Saint Jeanne De Chantal

Biography

Saint Jeanne de Chantal, also known as Jane Frances of Chantal, was born on 28 January 1572 in Dijon, Burgundy, France. She was born into a noble family, the daughter of the president of the Parliament of Burgundy, who raised her alone after the death of her mother when she was just 18 months old. At the age of twenty, Jeanne married Baron de Chantal in 1592 and became the mother of four children. Tragedy struck when her husband was killed in a hunting accident at the young age of 28, dying in Jeanne's arms. Devastated by her loss, Jeanne made a personal vow of chastity and was forced to live with her father-in-law, a period of her life that was filled with misery. During her time of grief, Jeanne sought solace in prayer and meditation. It was during this period that she received a vision of the man who would become her spiritual director. In Lent of 1604, Jeanne met Saint Francis de Sales and immediately recognized him as the man from her vision. She became his spiritual student and close friend, and the two carried on a lengthy correspondence for many years. On Trinity Sunday, 6 June 1610, Jeanne founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady at Annecy, France. This order was established specifically for widows and lay women who did not wish to fully commit to the life of a religious order. Under Jeanne's guidance, the order grew rapidly, and she oversaw the founding of 69 convents. For the rest of her days, Jeanne dedicated herself to overseeing the Order of the Visitation and acting as a spiritual advisor to those who sought her wisdom. The Visitationist nuns, as they are known today, live a contemplative life, work with women suffering from poor health or widowed, and sometimes run schools. Saint Jeanne de Chantal's life was one of devotion and service. Her compassion and love for the abandoned or forgotten people made her a revered figure. She is also considered a patron saint against abandonment, in-law problems, the death of parents, parents separated from children, and widows. Saint Jeanne de Chantal passed away on 13 December 1641 at the Visitationist convent in Moulins, France, of natural causes. Her relics are enshrined in Annecy, Savoy, in modern France. She was beatified on 21 November 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV and canonized on 16 July 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. Her feast days are celebrated on 12 August, 18 August (in the United States), 13 December (at the monastery of the Visitation in Moulins, France), and 21 August (the date of the founding of her Order, observed from 1769 to 1969).