Saint jeanne de chantal biography sample

Feast Day: August Birth: January 28, Death: December 13, She was born into a noble family, the daughter of the president of the Parliament of Burgundy, who raised her alone after the death of her mother when she was just 18 months old. At the age of twenty, Jeanne married Baron de Chantal in and became the mother of four children.

Tragedy struck when her husband was killed in a hunting accident at the young age of 28, dying in Jeanne's arms. Devastated by her loss, Jeanne made a personal vow of chastity and was forced to live with her father-in-law, a period of her life that was filled with misery. During her time of grief, Jeanne sought solace in prayer and meditation.

It was during this period that she received a vision of the man who would become her spiritual director.

What is st jane frances de chantal known for

In Lent of , Jeanne met Saint Francis de Sales and immediately recognized him as the man from her vision. She became his spiritual student and close friend, and the two carried on a lengthy correspondence for many years. This order was established specifically for widows and lay women who did not wish to fully commit to the life of a religious order.

Under Jeanne's guidance, the order grew rapidly, and she oversaw the founding of 69 convents. For the rest of her days, Jeanne dedicated herself to overseeing the Order of the Visitation and acting as a spiritual advisor to those who sought her wisdom. The Visitationist nuns, as they are known today, live a contemplative life, work with women suffering from poor health or widowed, and sometimes run schools.

Saint Jeanne de Chantal's life was one of devotion and service.