Sainte Jeanne Françoise de Chantal VHM
Known in English as Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Jane Frances Frémiot was born in Dijon, on January 28, 1572. She was the second child of Benigne Frémiot, president of the local parliament. Her mother, Marguerite (Berbisey) Frémiot, died when Jane was eighteen months old. Her father then assumed the task of Jane's education. In 1592, he arranged for the marriage of Jane to the young baron, Christopher de Rabutin-Chantal, the son of a friend. Since Christopher spent much of his time in the king's service at court, Jane became the one responsible for the rearing of their four children as well as for the management of the estate at Bourbilly. Their happiness was short-lived since Christopher died after a hunting accident in 1601. It took years for Jane to forgive the man who had caused his death. To safeguard the children's inheritance, Jane then lived with her father-in-law, his mistress, and their children at Monthelon. Though the immorality of this lifestyle distressed Jane, she was gracious to the mistress, even to the extent of educating her children. In 1604, Jane's father invited her to the series of Lenten sermons preached by François de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva. This was to be a milestone in Jane's life.
At their first meeting Jane saw that François was the director promised by God during a dream, and François recognized Jane as the co-worker he had seen during a vision. No wonder then that Jane placed herself under his spiritual direction. François de Sales immediately released her from the rigid lifestyle of her previous director by encouraging her to "do everything through love and nothing through constraint." He urged her to find God in the loving fulfillment of her duties in life. This gentle guidance transformed Jane. By 1610, Jane had arranged for the future of her children. Charlotte, the youngest, had died. Celse-Bénigne, her only son, was becoming a page in the court of the French king, and Marie-Aimée, the elder daughter, was marrying Bernard de Sales in Annecy. Françoise would complete her education under the tutelage of her mother in the Visitation Monastery. A family council met to permit Jane to enter religious life. On June 6, 1610, the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Annecy, France. The Order was designed to receive, with a view to their spiritual advancement, young girls & even widows who had not the desire or strength to subject themselves to the austere ascetical practices in force in all the religious orders at that time.
The day to day operation of the order fell to Jane. Even after François died in 1622, Jane continued founding monasteries of the Visitation throughout France. But she never neglected her children. She arranged marriages for all of them and then assisted in the setting up of their households. Marie-Aimée, already engaged to Bernard de Sales, was widowed early in her life and died soon after giving birth to a stillborn. She received the Visitation habit on her deathbed. Celse-Benigne, who married Marie deCoulanges, died in battle at the age of thirty-one as a result of more than twenty-seven stab wounds. His daughter became the renowned Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné.
Finally, Françoise married Antoine deToulongeon, a wealthy man some fifteen years her senior. Francoise was rather worldly in her ways and preferences. In Jane's correspondence with Françoise, she encourages her daughter to pursue a life of moderation rather than one of self-indulgence. In the end, Jane outlived everyone that she dearly loved and cared for except Françoise.
Although she had always longed for a quiet, contemplative existence, she never enjoyed this experience. Her own religious daughters elected her to be their superior over and over again. She also was involved in establishing new monasteries and in revisiting well-established ones to ensure that the true spirit of the Visitation was alive in them. On December 13, 1641, Jane de Chantal passed away while visiting the Visitation Monastery in Moulins. On her deathbed, she encouraged the assembled sisters of her order to remain constant in their vocation of living Jesus. She died in peace, asking for nothing and refusing nothing, thus demonstrating even in death her loving and lifelong fidelity to the Rule of Life given her by St François de Sales.
Known in English as Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Jane Frances Frémiot was born in Dijon, on January 28, 1572. She was the second child of Benigne Frémiot, president of the local parliament. Her mother, Marguerite (Berbisey) Frémiot, died when Jane was eighteen months old. Her father then assumed the task of Jane's education. In 1592, he arranged for the marriage of Jane to the young baron, Christopher de Rabutin-Chantal, the son of a friend. Since Christopher spent much of his time in the king's service at court, Jane became the one responsible for the rearing of their four children as well as for the management of the estate at Bourbilly. Their happiness was short-lived since Christopher died after a hunting accident in 1601. It took years for Jane to forgive the man who had caused his death. To safeguard the children's inheritance, Jane then lived with her father-in-law, his mistress, and their children at Monthelon. Though the immorality of this lifestyle distressed Jane, she was gracious to the mistress, even to the extent of educating her children. In 1604, Jane's father invited her to the series of Lenten sermons preached by François de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva. This was to be a milestone in Jane's life.
At their first meeting Jane saw that François was the director promised by God during a dream, and François recognized Jane as the co-worker he had seen during a vision. No wonder then that Jane placed herself under his spiritual direction. François de Sales immediately released her from the rigid lifestyle of her previous director by encouraging her to "do everything through love and nothing through constraint." He urged her to find God in the loving fulfillment of her duties in life. This gentle guidance transformed Jane. By 1610, Jane had arranged for the future of her children. Charlotte, the youngest, had died. Celse-Bénigne, her only son, was becoming a page in the court of the French king, and Marie-Aimée, the elder daughter, was marrying Bernard de Sales in Annecy. Françoise would complete her education under the tutelage of her mother in the Visitation Monastery. A family council met to permit Jane to enter religious life. On June 6, 1610, the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Annecy, France. The Order was designed to receive, with a view to their spiritual advancement, young girls & even widows who had not the desire or strength to subject themselves to the austere ascetical practices in force in all the religious orders at that time.
The day to day operation of the order fell to Jane. Even after François died in 1622, Jane continued founding monasteries of the Visitation throughout France. But she never neglected her children. She arranged marriages for all of them and then assisted in the setting up of their households. Marie-Aimée, already engaged to Bernard de Sales, was widowed early in her life and died soon after giving birth to a stillborn. She received the Visitation habit on her deathbed. Celse-Benigne, who married Marie deCoulanges, died in battle at the age of thirty-one as a result of more than twenty-seven stab wounds. His daughter became the renowned Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné.
Finally, Françoise married Antoine deToulongeon, a wealthy man some fifteen years her senior. Francoise was rather worldly in her ways and preferences. In Jane's correspondence with Françoise, she encourages her daughter to pursue a life of moderation rather than one of self-indulgence. In the end, Jane outlived everyone that she dearly loved and cared for except Françoise.
Although she had always longed for a quiet, contemplative existence, she never enjoyed this experience. Her own religious daughters elected her to be their superior over and over again. She also was involved in establishing new monasteries and in revisiting well-established ones to ensure that the true spirit of the Visitation was alive in them. On December 13, 1641, Jane de Chantal passed away while visiting the Visitation Monastery in Moulins. On her deathbed, she encouraged the assembled sisters of her order to remain constant in their vocation of living Jesus. She died in peace, asking for nothing and refusing nothing, thus demonstrating even in death her loving and lifelong fidelity to the Rule of Life given her by St François de Sales.
Sainte Jeanne Françoise de Chantal VHM
Known in English as Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Jane Frances Frémiot was born in Dijon, on January 28, 1572. She was the second child of Benigne Frémiot, president of the local parliament. Her mother, Marguerite (Berbisey) Frémiot, died when Jane was eighteen months old. Her father then assumed the task of Jane's education. In 1592, he arranged for the marriage of Jane to the young baron, Christopher de Rabutin-Chantal, the son of a friend. Since Christopher spent much of his time in the king's service at court, Jane became the one responsible for the rearing of their four children as well as for the management of the estate at Bourbilly. Their happiness was short-lived since Christopher died after a hunting accident in 1601. It took years for Jane to forgive the man who had caused his death. To safeguard the children's inheritance, Jane then lived with her father-in-law, his mistress, and their children at Monthelon. Though the immorality of this lifestyle distressed Jane, she was gracious to the mistress, even to the extent of educating her children. In 1604, Jane's father invited her to the series of Lenten sermons preached by François de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva. This was to be a milestone in Jane's life.
At their first meeting Jane saw that François was the director promised by God during a dream, and François recognized Jane as the co-worker he had seen during a vision. No wonder then that Jane placed herself under his spiritual direction. François de Sales immediately released her from the rigid lifestyle of her previous director by encouraging her to "do everything through love and nothing through constraint." He urged her to find God in the loving fulfillment of her duties in life. This gentle guidance transformed Jane. By 1610, Jane had arranged for the future of her children. Charlotte, the youngest, had died. Celse-Bénigne, her only son, was becoming a page in the court of the French king, and Marie-Aimée, the elder daughter, was marrying Bernard de Sales in Annecy. Françoise would complete her education under the tutelage of her mother in the Visitation Monastery. A family council met to permit Jane to enter religious life. On June 6, 1610, the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Annecy, France. The Order was designed to receive, with a view to their spiritual advancement, young girls & even widows who had not the desire or strength to subject themselves to the austere ascetical practices in force in all the religious orders at that time.
The day to day operation of the order fell to Jane. Even after François died in 1622, Jane continued founding monasteries of the Visitation throughout France. But she never neglected her children. She arranged marriages for all of them and then assisted in the setting up of their households. Marie-Aimée, already engaged to Bernard de Sales, was widowed early in her life and died soon after giving birth to a stillborn. She received the Visitation habit on her deathbed. Celse-Benigne, who married Marie deCoulanges, died in battle at the age of thirty-one as a result of more than twenty-seven stab wounds. His daughter became the renowned Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné.
Finally, Françoise married Antoine deToulongeon, a wealthy man some fifteen years her senior. Francoise was rather worldly in her ways and preferences. In Jane's correspondence with Françoise, she encourages her daughter to pursue a life of moderation rather than one of self-indulgence. In the end, Jane outlived everyone that she dearly loved and cared for except Françoise.
Although she had always longed for a quiet, contemplative existence, she never enjoyed this experience. Her own religious daughters elected her to be their superior over and over again. She also was involved in establishing new monasteries and in revisiting well-established ones to ensure that the true spirit of the Visitation was alive in them. On December 13, 1641, Jane de Chantal passed away while visiting the Visitation Monastery in Moulins. On her deathbed, she encouraged the assembled sisters of her order to remain constant in their vocation of living Jesus. She died in peace, asking for nothing and refusing nothing, thus demonstrating even in death her loving and lifelong fidelity to the Rule of Life given her by St François de Sales.
Known in English as Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Jane Frances Frémiot was born in Dijon, on January 28, 1572. She was the second child of Benigne Frémiot, president of the local parliament. Her mother, Marguerite (Berbisey) Frémiot, died when Jane was eighteen months old. Her father then assumed the task of Jane's education. In 1592, he arranged for the marriage of Jane to the young baron, Christopher de Rabutin-Chantal, the son of a friend. Since Christopher spent much of his time in the king's service at court, Jane became the one responsible for the rearing of their four children as well as for the management of the estate at Bourbilly. Their happiness was short-lived since Christopher died after a hunting accident in 1601. It took years for Jane to forgive the man who had caused his death. To safeguard the children's inheritance, Jane then lived with her father-in-law, his mistress, and their children at Monthelon. Though the immorality of this lifestyle distressed Jane, she was gracious to the mistress, even to the extent of educating her children. In 1604, Jane's father invited her to the series of Lenten sermons preached by François de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva. This was to be a milestone in Jane's life.
At their first meeting Jane saw that François was the director promised by God during a dream, and François recognized Jane as the co-worker he had seen during a vision. No wonder then that Jane placed herself under his spiritual direction. François de Sales immediately released her from the rigid lifestyle of her previous director by encouraging her to "do everything through love and nothing through constraint." He urged her to find God in the loving fulfillment of her duties in life. This gentle guidance transformed Jane. By 1610, Jane had arranged for the future of her children. Charlotte, the youngest, had died. Celse-Bénigne, her only son, was becoming a page in the court of the French king, and Marie-Aimée, the elder daughter, was marrying Bernard de Sales in Annecy. Françoise would complete her education under the tutelage of her mother in the Visitation Monastery. A family council met to permit Jane to enter religious life. On June 6, 1610, the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Annecy, France. The Order was designed to receive, with a view to their spiritual advancement, young girls & even widows who had not the desire or strength to subject themselves to the austere ascetical practices in force in all the religious orders at that time.
The day to day operation of the order fell to Jane. Even after François died in 1622, Jane continued founding monasteries of the Visitation throughout France. But she never neglected her children. She arranged marriages for all of them and then assisted in the setting up of their households. Marie-Aimée, already engaged to Bernard de Sales, was widowed early in her life and died soon after giving birth to a stillborn. She received the Visitation habit on her deathbed. Celse-Benigne, who married Marie deCoulanges, died in battle at the age of thirty-one as a result of more than twenty-seven stab wounds. His daughter became the renowned Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné.
Finally, Françoise married Antoine deToulongeon, a wealthy man some fifteen years her senior. Francoise was rather worldly in her ways and preferences. In Jane's correspondence with Françoise, she encourages her daughter to pursue a life of moderation rather than one of self-indulgence. In the end, Jane outlived everyone that she dearly loved and cared for except Françoise.
Although she had always longed for a quiet, contemplative existence, she never enjoyed this experience. Her own religious daughters elected her to be their superior over and over again. She also was involved in establishing new monasteries and in revisiting well-established ones to ensure that the true spirit of the Visitation was alive in them. On December 13, 1641, Jane de Chantal passed away while visiting the Visitation Monastery in Moulins. On her deathbed, she encouraged the assembled sisters of her order to remain constant in their vocation of living Jesus. She died in peace, asking for nothing and refusing nothing, thus demonstrating even in death her loving and lifelong fidelity to the Rule of Life given her by St François de Sales.
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