One of the most profoundly influential and deeply inspirational saints in the last five centuries of the Church, St. Francis de Sales is famous for his personality and writings, which have earned him, respectively, the appellation "The Gentleman Saint" and the designation Doctor of the Church.
De Sales’s tempered and gentle yet firm and determined approach to spiritual direction made him a true pearl of great price in the Church’s spiritual patrimony. No one ever mastered the doctoring of souls quite like this gentle Doctor of the Church—as countless saints formed by his legacy will attest. His Marian devotion and dedication to educating the laity by means of modern communication (at that time, leaflets) placed him ahead of his time, and his erudition combined with his sweetness mark him as a highly unusual man in the story of the Church, particularly during his time.
As a bishop of the Church, St. Francis was emboldened by the charism of preaching the Word of God in a truly apostolic manner. In this volume of The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales: On Our Lady, learn of the intense devotion St. Francis had for the Blessed Mother as one of her most faithful sons. Contained are thirteen beautiful sermons that express St. Francis's mastery of mystical theology as he drops one magnificent insight after another. The Genevan Doctor of the Church's devotion to the Mother of God is extraordinary, and there is scarcely anyone who can better sing her praises. Instructing the faithful to imitate her as she imitated Christ, St. Francis concentrates on Mary's life of rich virtue, especially humility, obedience and charity. From a paragon of these virtues himself, gain valuable edification and admiration for the Most Holy Mother of God.
