Jane Frances de Chantal
Encyclopedia
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (Jeanne-Françoise Frémiot, Baron
ne de Chantal, 28 January 1572 – 13 December 1641) is a Roman Catholic
Saint
, who founded a religious order
after the death of her husband.
, France
on 28 January 1572. The mother of six children (three died shortly after they were born), she was widowed at the age of 28. She met Saint Francis de Sales
when he preached at the Sainte Chapelle in Dijon. She was inspired to start a religious order for women, the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
with his support, an order for women who were rejected by other orders because of poor health or age. When people criticized her, she famously said, "What do you want me to do? I like sick people myself; I'm on their side."
She died on 13 December 1641 at the age of 69, at the Visitation Convent
in Moulins
, one of those she founded, and was buried in Annecy
.
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 is currently celebrated in the Roman Catholic Calendar of saints
on 12 August. When in 1769 it was for the first time inserted into the Roman calendar, the date chosen was 21 August. In 1969, the feast day was moved to 12 December, as close as possible to the anniversary of her death, 13 December, a date occupied by the feast day of Saint Lucy. Her 12 December celebration became superseded in a large part of the world by the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
, whom Pope John Paul II
's on 25 March 1999 declared Patron
ess of the Americas
. In 2001, when the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe was made a feast in every country, that of Saint Jane Frances was transferred to 12 August. In some American countries which already had a feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Jane Frances was already celebrated on dates other than 12 December. In the case of the United States
, this date was 18 August, eventually being transferred to 12 August. Traditionalist Catholics who continue to observe pre-1970 calendars celebrate Saint Jane Frances on the 1769-1969 date of 21 August.
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal wrote some exemplary letters of spiritual direction.
She was the paternal grandmother of the French letter-writer Madame de Sévigné
.
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
ne de Chantal, 28 January 1572 – 13 December 1641) is a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, who founded a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
after the death of her husband.
Life
Jane Frances was born in DijonDijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 28 January 1572. The mother of six children (three died shortly after they were born), she was widowed at the age of 28. She met Saint Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva and is a Roman Catholic saint. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism, and was an accomplished preacher...
when he preached at the Sainte Chapelle in Dijon. She was inspired to start a religious order for women, the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary or the Visitation Order is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. Members of the order are also known as Filles de Sainte-Marie, Visitandines, Salesian Sisters and, more commonly, Visitationists.- History of the order :The Order was founded in 1610 by...
with his support, an order for women who were rejected by other orders because of poor health or age. When people criticized her, she famously said, "What do you want me to do? I like sick people myself; I'm on their side."
She died on 13 December 1641 at the age of 69, at the Visitation Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Moulins
Moulins, Allier
Moulins is a commune in central France, capital of the Allier department.Among its many tourist attractions are the Maison Mantin the Anne de Beaujeu Museum.-History:...
, one of those she founded, and was buried in Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
.
Veneration
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
, and canonized on 16 July 1767 by Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII , born Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico, was Pope from 16 July 1758 to 2 February 1769....
.
Saint Jane Frances's feast day is currently celebrated in the Roman Catholic Calendar of saints
Roman Catholic calendar of saints
The General Roman Calendar indicates the days of the year to which are assigned the liturgical celebrations of saints and of the mysteries of the Lord that are to be observed wherever the Roman Rite is used...
on 12 August. When in 1769 it was for the first time inserted into the Roman calendar, the date chosen was 21 August. In 1969, the feast day was moved to 12 December, as close as possible to the anniversary of her death, 13 December, a date occupied by the feast day of Saint Lucy. Her 12 December celebration became superseded in a large part of the world by the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
, whom Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's on 25 March 1999 declared Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
ess of the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. In 2001, when the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe was made a feast in every country, that of Saint Jane Frances was transferred to 12 August. In some American countries which already had a feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Jane Frances was already celebrated on dates other than 12 December. In the case of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, this date was 18 August, eventually being transferred to 12 August. Traditionalist Catholics who continue to observe pre-1970 calendars celebrate Saint Jane Frances on the 1769-1969 date of 21 August.
Writings of Saint Jane Frances
She was the paternal grandmother of the French letter-writer Madame de Sévigné
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné was a French aristocrat, remembered for her letter-writing. Most of her letters, celebrated for their wit and vividness, were addressed to her daughter.-Life:...
.
External links
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Saint of the Day
- The Life of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal at Catholic Online
- Saint Jeanne de Chantal at Patron Saints Index
- Saint Jane Frances De Chantal School in North Hollywood, California