1574. The Savoie region of southeastern France, near Switzerland. For more than 50 years, the people of the Savoie have been deeply divided by religion, Catholics on one side and the Protestant Calvinists on the other. Now, one seven-year-old boy wants to heal this rift. This is the story of Francis De Sales. The Saints. Adventures of faith and courage. Francis De Sales. Episode one, hidden yearnings. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com. Get out of here you heretics! I said get out of here! This castle is for Catholics only! We don't like you Calvinists. Master François, what are you doing? Stop hitting the chickens with that stick or I'll tell your mother! Go ahead, Antoinette. Tell Mama, she and Father shouldn't be entertaining heretics. Don't cause them that. They are your parents' guests. I heard what Mama said. She's not happy either. But Father says she has to talk nicely with them. Instead she should say, we don't want you here heretics. Get out! Well, don't take it out on the chickens. And calm yourself, Master François. You know your parents don't like that temper of yours. Antoinette, François, what's all this noise? We can hear you from inside the house. Why did Father let those heretics in? Because they served with him in the army. And don't call them heretics. That's what they are. They are Catholics who have gone astray. Your father and I are trying to help them. I'll help them. Right out the door. Go to your room, François. But Mama… And ask the Lord to forgive you for losing your temper again. Yes, Mama. I'm sorry. You're seven years old. You must work on controlling your anger. I'll try. Thank you. Antoinette, see that François gets to his room immediately. Oui, madame. To chez François. You want again? Ah, you almost had me, Louis. You're both excellent salesmen. And you're an excellent tutor, Father Deage. Oh, I'm glad you think so. But infencing, Father, François has me beat every time. It seems like only yesterday I was watching you two cousins dueling with sticks. Your mothers never liked that. No, they didn't. But then we were only seven. My mother once gave me a whipping after an especially vigorous stick tournament. I remember that. And now here we are in Paris, ten years later, still dueling. Except now, Louis is a newly ordained priest. Who's just been appointed canon to the Bishop of Genève? It's a great honor, Louis. I'm happy for you. It's a privilege to work on the Bishop Grannier. How lucky you are, Louis, that your father understood your desire to become a priest. My uncle still wants you to become a senator? That has always been my father's fervent wish. Hopefully one day he'll be open to what you want. We'll see. First, with the help of my faithful tutor here, Father Deage, I must finish my studies in Paris. If only we could work together someday with Bishop Grannier. If only our bishops hadn't been booted out of Genève when the Calvinists took control. True. Here he is, Bishop of Genève, and he can't even enter his own diocese. No, and the headquarters has been moved to Annessy. I detest what has happened. As you well know, Francois, anger can do nothing to change the situation. No, but it does fuel my determination. So many Catholics have been turned away from the true faith. Unfortunately, yes, including the whole of Genève. Not to mention the entire region of Chablis. It's spread throughout Europe. And beyond. We must defeat them. The end Thank you for taking me to the lecture, Father Deage. You're welcome, Francois. Just being at the cell-bone is inspiring. Yes. It's been the pinnacle of higher learning here in Paris since the 13th century. What did you think of what the professor had to say? The whole idea of predestination. It was troubling. It's what we're up against with the Calvinists. Absurd, of course. What if there is some truth to it? I took you so you could see what nonsense it is. The professor said that Calvin backed up his ideas with certain writings from Thomas Aquinas and Augustine of Hippo. He distorted them. Did he? Yes. Francois, let's take a carriage back to our lodgings. My gout is starting to bother me. Do you mind if I walk? Of course not. I'd like to think about this for a while. Alone. As you wish. Au revoir. A bientôt. Dear Mama and Father, I hope this letter finds you and the whole family well. My studies here in Paris continue to be interesting and challenging, but a few weeks ago I contracted a cold which has progressed into my chest. Father Deyage went to my classes and took notes for me, which I'm reviewing now. I'm sure I'll be back to good health soon. Has the Lou baby been born yet? Give my love and greetings to Bernard, Marguerite, Ellen, Antoine and Calois. Your loving son, Francois. Francois, what are you doing in bed? I thought you went back to your classes. I still don't feel well. Let me make you some tea. I don't want any tea. Is there anything I can get you? Truth. That's all I want. So you're still feeling depressed? Is that what it is? I wish I'd never taken you to that lecture at the Sorbonne. No, no. I'm glad I went. I need to know what's true and what's not. You mean predestination? Yes. It's not the truth. That's what you say. But how can I know for certain that God has selected me for salvation? What if He hasn't? What if I'm doomed to hell and there's nothing I can do about it? You know as well as I do that God is a God of love. He would never determine in advance that any one of us is going either to hell or heaven. Why not? Because God gives us free will to determine our own fate. He doesn't determine it for us. That's what you think. That's what I know. That's what the church teaches. Unless the church is wrong about this one issue. No, it's not. Francois, Calvin is a dangerous man leading Catholics away from the faith. He was a Catholic himself. Yes, but along with Martin Luther, he left the church and then decided the mass is a sacrilege. Do you believe it's a sacrilege? No, but so what does that tell you? It tells me he's wrong about that, but perhaps not wrong about predestination. Oh, Francois, I'm sorry, but it haunts me. Day and night, I can't stop thinking about it. You must. Why do His words disturb me? Haunt me? It's an unhealthy obsession that's making you constantly ill, but I must figure it out. Listen to me. Calvin is deluded, and those who follow him leave the path of truth. Perhaps, but... His words come from a place of separation and division, and certainly you know where that comes from. I'm going to take a walk and pray about this. That's a very good idea. Oh, my Lord and Savior, free my mind from these words of deception. Remember, almost gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection implored Thy help, or sought Thy intercession was left unaid. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to Thee do I come. Before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Our Mother of the Word in Parliament. Whatever happens, Lord, whatever You have ordained for me, I will always love You. I will always hope in Your mercy. O Lord Jesus, my Savior and my God, I will always sing Your praises. Father Deyashit was like a miracle. Suddenly all thoughts of sadness and despair left me. Praise be to God. Then what came to me was this assurance. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but that the world might be saved through Him. Yes, Francois, that's it exactly. I have known you since you were a boy, and you have always loved God. And I will continue to love Him no matter what happens in this life. Now if my Father will just allow me to choose my own path, you're still loathe to tell Him the life you yearn for? I don't want to hurt Him. Or feel His anger. That too. But I also want to make sure this is God's will for me, not just my own. Look, here's the crossing. We're almost there. Oh, it's been so long since I've been home. I can't wait to see Mama and all my siblings. They've grown so much I probably won't even recognize them. They might not recognize you either. Let's hurry, Father Deyash. I'm too excited. Oh, how I love being back in Savoy. Ah! Dear son, finally your studies in Paris are completed. You've done well. I'm proud of you. Thank you, Father. And thank you, Father Deyash, for taking such good care of Francois. Of course, Madame. It is my duty and pleasure. But now it's on du patois and your study of the law. I also want to study theology there, Father. Yes, if it amuses you. It more than amuses me. I, meanwhile, I have arranged a meeting for you with Mademoiselle Francois-Souché de Mirabel. What? She's the daughter of a counselor to the Duke of Savoy. Quite an accomplished young woman. From a very prominent family. But her father and I have spoken. And agreed. It will be a perfect match for you after you finish your law degree and begin your senatorial career. Father, I, she's coming here to see you tomorrow. Tomorrow? Please have a seat, Mamoiselle de Mirabel. You have a lovely home, Madame de Poisie. Merci bien, Mamoiselle. Now I'll leave you two alone. Antoinette will bring in the tea. Thank you, Mama. So... My father tells me you're soon heading off to Padua to study law. Yes. And that once you obtain your degree, you'll be heading into the Senate. Well, not exactly. What do you mean? Certain things have to be worked out first. Merci, Antoinette. D'aie rien, Monsieur. Des rachiquettes, Yerazuel. Oh, they look delicious! Chef made them this morning. Would you like to try one, Madame de Moiselle? I would indeed. They are delicious! Will there be anything else? No, thank you, Antoinette. You were saying that certain things have to be worked out? Well, yes. Just details about my life going forward. At least some of the details sound very pleasant. Wouldn't you say so, François? Or... don't they? I... I'm not sure. François! Yes, Father? What on earth have you done? What have you done?
