“How long are you going to be deaf to His call? Or are you going to lose your soul, which Jesus Christ bought at the price of His Precious Blood?”- St. John Francis Regis

On January 31, 1597, in Foncouverte, a village in the Languedoc diocese of Narbonne, St. John Francis Regis was born. John Regis and Magdalen Darcis, his parents, were from aristocratic backgrounds. St. John had little interest in the amusements of his age as a child. This caused him to reject joining his classmates in the harmless diversions of an age that is often too eager for play.

His most prized days were Sundays and holidays, which he spent fully on religious reading and devotions at home and in church. He was frequently observed during those times sitting in a chapel, crying in the presence of Jesus Christ. His actions caused him to be the target of his young friends' scorn and raillery for a while. He engaged many practices in the Blessed Virgin's honor, having great faith in her protection. He had a unique dedication to his guardian angel and turned every safety from danger into an excuse to express his thankfulness and fervor for God even more.

He had a serious illness in his eighteenth year of life. After his recuperation, he went on a spiritual retreat shortly to think about his life's direction. He fervently pleaded to be admitted after sensing in his heart a great drive to devote himself to work in the Society of Jesus to secure the salvation of souls and having the counsel of his confessor confirm this desire was a call of God. This led the Jesuit provincial, F. Francis Suarez, to welcome him with open arms.

On December 8th, 1616, Francis at the age of 19, joyfully began his noviceship at Toulouse. Here, he created the firm foundation for the character traits that would define him throughout his life: humility, disdain for the world, holy loathing of oneself, almsgiving for the needy, love of God and desire for his glory. Making beds and cleaning the house for the poorest and most abhorrent patients in the hospital as well as tending to their sores and dressing their wounds- were some of his favorite menial tasks. All of his actions were done in a spirit of prayer.

His friends referred to him as his own everlasting persecutor because he was as harsh towards himself. He never seemed to indulge his senses, which he had learned to restrain. He frequently appeared at the foot of the altar, seemingly in a state of rapture. He spoke of God with such a passion that even the most apathetic listeners were stirred to fervor by his holiness.

He took religious vows in 1618 after serving a two-year probationary period. He was subsequently dispatched to Cahors to complete his rhetorical studies, and the following year to Tournon to complete his philosophical coursework. But he added frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament, pious reading, and designated times for holy meditation to them to keep the flame of devotion in his heart from fading under the influence of those studies. He was so dependable in all of his actions that his supervisors attested to never having seen him break even the slightest college rule, earning him the nickname "the college's angel."

With the approval of his supervisor, he accepted the responsibility of instructing the menial servants and the impoverished of the town of Tournon, to whom he delivered the college's alms, to prepare himself primarily for the sacred task of teaching the poor the paths of salvation. He preached in the nearby villages on Sundays and major holidays, and he used a small bell to call children to catechism.

When his superiors gave him the command to be ready for holy orders at the start of the year 1630, he experienced a conflict between the sharpest emotions of humbling horror and a blazing zeal. But as he observed God's will being hinted at in the order of his superiors, his concerns subsided, and he prepared for that sacrament via seclusion, austerity, prayer, and passionate desires. When ordained, he took his time to prepare for the divine sacrifice by prayer and penance, and he celebrated his first mass with the deepest devotion.

Francis made urgent requests to get permission to care for the sick during Toulouse's terrible plague that year. After finishing his studies, he entered the third year of his novitiate in 1631. During this time, he was required to attend Foncouverte to settle some family matters, where he spent his time visiting the sick and the poor, catechizing the children every morning, and preaching to the people twice a day.

In 1633, the bishop of Viviers attempted to make use of Father Regis' various talents after noticing his skill in interacting with people. This was especially important amid the protracted civil and religious war that was then common throughout France. The populace had been denied the sacraments for at least 20 years due to numerous prelates' absences and priests' carelessness. In certain places, various forms of Protestantism were growing, but in others, there was a clear lack of interest in religion. Father Regis spent three years touring the diocese and leading missions in preparation for the bishop's arrival. He was able to convert many people and reintroduce many others to religious practices.

Preaching and planning social activities, particularly for convicts, the sick, and the impoverished, occupied the last four years of his life. He insisted on preaching a church mission and taking confessions despite having a pulmonary condition. Father Regis realized that his days were numbered in the autumn of 1640. He completed some of his duties and got ready for the end by doing what he did best, which was telling people about the God who loved them. He gazed at the cross for the majority of December 31 until passing away that evening at the age of 43. His last words were, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit."

St. John Francis Regis was beatified in 1716 and canonized in 1737. His feast day is celebrated on June 16. He is revered as the patron saint of lacemakers, medical social workers, and children who are born outside of marriage and family.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Aurelian
Saint Colman McRhoi
Saint Ferreolus & Ferrutio
Saint Quiriacus and Julitta
Saint Tychon