On the feast of Saint Francis de Sales

This issue of DICI is appearing on January 29, on the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, who was proclaimed patron saint of Catholic journalists by Pius XI, because the missionary zeal of the Bishop of Geneva inspired him to reach Protestants who avoided his preaching by means of printed leaflets.

On January 29, 1959, during a Mass celebrated for some journalists in Rome, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, Secretary of the Congregation of the Holy Office, pronounced these words: “Providence has placed a weapon in your hands: the pen, arma veritatis [the weapon of truth]. All this in aedificationem [for the purpose of edifying]. And this spiritual edification will be accomplished especially if you keep constantly in mind the image of Jesus, the reflection in a way of the countless faces of your readers.... The face of Jesus who, again on the Cross, expresses by His words of love and forgiveness the supreme law of the redeemed world and will teach you how to speak to your adversaries....

Speak the truth, but speak it with love. Only in this way will you make the meaning of Christian peace prevail in the enraged hearts of men that have been poisoned by erroneous, hateful propaganda; only in this way will you honor and imitate your Patron who wrote: ‘He who preaches with love preaches also against the heretics, even though he utters not a single word to dispute with them.’ And to speak with love does not mean to fail to speak forcefully. Love is a force which no other force can resist; it conquers all and influences all.

Saint Francis de Sales, pray for “all those who, by the publication of newspapers or other writings, explain, propagate and defend Christian doctrine.” By your example, may they be able “to maintain always, in discussion, firmness combined with a spirit of moderation and charity”

(Pius XI, Encyclical Rerum omnium perturbationem, January 26, 1923).