This is the first English-language biography of the founder of the Society of the Daughters of Saint Francis de Sales, the Society of the Sons of St. Francis de Sales and the Society of the Priests of St. Francis de Sales. It is written by Daniel Moulinet, Priest of St. Francis de Sales. Extensively researched by the author, Fr. Chaumont’s life opens with his youth through to his final years, a witness to the maturing of his own spiritual journey, rich with his vision of the international societies he would found, the early histories and graces of the Daughters, Sons and Priests of St. Francis de Sales. During his relatively brief 58 years, Fr. Chaumont tirelessly devoted his life to encouraging the practice of Salesian spirituality, both among his fellow diocesan priests and the many lay persons whom he counseled. Beginning in 1872, he founded, with the now Venerable Caroline Carré de Malberg, the Society of the Daughters of Saint Francis de Sales for lay women. Soon after, some of the Daughters began service in mission territories and in 1968, the lay missionaries became a religious congregation, the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, serving in more than 20 countries, living their charism to bring the Spirit of Jesus to the poorest people of the world. Following the Daughters, Fr. Chaumont founded the Priests of St. Francis de Sales for diocesan priests who have a special calling to practice spiritual direction, and the Sons of St. Francis de Sales for lay men. All of these groups continue to flourish today, faithful to the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and the vision of Fr. Chaumont, witnessing to a life of faith lived wholeheartedly “in the heart of the world.” Fr. Moulinet, a professor of Church history, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Lyon, France, speaks with intimate knowledge and love of his subject. An extraordinary, powerful work.
