IFTTT Autopost 
Jane Frances de Chantal was born on January 28, 1572 in Dijon, Burgundy, France. Her father was the president of the parliament of Burgundy. When she was only eighteen months old, her mother died. Her father raised her alone until she was an adult.
At the age of twenty, Jane married a young man named Christophe. He had just inherited the title of Baron. Unfortunately, however, Christophe also inherited enormous debts as well.
Jane, however, brought a deep faith and a positive outlook on life to the marriage. Much of the credit for these qualities goes to Jane’s father. He made religious discussions fun, and he allowed Jane and her siblings to talk about anything, even controversial topics. In this way, Jane was able to use her intellect to form faith, rather than just accepting beliefs without thought.
Jane also brought to the marriage an amazing ability to organize and supervise the estate. With these skills, Jane was able to bring the finances of the estate under control. She was very beloved by the workers of the estate.
Even though Jane and Christophe had financial problems, they were deeply in love, not only with each other, but also with their four children.
As if taking care of a husband, four children, and employees of the estate was not enough work, Jane loved to share the blessings of her and Christophe by feeding the poor who came to her door. Sometimes, people who had just received soup and bread from Jane, would go around the house and get back in line for more. When people asked her why she let people do that, Jane replied, “What if God turned me away when I came back to him again and again with the same request?”
When Jane was twenty-eight, Christophe was killed in a hunting accident. Before dying, Christophe forgave his friend who accidentally shot him and said, “Don’t commit the sin of hating yourself when you have done nothing wrong.” Jane, despite her great faith, had a very difficult time forgiving Christophe’s friend. So, Jane decided to forgive a little at a time. First, she was able to greet the man on the street. Later, she invited him to her house. Finally, she was able to forgive the man so completely, that she even became the godmother to his child.
After Christophe’s death, Jane lived for some time with her father-in-law, a very difficult man to live with.
Like people throughout the centuries have discovered, the greatest periods of spiritual growth come from the most difficult periods in one’s life. Jane brought her pain to God, and she began to have dreams about a man she had never met. Fortunately, one day in Lent, 1604, Jane met a man that she recognized in her dreams. His name was Francis de Sales, a bishop who became her spiritual director and best friend. Jane learned that he, too, had had a dream of a woman he was to meet and help. Both Jane and Francis corresponded by Letters for many years.
With Bishop Francis’ help, Jane founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady at Annecy, France. Unlike other religious orders of Sisters that routinely rejected women because they were sick or older, the Visitation Sisters took the sick and the elderly as members. Jane even took a woman of 83 years. Jane believed that people should be allowed to follow their vocation regardless of their health or age.
As a religious Sister, Jane led with a very gente, wise, and loving approach to spirituality. Never was she authoritarian or legalistic, for she knew that was not the way of Jesus.
Jane died in 1641 a the age of sixty-nine, and Pope Benedict XIV canonized her in 1751.
Jane’s friend, Francis de Sales, is considered the co-founder of the Visitation Sisters. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1665.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal is a patrón saint of forgotten people, parents who are separated from their children, widows, people who have problems with their in-laws, and people who have lost their parents.
Today, the Visitation Sisters serve in many nations of Europe, North America, and South America.
