St.Jane Frances de Chantal

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was born on January 28, 1572, in the French city of Dijon to noble and virtuous parents. Her father was Benignus Frémyot, president of the Parliament of Burgundy, and her mother was Marguerite de Berbisey.

Her devout mother died early, leaving three children in her father’s care: Jane, who received the name Frances at confirmation, Marguerite, and Andrew. At the death of her beloved mother, the frail, pious Jane commended herself to the care of the Virgin Mary, sighing: “You be my Mother, since God has called my mother from this earth to Himself!”

Her caring father thus raised his children himself, especially in the holy religion. And Jane repaid him with her piety, innocence, and helpfulness. Even as a child, she was zealous for the holy religion and shamed many a heretic. At that time, the erroneous teaching of John Calvin, who, among other things, denied the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, infected many lukewarm Christians. Jane was only twelve years old when her father was visited one day by a nobleman who spoke with him about faith and denied the Savior’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Johanna was then in the room with her governess and the other children. She ran to the heretic and exclaimed: “Sir, you must believe that Jesus Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament, because He said so! If you do not believe it, you consider Him a liar.”

Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal give their hearts to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The stranger was astonished by the child’s words and asked Jane more questions, to which she answered decisively and openly. To appease her, he poured candies into her apron. But she ran to the fireplace, dumped all the candies into the fire, and said gravely: “Look, sir, this is how heretics will burn in hell, because they do not believe what the Lord Christ said. If you had said that the king was a liar, my father, as president of the parliament, would have condemned you to death. Since you said that the Savior lied, those two presiding here will condemn you to death!” And she pointed to a painting of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. This event shows us the exceptionally pious nature of Saint Jane even in her youthful age.

In 1592, her father called her to Dijon. As soon as she arrived home, the twenty-year-old Jane had many noble suitors. However, she submitted to her father’s will as to whom he would choose for her as a husband, and he decided on the exemplary Catholic, Baron de Chantal. The saintly maiden prepared for this serious step with prayer, good deeds, and frequent reception of the holy sacraments.

When she married, she excelled in all the virtues of a Christian wife at her castle in Bourbille. Her noble husband entrusted her with the entire household, as he, as a statesman, had to travel very often. Her first concern was that everyone living in the castle should serve God. She kept only devout servants, with whom she prayed. Those who went to work in the fields first attended Holy Mass. On Sundays and holidays, all servants had to go to the parish church, and she taught them holy religion at home. She rose early in the morning and worked tirelessly in the household until evening. She was so thrifty that soon her husband’s property, previously low due to lack of supervision, grew again, and all debts were paid. When her husband was not home, she put away all her ornaments and dressed very simply.

One Sunday, as she was preparing to go to the parish church with her servants and maids, as was her custom, her husband told her that Holy Mass in the castle chapel was just as good as in the parish church, which was three hours away. The devout baroness replied: “There are graces associated with gathering in the church. And nothing is as convincing as example. How can the poor people believe what is proclaimed to them about their duties to God, when we ourselves neglect these duties and do not seek glory in serving such a great and good Lord.”With her savings, she gave generous alms to the poor. As a result of the war, there was great poverty. Saint Jane distributed generous alms, although she herself suffered poverty. The poor came daily through one gate into the castle and left through the other,”so there would be no mess. That’s how she wanted it. However, it often happened that many poor people received alms two or three times, which she herself distributed in the courtyard. When her household pointed this out to her, she said: “It is your duty to tell me this; but it is my duty to give alms to these poor people as many times as they ask me for it.” And she sighed: “My God, I beg incessantly at the door of Your mercy; would I wish that my pleas would not be heard the second and third time? You have suffered my importunity a thousand times, why should I not suffer it from Your creatures?”

She loved her husband with tender affection and tried in every way to sweeten his life with innocent joy, often even shortening her devotions to shorten his time in their solitude with her cheerful disposition. When he was ill, she nursed him carefully and persistently herself. She lived in a happy marriage for eight years when God visited her to lead her to higher perfection through suffering. One day, her husband went hunting with his relative and friend. He positioned himself in a thicket. Meanwhile, his cousin pursued a deer from the other side. When he came to the thicket, something moved. He thought it was the deer and fired… Baron de Chantal lay in his blood.

The gravely wounded Baron exclaimed: “I am dying. My friend, I forgive you, for this misfortune happened due to carelessness.” He immediately sent four servants to various parishes for a priest to come to him as soon as possible and administer the last rites to the dying man. He sent a fifth servant to his wife with the words: “Do not tell her that I am mortally wounded, but only that I have been shot.” The servant informed the Baroness as his master had instructed him. The saint sighed: “Oh, they want to gild this bitter pill for me!” And she immediately ran to the scene of the accident.

When her wounded husband saw her, he said: “My friend, God’s judgment is just.” After he confessed and comforted his cousin who had shot him, the poor wife’s grief was so great that she cried out to heaven: “Lord, take everything I have on earth: relatives, possessions, and children, just leave me this good husband whom You have granted me!” But all was in vain. Her beloved virtuous husband died nine days later, and St. Jane remained a widow. She mourned his premature death with her three daughters and one son.

The twenty-eight-year-old widow bore her bitter fate with resignation to God’s will and repeated the words: “God does everything in His mercy!” And she gave away her festive clothes, dressed in mourning, and wanted to wear them until her death. She decided to dedicate herself entirely to God’s service. She devoted her time to raising her children, household chores, the poor, and the sick.

At her father-in-law’s request, she moved with her children to live with him in Mouthelon. She lived there for seven and a half years, and during this period, she had to endure the slights and extravagance of a proud girl who had completely captivated her elderly father-in-law, Baron de Chantal. The holy widow patiently endured everything and overcame it through work and prayer. She often prayed for God to send her a guide who would lead her on the path to perfection. And merciful God heard her fervent plea.