As a way of celebrating All Saints Day (which falls today), I’m dedicating this post to my patron Saint whom I shared the same name with.

Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal
(also known as Jeanne de Chantal)

Born on 28 January 1572 at Dijon, Burgundy, France to the nobility, the daughter of the president of the Parliment of Burgundy who raised her alone after the death of her mother when Jeanne was 18 months old. Married in 1592 at age 20 to Baron de Chantal. Mother of four. Widowed at 28 when the Baron was killed in a hunting accident and died in her arms. Taking a personal vow of chastity, she was forced to live with her father-in-law, which was a period of misery for her. She spent her free time in prayer, and received a vision of the man who would become her spiritual director.

In Lent, 1604, she met Saint Francis de Sales, and recognized him as the man in her vision. She became a spiritual student and close friend of Saint Francis, and the two carried on a lengthy correspondence for years. On Trinity Sunday, 6 June 1610 she founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady at Annecy, France. The Order was designed for widows and laywomen who did not wish the full life of the orders, and oversaw the founding of 69 convents. Jeanne spent the rest of her days overseeing the Order, and acting as spiritual advisor to any who desired her wisdom.

St. Jane died on 13 December 1641 at the Visitation Convent, Moulins, France.

She was beatified on 21 November 1751 by Pope Benedict XIV and canonized on 16 July 1767.

“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.”