St. Francis de Sales promoted science, French language

Humble psychologist humanist, became patron saint of writers

St. Francis de Sales – January 24

- Photo by Ted Fitzgerald A statue of the patron saint of writers, St. Francis de Sales, is holding his best-known spiritual work, Introduction to the Devout Life.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
Saint-Francois-de-la-Riviere-du-Sud, Quebec

Une Clocher au Milieu de la Plaine," that is "The Bell Tower in the middle of the Plain" advises brochures promoting the religious patrimony of the town of Saint-Francois-de-la-Riviere-du-Sud in Quebec's Chaudiere-Appalaches tourist zone.

It's a good description of the Cote-du-Sud settlement clustered around the parish church of Saint-Francis-de-Sales, named for one of the great writers and educators of the Church, 16th century French Bishop Francis de Sales.

It's also an appropriate description for a Quebec church, since the saint is not only noted for his spiritual treatises, but was an active promoter of science and the French language.

The town shares rich agricultural lands and its little river with Saint-Pierre-de-la-Riviere-de-Sud, 10 kms to the east. Churches in both places, and in nearby south shore St. Lawrence Berthier-sur-Mer, are in the Diocese of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocati‚re.

Quebec's first bishop

Saint-Francois Parish was established in a part of the Seigneury-de-Berthier and had its first church, built in 1729 named for the patron saint of Msgr. Francois de Montmorency Laval, Quebec's first bishop.

A second house of God, in a new location because of seasonal flooding, was begun in 1754, but was not dedicated for another eight years because of the Conquest. Due to space considerations, this too was replaced in 1866 by today's impressive stone edifice from plans by F.X. Berlinguet.

Of neo-classical design, it is distinguished by its famed clocher flanked by two minor towers and a third tower capping the prominent semi-circular apse.

Stations of the Cross

The interior of the church is noteworthy for its airy, white, gold-trimmed d‚cor, attractive sanctuary lamp, two-tiered choir loft and semi-circular sanctuary. Particularly impressive are hand-carved white-pine Stations of the Cross.

Prominent in the centre of the elaborate gilt-edged reredos behind the main altar, a statue of the parish patron, named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877 and patron of journalists in 1923 by Pope Pius XI, is holding his best-known spiritual work Introduction to the Devout Life.

French-born Francis was ordained a priest in 1593 and spent a large part of his vocation preaching successfully in the wake of the Reformation for the conversion of Calvin Chablais.

He was then made bishop of Geneva and spent 20 years of his ministry there, continually seeking the return to the faith of the area's population. He made time to found, with St. Jane Francis de Chantal, the Visitation nuns, and within 43 years of his death in 1622, was canonized.

A prolific writer, the bishop kept detailed journals which he used as material for his well-received spiritual books, such as Treatise on the Love of God.

Despite his intellectual pursuits, he had a reputation for accessibility and humility and was a favourite of children. Noted as a psychologist and humanist, he has become recognized as a patron of all writers.

Back in his south-shore Canadian parish, partly because of a fear that in today's rapidly changing world old Quebec institutions might be in danger of disappearing, the religious complex at Saint-Francois has been designated as a patrimonial conservation area. Informative guides to the church, two old rectories, a large convent and a Calvary are available at the church, which is open daily.

L'Eglise Saint-Francois-de-Sales remains an active parish today, serving almost 1,600 area Catholics from its landmark Clocher au Milieu de la Plaine.

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