St Jean Frances de Chantel
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Jane Frances. During St. Jane Frances’ life she was a wife, mother, nun, and the founder of a religious community. Her mother had died when she was around 18 months old, and her father who was the head of parliament in Dijon, France, had became the main influence on her education. St. Jane was able to develop into a woman of great beauty and she was lively and cheerful in temperament. At the age of 21, she was able to marry Baron de Chantal, and she had six children with him. Sadly, three of her children died in infancy. At her castle, she restored the custom of daily Mass, and she was engaged in many charitable works.
However, St. Jane’s husband was killed after they had celebrated seven years of marriage, and she sank into deep dejection for about four months at her family home. Her father-in-law during this time had threatened to disinherit her children if she did not return to his home. However, St. Jane Frances managed to remain cheerful in spite of him and his insolent housekeeper.
When St. Jane was 32 years old, she was able to meet St. Francis de Sales who had become her spiritual director. She wanted to become a nun however, he had persuaded her to defer this decision. She took a vow to remain unmarried and to obey her director.
After three years had passed, St. Francis decided to tell St. Jane of his plan to found an institute for women that would be a haven for those whose health, age, or other things had barred them from entering the already established communities. There would be no cloister, and they would have the chance to undertake spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They were primarily intended to exemplify the many virtues of Mary that were shown at the Visitation. Their name which is actually the Visitation nuns came from the virtues that Mary showed during the visitation such as; humility and meekness.
The congregation which had a total of three women had began when St. Jane Frances was around 45 years old. St. Jane had experienced great sufferings during this time, St. Francis de Sales had died; her son was killed; a plague had taken over France; her daughter-in-law and son-in-law had also died. St. Jane had encouraged the local authorities to make great efforts for the victims of the plague, and she had put all of her convent’s resources at the disposal of the sick.
During part of her religious life, St. Jane Frances had to experience great trials of the spirit such as interior anguish, darkness, and spiritual dryness. St. Jane had died while on a visitation of convents of the community.
St. Jane is the patron saint of mothers, widows and wives.
Prayer to St. Jane Frances
St. Jane intercede that we may be able to guide more people to Christ through acts of charity and mercy. Help us to do these actions without expecting anything in return.
Amen
St. Jane Frances pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Franciscan media. “Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. ”Saint Jane Frances de Chantal | Franciscan Media. Accessed August 12, 2021.
Images:
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. August 12, 2021. Saint Jane Frances de Chantal - Google Search.