Jane Frances was a native of Dijon, France. She was just eighteen months old when her mother went for her eternal reward. However, her father saw to it that nothing was lacking to her and that she grew up to into an enlightened, lively, cheerful and refined young woman. At the age of twenty-one she was married to Baron de Chantal by whom she bore six children. After eight years of marital bliss, Baron Chantal was accidentally shot and killed in a hunting expedition by a close friend of the family. Jane was broken hearted and went into a period of depression. In 1604 her encounter with St. Francis de Sales, a reputed Bishop and spiritual director, changed her life dramatically. He guided her towards acts of piety, charity and service to fellow beings. Three years later, she founded the Order of Visitation under the inspiration and guidance of St. Francis de Sales. These Visitations nuns were to exemplify all the virtues of our Lady at her visit to St. Elizabeth. The Bishop’s novel scheme of bringing these religious women out to the streets of France to serve the society met with stout resistance. Hence he was forced to make the Visitation Order a cloistered Community. Towards the end of her life, Jane had to pass through a series of sufferings. Spiritual aridity and interior darkness tormented her, St. Francis de Sales, her mentor, died and some of her family members became victims of war and of a dreaded plague that ravaged France. Death relieved Jane from these agonizing situations in 1641 and she was numbered among the saints in 1767.
Reflection: Jane was a courageous woman who confronted all the challenging situations with deep faith and spiritual insight. As a true disciple of Christ she rose up to the occasion, forgave the man who had caused the death of her husband and went to the extent of becoming his child’s Godmother at baptism.
Despite all her sufferings, her face never lost its serenity, nor did she once relax in the fidelity God asked of her.” (St. Vincent de Paul about Frances de Chantal)
