The Christmas season of 1622 was a busy time for St. Francis de Sales. He had just finished participating in a series of official meetings between the governments of France and Savoy. Since these meetings had been held at Lyons, he decided to stay there for Christmas and with the Visitation nuns.
The last letter he penned was dated December 24, 1622. It was written to Roger de Saint Lary, the Duke of Bellegarde. He, too, had been a participant at the meetings and was still in Lyons at the time.
The Duke de Bellegarde at that time was the “Master of the Horse” at the court of Henry IV and Louis XIII. In his earlier years, he was one of the most worldly and arrogant courtiers of his time and a man of great power and influence.
He first met St. Francis de Sales in 1603 but did not come under his more immediate influence until around ten years later. At that time, he decided to put himself under St. Francis de Sales’ direction and straighten out his life. St. Francis worked with him and helped this nobleman change his pattern of life. St. Francis de Sales called him his favorite "Theotimus." That was the name of the spiritual friend to whom St. Francis de Sales addressed his famous work The Treatise on the Love of God.
Actually, St. Francis did see him after he sent him the letter. He bumped into the Duke on December 27 and spoke to him at length about the content of that letter. This is a simple letter with a simple request asking a kindness for a poor man, which is part of the heart of the Christmas message.
My dear Sir and Son,
This great feast of Christmas which almost deprives one of the hope of seeing you again gives me sufficient confidence to appeal to you on behalf of a poor man whom I am bound to love in charity and also because of the good example he gave of his faith and uprightness while he lived in the region of Gex where he was subject to persecution in spite of his innocence. He will explain his poverty when he speaks to you, and if you are unable to do as he begs, he presents an alternate plan, my dear sir and my son: that it may please your goodness to give him a post in the salt mines or else in forestry, which is his real work, or elsewhere under your authority.
Works of mercy are in season at this time which is dedicated to the great mercy shown to us by the Son of God when He was born on earth for our salvation, and I beg Him very humbly always to be favorable to you, Sir, according to the continued wish of my heart; and I am,
Your very humble and very obedient servant,
Francis, Bishop of Geneva.
On this the Eve of Christmas, 1622
St. Francis DeSales was concerned about this poor man. He wrote the letter. He then spoke about it to the Duke on December 27. I suspect he wanted to make sure that this Christmas gift would be granted to the poor man. The Lord granted St. Francis de Sales a special Christmas gift too. He called St. Francis home to Himself on December 28.
Praying that you and your loved ones have a Blessed Christmas Season and the Blessing of our Lord of Mercy in 2020.
- Rev. Neil F. Kilty, OSFS
DeSales Weekly: https://oblates.squarespace.com/desales-weekly
DeSales Weekly Editor:: Rev. John (Jack) Kolodziej, OSFS
