Savoy France, 1599. Francis and Louis' mission to the Shabbat has been a stunning success, and his writings disproving Calvinism have won tens of thousands back to the church. Home once again, they face new challenges, one that will change Francis' life forever. The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Francis disails. Episode 5, The New Bishop. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at TheSaintsPodcast.com. Come in, come in. Ah, welcome home, Father François, I'm so happy to see you both again. It's good to be back, Your Excellency. We're very happy to see you too. Your mission was more than a success, dear fathers. It was a triumph of the truth. The Father of France was tireless in his writing. And you both were fearless in distributing what he wrote. That was a brilliant idea, Father François. Thank you, Your Excellency. God's inspirations never fail. I understand you had some close calls delivering the truth. One or two. More like five or six-year excellency. And for most of those, Father François was alone. I had to return home for a time to gather funds and supplies. Well, the important thing is that you're both home and safe. I'm very grateful to the Lord for His protection. Now please, sit down, both of you. Father Louis, I can't tell you how pleased I am to have you back again to help me here in Anise. I am as well, Your Excellency. And Father François, I must tell you about the most disturbing dream I had recently. A disturbing dream? Yes, I won't go into details, but it convinced me that I must appoint my successor. I'm sure you'll be in your position for a very long time, Your Excellency. Perhaps, or is the Lord knows? However, my successor will have the position title of Co-Agetar. I'm appointing you, Co-Agetar. What? No, Your Excellency, I cannot. Don't waste your time, Father François. My mind is made up. But all I ask is that you obey. Yes, Your Excellency. I also want you to go to Paris. Paris, as you know, King Henri has recently renounced his Calvinist positions and become Macatholic. Yes, praise God. There is a request that you give the Lenten retreat at Chapelloireal. At court? Yes. You can help the King and his court to know the fullness of the truth. The church also needs to remain on good standing with him. There are various issues yet to be worked out. Do you understand? Yes, Your Excellency. Is Majesty King Henri the Fourth? Where is Father François? Over there, Your Majesty. He is waiting to see you as you requested. Bring him over to me. Yes, Your Majesty. Father François, thank you for coming to Fontainebleau. How I look forward to speaking with you. Your Majesty. Oh. Please Father, you needn't bow to me. I should be bowing to you. That was a brilliant homely at mass. Thank you, Your Majesty. Now, I wish to go to the garden with you. Alone, we must talk. Château de Fontainebleau is lovely. Is it not Father François? It is indeed Your Majesty. That great expanse of water surrounding the fountain so beautifully reflects the blue of the sky. The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands. My favorite song. Mine too. And the swans. Don't you love the swans? So graceful. It must be a great solace for you to come here. It is indeed. Your Majesty, I must commend you for the steps you've taken toward restoring peace within our fractured Christianity. There has been too much blood. It had to stop. Not that we agree with the heresies they spread or will cease our efforts at seeking those who have been led astray. But your method is very different, Father. You come at the Calvinists with love. It's the only way. I've never met a priest like you. If I were still a Protestant, you would have converted me. You always managed to speak heart to heart. I'm humbled, Your Majesty. It's all about love, then, isn't it? Love is the beginning and the end of our spiritual journey to God. The movement of the heart towards what is good. It's the way we progress throughout our lives to union with God. Love. But how does one know if he is progressing? How can he better learn how to love? We learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so we learn to love by loving. I have never heard the words I hear from you. They seem so simple and yet they resonate with a higher meaning that I have not begun to grasp until now. Praise be to God. Which is why I want you to remain in Paris. So I may always hear you preach, talk with you. I'm afraid I can't do that, Your Majesty. Why will give you your own episcopate, a pension, whatever you need? Sire, when I became a priest, I married a poor wife. I cannot desert her for a richer one. I've never heard the church referred to as a poor wife. I suppose not. You're a rare bird in my kingdom, Father Francois. Devout and learned, I'm also a gentleman. A man without guile, with no hidden desires and nothing to gain from even a king who can offer it all to you. All I treasure is your friendship, and I yours. I always love being in Paris, Louis. But today I'm eager to be home again. Bishop Cronier wanted me to visit some of our Parisian churches. So the timing worked out perfectly. Thanks be to God. I've missed being with you. I've missed you too. Louis, I have to tell you about something peculiar that happened to me the other day. What was it? I was praying when suddenly I had a vision, almost like a dream, of a beautiful woman with light brown hair. I could see her features clearly. Our lady? No. It felt like someone I'm going to meet. How interesting. When I looked at her, she smiled. Did you smile back? Yes. And as I did, I was able to see her. Yes. And as I did, so I had the sense, this was very strange, that I would form an order with her. An order? Isn't that peculiar? An order for women who don't have either the means or health or the right age to enter a convent. An order for widows and older women, perhaps. That's a very good idea. Yes. But I had the certainty that it won't happen until I meet the woman I saw in this vision. I wonder who's coming toward us so urgently. It looks like a courier. Courier's bring bad news, especially coming so fast. Have I ever swad his arm? Yes. Canon, Louis Dessar. That's me. Envelopes for you both. E-Wars, Francois. And for you, Canon. Thank you. Yes, thank you. I'll be off then. Godspeed. Oh no. I knew at the moment I saw him. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. May the soul of Bishop Cranier rest in peace. You are now the new Bishop of Geneva, Francois. God, help me. Welcome, Bishop Dessar. I'm Archbishop Andre. I'm happy to meet you, Archbishop. All of us in Dijon are delighted. You agreed to preach the lantern sermons here. We've heard about you for over a year now. Thank you for coming. Thank you for inviting me. Please, since we have time, I'd love to see you again. I'm happy to meet you, Archbishop. All of us in Dijon are delighted. You agreed to preach the lantern sermons here. We've heard about you for over a year now. I'd love for you to see the interior of San Michel. It's quite beautiful. I'd like that very much. In conclusion, dear brothers and sisters, remember that God loves us with a love so firm, so solid, so ardent, and so persevering that death itself cannot cool it in the least. Even the waters of the most bitter afflictions cannot quench the fire of his charity. Such ought to be our love for our neighbor. From ardent, solid, and persevering. Amen. Amen. Archbishop, who was that woman sitting in the front row? The one with the light brown hair. She was watching me so intently. What? Bishop Desal? That was my sister, Baroness Jean Deschampal. Your sister? Yes. Unfortunately, her husband died a year ago, leaving her a widow with four children. I'm sorry to hear this. I know Jean will love to meet you. She's just outside talking with someone. Alghito and Bill Wright back. If it's no bother, it's not. She'd be delighted. Thank you. François, that was one of your best sermons ever. I'm glad you think so, Louis. What's wrong? You look a bit stunned. I am. Why? She was sitting in the front row. Who? The woman in my vision? You mean the one you saw when you were praying? Yes. And her voice saying you should find an order with her? She's the Archbishop's sister. Her name is Baroness Jean Deschampal. That's amazing. Here they come now. Bishop Desal? I'd like you to meet my sister, Baroness Jean Deschampal. I'm very glad to meet you, your excellency. I'm very glad to meet you too, Madame Deschampal. I... Feel as if I've met you before. I have the same feeling. Perhaps we could speak together later? Jean will be at the dinner. I'm hosting for you, Bishop. I look forward to it. I do as well. Until later, then. Yes, thank you, Archbishop. Well, that was interesting. Very. Then it looks like you might be founding an order. Whatever God wants, my only desire is to follow his will. And defeat the heretics. Definitely a priority. That and the business of the church. A packet of papers came from Anna C this afternoon. Can you sign them before you go to the Archbishop's dinner? I'll fit it in my schedule. François, what? What happened here today is quite mysterious. You mean meeting Madame Deschampal? Yes. With God every day is an adventure, Louis. I thank him for his everlasting love. May his praises be always on my lips. Francis Desales founded the Visitation Order of Holy Mary with Jane Deschampal, who also became a saint. It wasn't until the 18th century that the Bishop of Geneva returned to his own cathedral. During the rest of his life, in addition to combating Calvinism, Desales wrote one of the most widely read spiritual books in history, Introduction to the Devout Life, followed by Treatise on the Love of God. The leaflets he distributed during his time in the Chablé were published as the Catholic Controversy, and collections of his sermons and letters of spiritual direction have also been published. Canonized in 1665, he is the patron saint of writers and journalists. Saint Francis Desales pray for us. Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from the Marybeggers. Thank you for listening to The Saints. To listen to more Thrillin Adventures, go to the saintspodcast.com. The Marybeggers is the entertainment division of relevant radio.
