“The Gentleman Saint” and his Boswell

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12306, 28 November 1925, Page 12

“The Gentleman Saint” and his Boswell

On August 21st, 15(33, the world was Miude the richer by the birth of St. Francis do Sales, the G'entlemun Saint. It, was Leigh Hunt who gave him this name—-‘‘a sort oi angel of a gentleman,” he called him. Now if_ ever there was a being on earth who deserved the two noblest titles which tongue can and saint —that being was St. Francis de Sales (writes Dilys Powell in “T.P.’s Weekly”). And yet how little of his gentlemanliness and his saintliness should we know had he not possessed in his disciple Camus, Bishop of Belley, a veritable Boswell? History tells us that St. Francis was Bishop of Geneva, and wrote an “Introduction to the Devout Life’; Camus goes 6o far as to hare holes bored in tlie panels of the saint’s room, and from his vantage point notes with satisfaction that when not wittingly under observation he neither crosses his legs nor leans on his elbow, but conducts his meditations as if in presence of all the company of heaven. Camus’s enthusiasm for his master was so unbounded as to lend him to imitate his style of preaching. fit. Francis spoke slowly and deliberately, •Camus quickly ana with fire; nud the experiment was hot a success. “The worst of the matter,” said the saint, taking him to task, “is that I am told you imitate so badly that no one can tell what you are, at, and that while vou spoil the Bishop of Belley, you do not in any way succeed in copying the Bishop of Geneva!” Camus received the criticism with humility, and “never ventured, to repeat the fault.” .

This “Boswell of a saint” h.as many stories to tell of St. Francis’s gentle ness in the confessional. On one occasion a man came to him and began to confess his sins with evident relish, mouthing his words as if he were telling a good story St. Francis wept silently." “Are you illP” asked the man. “I am well, brother,” the saint

replied, “but you, alas! are far from being the same.'* The hardened burner persisted thnt he was well enough, and continued his catalogue; St. Francis continued to weep. Again there was the same query, “Truly,” -aid the confessor, “I weep because vou do not neep. v The man looked at him in amazement; then suddenly, overcome by such holiness. flung himself a his feet. Austere as St. Francis was towards himself —he was never without a hair shirt, ayd lived on the most meagre diet—he had nothing but tolerance for other people. Camus once sent to ask > him if certain soldiers who were quar- : tered in his diocese should be allowed .to eat eggs and 'heese in Lent. St. ; Francis sent back a message that they ; should eat what they would. “‘As if.” he said, “the laws ot war and necessity do not prevail over all other ; laws !” ) The most delightful story of all tells . how a princess of France, hearing mata ring she had given Die saint had -been sold for the poor, gave him another and begged him to Fccp it. “Madame. I cannot promise vou; 1 am very unfit *o keep things of value.’* ho protested* end a few weeks later she was informed thnt the rin:* was now the pronertv not of the bishop, but of his beggars!

When it crime to John Wesley’s knowledge that one of hjs preachers was in very needy circumstances, . he sent him the following letter:— Dear Tommy,— Trust in the Lord and do ri?i i. So shalt thou dwell in the land, and, verily, thou sholt be fed He enclosed in the letter a fir%» pound not* When Tommy “returnrd thanks.” WVslev was greatly delighted with his reply. It ran thus: Rar. and Dear Sir, — I hare often been struck with tho bonut.v of the passage you quote, but l am hound to sar that I hare never found simh a useful esx?ositoiy note on it .before.