“EVERYTHING PERTAINS TO LOVE”. [1] These words summarize the spiritual legacy left to us
by Saint Francis de Sales, who died four centuries ago, on 28 December 1622, in Lyon. Slightly
more than fifty years of age, he had been the “exiled” Bishop and Prince of Geneva for some
two decades, and had come to Lyon on what was to be his last diplomatic mission. The Duke of
Savoy had asked him to accompany Cardinal Maurice of Savoy to Avignon, where they were to
pay homage to the young King Louis XIII, then returning to Paris through the Rhône valley
following a victorious military campaign in the south of France. Exhausted and in poor health,
Francis had undertaken the journey in a pure spirit of service. “Were it not most helpful to them
for me to make this trip, I would surely have many good reasons to excuse myself. Yet if I can
be of help, alive or dead, I will not refuse, but go or let myself be dragged there”. [2] That was
his temperament. Upon his arrival in Lyon, he stayed at the monastery of the Visitation Sisters,
in the gardener’s lodge, so as not to be a burden and to be free to meet with anyone who so
desired.
To read the whole letter from Pope Francis click below:
