Jane Frances de Chantal

WITNESS




8-12-13




JANE FRANCES de CHANTAL




Jane was a widow
And foundress
Of the Visitation Order


She married
At the age of 20
And three children died in infancy
But four survived


Jane was
A faithful wife
Devoted mother
And efficient housekeeper


After nine years of marriage
Her husband was killed
In a shooting accident


She took a vow of chastity
And in 1604
She met Francis de Sales
Who became her spiritual director
Until 1622—the year of his death


She benefited
From his wise guidance
As he stressed
Her duties as daughter
As mother
And as a member of society


Later she became a nun
And with Francis-founded an order
Whose purpose
Was to enable women of delicate health
To live a religious life
Outside of a cloister


Francis inaugurated
This order of nuns in 1610
With Jane as superior
Of about a dozen other nuns


They eventually had to agree
To the nuns being enclosed
Which Francis thought taught
The importance of humility and meekness
Which was embraced
By the prudence and dedication of Jane


Vincent de Paul described Jane
“As one of the holiest of souls
That I have ever met”


All this time
Jane had been concerned
With problems within her own family


In later years
She made systematic visits
To all the houses in her order


She died at the age of 69
And her feast day is December 12^th


Robert P. Wallman
8-27-12


Ps I had an Aunt on my mom’s side of the family who was
A cloistered Visitation nun. As children, our family would
Go and visit her-we would look at her through a screen-except
One day a year the public could visit them openly-which we did.


Aunt Mary died when I was a young adult. I attended her funeral
With my family. She was buried in a simple plain pine box.
God bless you Aunt Mary.


With Love,


Bob---9-6-12




WITNESS 8-12-13
8-12-14