk is much more than just a hike. Along the way, reconnect with yourself, with history, and with nature.
The publishing house
The publishing house's main purpose is to promote and disseminate the original works of Saint Francis de Sales.
She ensures that all of her writings are accessible, by making the texts permanently available, re-releasing out-of-print or forgotten works, and publishing unpublished writings.
More broadly, its activities encompass all literature devoted to Saint Francis. It examines and validates existing translations of his works, compiles an inventory of publications dealing with his life and thought, and ensures their editorial quality. Within this framework, it is developing a dedicated collection entitled "Salesian Heritage Foundation".
The publishing house also handles the translation of works into several languages, their international distribution and participates in their marketing.
We need you !
Your support is essential to promote the philosophy of Francis de Sales. Every donation contributes to our educational projects and inspiring events. Together, let's make a meaningful difference.
The founders
Isabelle de Roussy de Sales
Christian Bozon
The Salesian Heritage Foundation invites you to explore the inspiring philosophy of Francis de Sales. Through his teachings, discover a profound and soothing vision of life, where kindness and humanity come together to nourish our daily lives. Join us for a spiritual and human adventure that can transform your perspectives and breathe positive momentum into your life.