Patron Saint of the Media

St. Francis de Sales had no idea how he created the monster known as the press

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There was no Internet, newspapers, heck the printing press was just becoming a force in communication. However, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) was still able to make an impact CNN would blush thinking about.


Today is the feast of the beloved saint, and for that The Busy Catholic pays tribute to a figure who was loved by the masses (pardon the pun.) St. Francis, credited as the patron saint of the media.

He was loved by the people for speaking truthfully, naturally, and from the heart. He was translatable to audiences by communicating on their terms. St. Francis also did this by letters, reforming heresies, and writing Doctrine in a practical way.

Ironically Pope Benedict XVI used today to speak of silence in regards mass communication. Using St. Francis' feast day for his thoughts on World Communications Day (May 20th.) While St. Francis was a catalyst for journalistic communication, the Pope said silence "enables us to exercise proper discernment in the face of the surcharge of stimuli and data that we receive."