The American Heritage Dictionary defines a hero as "a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field." Francis de Sales was a hero to Catholics in France during a violent and contentious age when the Protestant religion reigned and Catholics were being persecuted for their beliefs. He is noted for bringing heretics back to the Church, but most importantly for bringing Catholics in the world - rich and poor alike - back to the devout life. As a hero, Francis possessed determination, vision, courage and performed deeds that went beyond the normal.

Francis was determined to help the less fortunate and teach Christianity to all that did not have faith in God. "At Annecy he found time to organize his lay Confraternity of the Holy Cross. It exacted no special austerities of its members but asked generosity in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: visiting the sick, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament when taken to them, reconciling enemies, and making acts of adoration and reparation - particularly to the Holy Cross which like the Mass, was so strangely insulted by the early Protestants."(Bregy, p.25) Later he wa

Francis of Sales had vision. He foresaw the conversion of heretics to Christianity and saw himself as the missionary who was to accomplish this goal. As a student, Francis said: "he studied many things to please his father, and theology to please himself". (Bregy, p. 18) Although he completed studies in law, eventually he became a priest. "It became evident very quickly that here was an ideal parochus - never weary of comforting the poor and sick, equally patient hearing confessions of the over scrupulous, the repulsive, or the apparently abandoned and quite unable to refuse when asked to preach before small groups or large". (Bregy, p.24) Francis later admitted "he had received a special vision of the Holy Trinity and had made a particular vow to consecrate himself entirely to the service of souls". (Bregy, p.50) Also, while making one of his retreats at home, Francis experienced a rather curious vision, in which it was revealed that he was destined to give the Church a new religious congregation for women. Along with the Baroness Jeanne Francoise de Chantal, Francis de Sales founded the Visitation of Holy Mary - a community of women given to the work of God.

In order to accomplish and propagate the word of God, Francis was vested with courage. He undertook the mission to re-evangelize Catholics even though it meant sacrifice and danger. For example, a Chablais, "Franc

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