In the Opening Prayer on August 18 we pray, “Lord, you chose St. Jane Frances to serve you both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to be the light of the world” (Sacramentary, page 755)
Jane was born in Dijon, France in 1562. When she was twenty, she married into a royal family. She and her husband had four children. Jane was a busy and happy wife and mother, but she still found time to welcome the poor who came to the castle door looking for food.
Jane’s husband was seriously injured in a hunting accident and died after a few days. She was heart-broken. She could not forgive the man who had caused the accident. She turned away from all the people and things she loved. Even prayer did not help her to overcome her sadness.
During Lent, she went to church and heard a priest give a sermon about God’s love. The priest’s name was Francis de Sales. His words opened her heart again. She forgave the man who caused her husband’s accident. Jane persuaded Fr. de Sales to be her spiritual advisor. The two became good friends.
Fr. De Sales told Jane about his dream to establish an order of religious sisters who would live and work among the people they served. In Jane’s day, all nuns lived in their convents and did not work in the community. The sisters would follow the humble example of our Blessed Mother Mary when she visited her cousin Elizabeth. Mary spent three months caring for and helping Elizabeth.
As Fr. de Sales hoped, his dream became Jane’s dream. The community she founded became known as the Visitation sisters. More than eighty convents were established in Jane’s lifetime. Francis de Sales was declared a saint in 1665. Jane de Chantel was canonized in 1767.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal teaches us the God has a plan for each of us. Like St. Jane, we can ask God to help us know and live our vocation.
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