Jane Frances de Chantel (1572-1641) - Feast Day August 12
“Throw ourselves into God as a little drop of water into the sea, and lose ourselves indeed in the Ocean of the divine goodness." - Saint Jane Frances de Chantel
When I became a Spiritual Director, one of the years in my formation was entitled “Ways of Prayer and Discernment.” We focused our mornings learning about the great spiritual teachers such as: St. Clare of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Francis, and St. Jane Frances de Chantel, to name a few. My mother’s name is Jane Frances, so I have always felt connected to Saint Jane Frances, and I was delighted to learn more about her. Saint Jane had four children and her father was a lawyer. She was also a spiritual leader ahead of her time!
Saint Jane was a Spiritual Director for people in her neighborhood. She would provide sacred ground to listen to the stirrings of God in the lives of her Spiritual Directees. As a Spiritual Director myself, I am always humbled to hear of the ways that God is alive in my Directees, and to notice the way each person responds to invitations from God. Saint Jane Frances had a powerful vision and needed the help of her friend, Bishop Saint Francis de Sales, to make that vision into a reality.
After Saint Jane’s husband died in a hunting accident, leaving her with four young children, she felt called to create a religious community for women. She envisioned a place for women who were not welcomed in traditional religious orders. Bishop Saint Francis gave Saint Jane permission to establish a community called The Congregation of the Visitation. This was a community specifically for those who were rejected by other orders because of their age, ability, or obligations that would not allow them to live in seclusion from the world. Saint Jane heard the call of these women, and nurtured a space for them to gather together and praise God. Further, the Congregation of the Visitation was not a cloister, so Saint Jane could care for her children, and other women could tend to responsibilities outside of their congregation. By the end of her life, over 80 communities were established by Saint Jane and her Congregation.
I wonder if we have encountered people in our lives who have been excluded from a community with which they would love to belong? I wonder if you yourself might be feeling excluded in some way? In our world today, we need to be cultivators of spaces that are inclusive and welcoming. God calls each of us to use our gifts in a unique way. If we are feeling excluded from some place where we feel we could live out our vocation fully, may we have the courage to create and/or find somewhere that will welcome us with open arms.
May the leadership of inclusivity, welcoming hospitality, and gentle listening of Saint Jane Frances inspire us all to listen to God with our hearts and lives, to listen to those around us, and to work tirelessly to create inclusive communities that welcome everyone to shine their light, especially those who might have been unjustly cast aside. May the God of infinite love guide us to the infinitely large tent that has room for us all! Amen.
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