Widow and mother, founder of the Order of the Visitation, spiritual guide alongside Saint Francis de Sales
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August 12th: Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, religious
Gospel text
Mk 3:31-35
Mk 3:31-35
A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Gospel's Commentary
Today is the feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572–1641). She was a French noblewoman, wife, mother, widow, and religious foundress. After a happy marriage to Baron Christopher de Chantal, with whom she had six children, she was widowed at the age of 29. Deeply affected by her loss, she consecrated her life to God and devoted herself to works of charity and prayer.
In 1604, she met St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual guide. Together, in 1610, they founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary for women who wished to consecrate themselves to God without undertaking the extreme austerities practiced by other religious orders. She founded 87 monasteries, lived with humility and gentleness, and cultivated a profound interior life.
—A friend of St. Vincent de Paul, she was canonized in 1767. Her legacy endures as an example of courage, faith, and loving service to others.