A most enlightening dissertation by Dr. Thomas A. Donlan on the response of St. Francis de Sales to the religious conflicts of his day from which the saint developed his spirituality of gentleness can be found here:
http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/bitstream/10150/203012/1/azu_etd_11856_sip1_m.pdf
One obtains a new perspective on the uniqueness of the Visitation Order’s approach to the monastic life from this scholarly investigation, as well.