When we think of saints, oftentimes it is in reference to their great works of evangelization and missionary work or writing volumes of theological insights or working amazing miracles. Today’s saint had none of those attributes. Rather, St. Jane Frances de Chantal was a baroness who bore seven children and became a widow when she was 28. She was known as an excellent manager of the properties of her husband as well as one who cared for others. She thought about becoming a cloistered nun, but her spiritual advisor, St. Francis de Sales, advised her against it. Instead, together they founded the Congregation of the Visitation, which consisted of women who were rejected by other religious orders due to age or infirmity. They served in the world in the same way as Mary did when she visited Elizabeth, namely going out to the sick and the poor and ministering to their needs. Eventually they were cloistered and could not go out into the world as they previously had done. However, their model served to show how women could be in the world and serve Christ and his Church as men did.
St. Jane de Chantal was an adept and sound administrator. By the time she died at the age of 69 in 1641, 86 houses were founded. She is the patroness of forgotten people, widows, and parents separated from their children. She also suffered a lifelong dark night of the soul, wherein she was tempted “to give up trying”. This temptation to give up on God tormented her, yet she remained faithful, even though it caused her terrible suffering.
When we think of saints, we need to remember the hidden saints who love and endure and serve and suffer and do the best they can, just as St. Jane de Chantal did.
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