Secular Institute of St. Francis de Sales

Secular Institute of St. Francis de Sales

Professed Women

Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience

Following a long tradition of The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales our Institute has as Patroness "Our Lady of Light"

Associates: Do not take vows but through a special Consecration, study and live out in their lives, the Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.
-Married or single men and women.
-Priests.

Founded: In Vienna, Austria in 1943 by Father Franz Reisinger, OSFS. Approved as a Secular Institute 1964.

Purpose: Personal sanctification of its members living in the world according to the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales as envisioned in his Spiritual Directory, and application of this spirituality within our Apostolates.

Charism: To live out and spread the message of St. Francis de Sales, that ALL people are called to holiness, whatever their state in life.

Apostolate: Our apostolate is both personal and in union with others. Personal apostolates are carried out in diverse areas, usually on the diocesan or parochial level. Through the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience we are united in serving and helping one another in the service of mankind.

The Spiritual Directory: The guide for all communities of the Salesian family. It was developed by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.

Our spiritual way, spanning several hundred years, has been approved and tested as a certain way to union with God. St. Francis de Sales gave great importance to a free decision of one's unique way and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Witness about the Saint and his Spirituality:

"Today was a perfect feast; I spent it in the company of St. Francis de Sales, my gentlest of saints, I love to let my thoughts dwell on his goodness and teaching ... his counsels are so acceptable ... I feel more inclined toward humility, gentleness and calm."

Pope John XXIII

"No one of the recent doctors of the Church more than St. Francis de Sales anticipated the deliberations and decisions of the Second Vatican Council with such a keen and progressive insight."

Pope Paul VI

Emblem: V + J are initials for "Vive Jesus" in French. In English it means "Live Jesus". This phrase is key to Francis' thinking. He says: "Those who have Jesus in their heart will have Him in all their exterior actions".