SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS INTO THE LIFE OF SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI
August 11, 2026
1 John 1: 7
August 12, 2026
FEAST OF SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL, RELIGIOUS
FEAST DAY – 12th AUGUST
Jane Frances de Chantal (28 January 1572 – 13 December 1641) is a Catholic saint, who was beatified in 1751 and canonized in 1767. She founded the religious Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The order accepted women who were rejected by other orders because of poor health or age. When people criticized her, Chantal famously said, “What do you want me to do? I like sick people myself; I’m on their side.”
During its first eight years, the new order also was unusual in its public outreach, in contrast to most female religious who remained cloistered and adopted strict ascetic practices.
Jane Frances was wife, mother, nun, and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when she was 18 months old, and her father, head of parliament at Dijon, France, became the main influence on her education.
Jane developed into a woman of beauty and refinement, lively and cheerful in temperament. At 21, she married Baron de Chantal, by whom she had six children, three of whom died in infancy. At her castle, she restored the custom of daily Mass, and was seriously engaged in various charitable works. Jane’s husband was killed after seven years of marriage, and she sank into deep dejection for four months at her family home.
Her father-in-law threatened to disinherit her children if she did not return to his home. He was then 75, vain, fierce, and extravagant. Jane Frances managed to remain cheerful in spite of him and his insolent housekeeper. When she was 32, Jane met Saint Francis de Sales who became her spiritual director, softening some of the severities imposed by her former director. She wanted to become a nun but he persuaded her to defer this decision. She took a vow to remain unmarried and to obey her director.
After three years, Francis told Jane of his plan to found an institute of women that would be a haven for those whose health, age, or other considerations barred them from entering the already established communities.
There would be no cloister, and they would be free to undertake spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They were primarily intended to exemplify the virtues of Mary at the Visitation—hence their name the Visitation nuns—humility and meekness.
The usual opposition to women in active ministry arose and Francis de Sales was obliged to make it a cloistered community following the Rule of Saint Augustine. Francis wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God for them. The congregation consisting of three women began when Jane Frances was 45. She underwent great sufferings.
Francis de Sales died, her son was killed; a plague ravaged France; her daughter-in-law and son-in-law died. She encouraged the local authorities to make great efforts for the victims of the plague, and she put all her convent’s resources at the disposal of the sick. During a part of her religious life, Jane had to undergo great trials of the spirit—interior anguish, darkness, and spiritual dryness. She died while on a visitation of convents of the community.
She was beatified on 21 November 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV, and canonized on 16 July 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. Saint Jane Frances’s feast day was included in the General Roman Calendar in 1769, two years after she was canonized. Her feast was set as 21 August. In the 1969 revision of the calendar, her feast was moved to 12 December, to be closer to the day of her death, which occurred on 13 December 1641, the feast of Saint Lucy.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II included in the General Roman Calendar the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 December. Consequently, he moved the memorial of Saint Jane Frances to 12 August.
In 2022, Jane Frances de Chantal was officially added to the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar with a feast day shared with Francis de Sales on 12 December. Jane Frances de Chantal is invoked as the patron of forgotten people, widows, and parents who are separated from their children.
CONTEMPLATING THE LIFE OF SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL
THE FLAME THAT LEARNED TO REST
“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.” – St. Jane Frances de Chantal
A LADY OF BURGUNDY
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was born in Dijon, France, in 1572, into a family of faith and justice. Her mother died when Jane was very young, but her father raised her with love and discipline. From childhood, Jane had a deep love for prayer and a desire to belong completely to God.
A MARRIAGE OF LOVE AND FAITH
At the age of twenty, Jane married Baron Christophe de Chantal. Their marriage was loving and faithful, and they were blessed with six children, though only four survived infancy. At their estate in Bourbilly, Jane combined the responsibilities of family life with prayer, hospitality and generous care for the poor. Her happiness never replaced God as the centre of her life.
WIDOWHOOD AND WOUND
Jane’s life changed dramatically when her husband was accidentally killed during a hunting trip. At only twenty eight, she was left a widow with young children. Despite her profound grief, she publicly forgave the man responsible for her husband’s death. She later endured the difficult authority of her father in law while quietly raising her children and deepening her dependence on God.
A VISION OF THE FUTURE
During prayer, Jane experienced a vision of a holy man whom she sensed would guide her soul. Years later, in 1604, she heard Bishop Francis de Sales preaching in Dijon and recognised him as the man she had seen. Their meeting became a profound spiritual friendship. Francis recognised Jane’s deep longing for God and became her spiritual director.
THE GENTLE REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL
Jane initially believed that holiness required severe penances, fasting and rigorous discipline. Francis de Sales taught her a gentler way, encouraging her to do everything through love rather than force. She gradually surrendered her need for spiritual perfection and learned to trust God with a peaceful and humble heart.
FOUNDING A HOME FOR HEARTS
In 1610, Jane and Francis de Sales founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Annecy. Their vision welcomed women who might not be accepted by stricter religious communities, including widows, the elderly and the physically weak. Jane desired the community to become a school of charity, shaped by humility, compassion and the gentle love of Mary.
THE HIDDEN FIRE OF INTERIOR TRIALS
After the death of Francis de Sales in 1622, Jane experienced prolonged periods of spiritual darkness. Prayer often seemed dry and God appeared distant, yet she remained faithful. She learned to trust God even without consolation, showing that genuine faith does not depend upon feelings but rests upon confidence in God’s love.
THE MOTHER OF MANY
By the time of her death in 1641, Jane had founded eighty seven Visitation monasteries and become a spiritual mother to countless women. Through grief, suffering, misunderstanding and spiritual dryness, she remained gentle and faithful. Her life showed that surrender to God can transform suffering into peace and strength.
LEGACY AND CANONIZATION
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. She is remembered as a patron of widows, a model of spiritual friendship and a witness to trusting God during times of spiritual darkness. Her life continues to teach that holiness is found not only in great deeds but also in patient love, gentleness and surrender.
MYSTICAL WISDOM FROM HER JOURNEY
Sorrow can become a place of grace when we place it in God’s hands.
Trust is choosing to remain in God’s hands even when we cannot see the way forward.
A true friendship rooted in Christ can awaken the soul and lead it closer to God.
The deepest measure of love is not achievement but gentleness.
Silence and spiritual dryness can become places where God quietly deepens our faith.
PRAYER TO SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, gentle mother and courageous soul, you walked through grief and suffering and emerged with a heart full of peace. Teach us to trust God when He seems silent, to love when our hearts feel empty, and to remain gentle in a harsh world. Help us to become schools of charity wherever God has placed us and to rest peacefully in His loving hands. Amen.
PRAYER
Saint Jane, you forgave the man who killed your husband, bringing a lot of hardship into your life. Help us too, to learn to forgive people who have caused harm and havoc in our lives, despite our kindnesses towards them.
Saint Jane, you know how difficult it is to forgive many things which seem simply unforgivable and sinful in others. Help us to inculcate mercy in our approach towards all, maintaining peace in our lives. Amen
St. Jane Frances, pray for us!
