St. Francis de Sales Novena

New here? Join us in Prayer! Click here to get novena reminders by email!

St. Francis de Sales was a bishop who lived in the 1500s-1600s. He lived in a time of great divisions from the Protestant Reformation. He was well-known for his devotion and his gentleness.

St. Francis de Sales was also a Doctor of the Church. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy bishop in your life!

About St. Francis de Sales 

St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567 near Geneva, Switzerland. He desired to serve God from the time he was a child. Though he knew he had a vocation to the priesthood, he hid it from his family because his father wanted him to study law.

As a young man, Francis attended the University of Paris. Then, he received a doctorate degree in law from the University of Padua. During this time, he also studied theology and focused on his prayer life, though he continued being silent about his devotional practices.

One day, Francis realized he could not put off his vocation any longer. He fell from his horse three times, and his sword and scabbard fell in the shape of a cross all three times. 

Francis’ father was still opposed to Francis’ vocation, but Francis was ordained anyway. He was soon elected provost of the Geneva diocese. 

As the conflicts of the Protestant Reformation raged around him, Francis embarked on a mission to bring sixty thousand Calvinists to conversion. He spent three years walking through the countryside in the territory of the Calvinists, preaching and showing kindness to all. 

For a time, no one listened to him or would even allow him to speak with them. But it is believed that he eventually brought forty thousand Calvinists back to the Church.

In 1602, Francis became bishop of Geneva, Switzerland. Then in 1604, he met a holy widow named Jane de Chantal. She asked him to become her spiritual director, and he eventually agreed.

He gave spiritual direction to her and many others for years, mostly through letters. Through this work of spiritual direction, he combatted the false idea that true holiness was not possible for lay people. He insisted that all were called to holiness.

Francis saw that marriage and family life contained their own means of growing in holiness. Francis also proved even in his own active life that it is possible for people to grow in holiness while living an active life. 

In 1608, he wrote his book Introduction to the Devout Life, which was written for lay people. Some scoffed at the ideas it contained, but he held fast to his belief that lay people were capable of great holiness.

Francis became ill as he aged. He wanted to retire and become a hermit. But his counsel was in high demand from the Pope, members of the nobility, and others. 

Francis de Sales died in 1622. 

St. Francis de Sales’ Feast Day: January 24th

Why Pray the St. Francis de Sales Novena?

St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of Catholic writers. You can ask for his prayers if you are a Catholic writer. Or you can ask him to pray for a Catholic writer whom you know.

St. Francis de Sales is also the patron saint of the deaf. You can seek his intercession if you are deaf, or on behalf of a deaf person you know.

Additionally, St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of adult education. You can ask him for prayers if you work in the field of adult education, or if you are an adult completing your education.

You can pray the St. Francis de Sales Novena for any intention!

St. Francis de Sales Novena Prayers

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 1

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in choosing to serve You in the priesthood. 

St. Francis de Sales, you knew that you were called to be a priest from the time you were a young child. Though you were hesitant to go against your father’s wishes that you study law, you did all you could to serve God in your youth.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!

As a young man, you chose to accept God’s calling to the priesthood, even though it was going against your father’s wishes. You were ordained and began a life of priestly service.

Pray for me, that I may do all I can to serve you in my life. Pray that I may follow Your call, even when it is difficult.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 2

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in submitting himself to Your will for his life.

St. Francis de Sales, your vocational journey was a difficult one. But even when your father’s opposition to your priestly vocation hindered you from following God’s call, you continued seeking to serve God.

Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!

As a young man, you finally realized that you could put off your vocation no longer. You fell from your horse three times, and your sword and scabbard fell in the shape of a cross all three times. You chose to submit yourself to God’s will for you.

Pray for me, that I may be open to God’s will in my life. Pray that I may submit myself to God’s will, even when it is difficult.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 3

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his missionary work among the Calvinists.

St. Francis de Sales, you set out on an ambitious missionary journey to bring sixty thousand Calvinists back into the Catholic Church. Though this was a difficult undertaking, you faithfully worked to bring souls to God.

Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!

At first, you were met with a lot of obstacles in your missionary work. But you persevered and were able to bring around forty thousand Calvinists back to the Church.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to lead others to God and His Church. Pray that I may persevere against all difficulties to lead souls to God.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 4

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed by persevering in his missionary work amidst many trials and sufferings. 

St. Francis de Sales, you set out on a difficult missionary journey to convert the Calvinists in the territory near you. Those you preached to rudely refused to listen and sometimes even threatened you, but you persevered in your mission.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

Though you endured physical suffering from the cold and many discouragements, you did not waver in your devotion to God or your zeal for souls.

Pray for me, that I may never allow trials to deter me from serving God. Pray that I may persevere in doing God’s will, no matter what difficulties I might face. 

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 5

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his service to You as a bishop.

St. Francis de Sales, you devoted most of your life to serving God and His Church. After working to bring around forty thousand Calvinists back to the Church, you were ordained the bishop of Geneva. 

Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!

It was during your time as bishop that you grew greatly in your personal spiritual life. You spent the rest of your life serving God and helping His people.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to grow in my spiritual life each day. Pray that I may never tire of seeking to serve God.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sale, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his years of working as a spiritual director for those seeking a deeper relationship with You.

St. Francis de Sales, you became a spiritual director for a holy widow shortly after becoming a bishop. Though you must have been burdened by many responsibilities, you continued to spend time helping others with spiritual direction.

Please continue to bring my petitions before God!

Through your work of spiritual direction, you helped spread the important idea that lay people can achieve holiness and a close relationship with God.

Pray for me, that I may seek to cultivate a close relationship with God. Pray that I may seek to grow in my relationship with God each day.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 7

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in helping lay people to grow in holiness and in spreading the idea that lay holiness was possible.

St. Francis de Sales, you knew that many within the Church in your day saw the lay vocations as less capable of bringing about holiness. You knew that God calls all to holiness, and you persevered in preaching this idea.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

You saw that marriage and family life contained their own means of growing in holiness. And you proved in your own active life that it was possible to grow in holiness while serving God in an active way.

Pray for me, that I may embrace the unique call to holiness of my vocation. Pray that I may seek to grow in holiness each day.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 8

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed through his work as a Catholic writer.

St. Francis de Sales, you were named a Doctor of the Church because of your valuable Catholic writings. You worked hard to preach the Gospel through your writings for many years.

Please bring my petitions before God Whom you wrote of with such devotion!

Your writings helped inspire many to holiness. Your book Introduction to the Devout Life helped many members of the laity realize that they could strive for great holiness.

Pray for me, that I may strive for great holiness in my life in each day. Pray that I may always seek to deepen my relationship with God at every opportunity.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales Novena - Day 9

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Francis de Sales as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed through his years of service to Your Church.

St. Francis de Sales, you desired to serve God’s Church in a wholehearted way from the time you were a young boy. Though it was difficult for you to pursue your priestly vocation, you persevered in serving God.

Please persevere in bringing my petitions before God!

You spent years preaching to Calvinists and bringing them to the Church. Then you served God as a bishop, writer, and spiritual director for the rest of your life.

Pray for me, that I may always seek to serve God and His Church in any way that I can. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to help strengthen God’s Church.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.