(especially for Fr Depcik, OSFS and the deaf community)

The feast of St Francis de Sales is January 24^th. Besides being the patron saint of journalists, he is also the patron saint of the deaf. We share the story of his relationship with Martin who was dear. Saint Francis de Sales invented a kind of sign language so that they could communicate.

               “. . . among all the domestics of this holy prelate there was one towards whom the saint’s kindness was manifested in a most touching manner; this was a poor deaf [servant] named Martin, whom Francis had met at La Roche while preaching there in the Lent of 1605 and whom he himself had prepared for his Easter Communion. On his return to Annecy he continued to instruct him and with such success that [Martin] acquired not only a knowledge of the mysteries of faith and the laws of morality, but he could express by signs good and evil thoughts of the mind, perfect and imperfect consent of the will and the difference between mortal and venial sin. . . . When he desired to go to confession, he would enter the bishop’s room, lead him into the chapel, make a motion to all who happened to be there to leave and then close all the doors and window; finally he would kneel down and by signs tell what he had done wrong, all the time weeping and striking his breast. The saintly confessor would mingle his tears with those of his penitent and exhort him by signs to lead a holy life and to have confidence in God. When he approached the altar for Communion his respect and devotion were a source of edification for all who saw him. . . . His affection for the holy bishop grew stronger year by year, so that at the death of St Francis his devoted servant nearly died of grief. He was fairly beside himself with anguish and he refused to be comforted; never did child weep more bitterly at the loss of father or mother.”  From The Spirit of St Francis de Sales by the Curé of Saint Sulpice.