Francis of Sales, St (1567-1622)

French bishop and theologian. He became bishop of Geneva in 1602, and in 1610 founded the order of the Visitation, an order of nuns. He is the patron saint of journalists and other writers. His feast day is 24 January. Canonized in 1655.

Francis of Sales was born in Savoy. His Introduction à la vie dévote/Introduction to a Devout Life (1609) was written to reconcile the Christian life with living in the real world.