Francis is originally an ethnic name meaning Frank or Frenchman or Freeman. From France as Franceis, Latin as Franciscus and Italian as Francisco
Francis was born in a castle in France in 1567. When he was baptised, his mother said, “now, my son, you are the friend of the angels, the brother of Jesus, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and a member of the church. Now you must belong to God forever”.
When Francis was nine years old, he received Holy Communion. He said, “Jesus is the teacher of holiness. I go to Him because I want Him to teach me how to become a saint. Of what use to me of all I learn in school if I do not become holy?”.
Francis became a lawyer. One day, he heard a voice saying to him, “leave all and follow me”. Obeying God’s call, he said “I want to go everywhere to look for the poor and the sinners so that I may win them for Jesus”. At the age of twenty-four, he received his doctorate and turned down a lucrative law offer for the priesthood.
Francis became a priest and brought many back to God by his preaching and kindness. Later, he became the bishop of Geneva. He wrote many books, and that is the reason why he is honoured as the patron of Spiritual writers. By the year 1600, he guided back into the Catholic Church, eight thousand Calvinists.
Together with St Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation. He died in 1622 with the word “Jesus “on his lips.
Only a few people know how to give back to God what He has given them. When his mother SPOKE into his life at his Baptism, he lived up to that. Let us learn from the example of St Francis’ mum to dedicate our children back to God in order for them to live good lives, not necessarily religious but God fearing lives. And let us also be inspired by his life that nothing is too late to achieve. He became a priest very late in life but he ended as a Bishop before he died. Today, he lies in death incorrupt. May God help us to listen to Him when He calls us to do His will.
St Francis de Sales, pray for us. Happy feast day to all Francis, Francisco and Francisca.
Roncalli
