ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 12th of August
SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL, WIDOW
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was the founder of a religious order in 17th century France… She was also close friends and a spiritual pupil of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Vincent de Paul.
Born in Dijon in 1572 during France’s traumatic religious wars, she was from an aristocratic family, her father being the president of the Burgundy ‘parlement’ and her brother the Archbishop of Bourges.
HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN A HUNTING ACCIDENT
Married at 20, St Jane lived at a castle in nearby Bourbilly before her husband, the Baron de Chantal, was killed in a hunting accident. It was a love match by all accounts and the heartbroken 28-year-old widow and mother of four took a vow of chastity. (Not only her husband but her mother, sister and eldest two children had also died.)
SHE MET ST FRANCIS DE SALES
An efficient manager of her husband’s estates, she also cared for her father-in-law (who had a reputation as a difficult man) and provided help to neighbours. Then during Lent of 1604 she met Saint Francis de Sales, then Bishop of Geneva, and they became friends. With his support, and that of her brother, she left for Annecy, 22 miles south of Geneva, to start the Congregation of the Visitation.
"I AM ON THEIR SIDE"
She took her two remaining daughters with her, the elder having recently married the Baron of Thorens, a brother of Saint Francis de Sales. The order accepted women who had been rejected by other groups because of age or health, but was active in leaving its cloisters and meeting the faithful. Criticised for not abiding by strict practise, she replied: ‘What do you want me to do? I like sick people myself; I am on their side.’
THE ORDER GREW TO 164 HOUSES WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME
Her reputation for good management and holiness meant that the house soon attracted donations from rich women, and the order had grown to 13 houses when Saint Francis de Sales died, after which Saint Vincent de Paul served as her spiritual director. When she died, aged 69, the order had grown to 86 houses. Tragically she had outlived her son, who had died fighting Huguenots and their English allies during the latter stages of the country’s religious conflict. By 1767, the year she was canonised by Pope Clement XIII, the order then had 164 houses.
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal also wrote many letters on spiritual direction. Her granddaughter was Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, the famous letter writer considered one of the great figures of French literature, and an inspiration to novelist Marcel Proust.
This article was published in “The Catholic Herald”, paper edition, issue August 9, 2013
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Jane Frances may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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