August 12 2024 - St. Jane Frances de Chantal - Charity refined in the crucible of suffering

 

St. Jane Frances de Chantal was wife, mother, nun and founder of a religious community.  This 16th Century saint had an amazing array of life experiences, many of which, however, involved the cross.

 Jane’s mother died when she was but 18 months old. However, her father, who was head of parliament at Dijon, France, saw to her development as a woman of beauty and refinement, lively and cheerful in temperament.  She was married at age 21 to Baron de Chantal. The had six children, but three died in infancy. At their castle, she restored the custom of daily Mass, and was deeply engaged in various charitable works.

Jane’s husband was killed after seven years of marriage, and she sank into deep depression.  

When she was 32, she met St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual director.  

At age 45, she and two other women, joined the Visitation Nuns, the cloistered community founded her spiritual director.  The Visitation Nuns were primarily intended to exemplify the virtues of Mary at the Visitation: humility and meekness.  Life’s challenges however continued.  Her son was killed, and a plague ravaged France.  In response to the plague, she persuaded local authorities to respond to the plague victims and she put all the resources of her convent at the disposal of the sick.

Religious life did not shield Jane Frances de Chantal from great trials of the spirit, temptations, darkness, spiritual dryness, but because of her faith, she was deeply filled with God’s peace.  St. Vincent de Paul, a contemporary said of her: “for all that suffering, her face never lost its serenity, nor did she once relax in the fidelity God asked of her.”  

It may strike us that a saint should be subject to such great suffering, spiritual dryness, darkness.  But that’s how saints are made. Saints are those who persevere through the darkness. At the heart of the saint is a trust and faith in God that is deeper than any darkness—that no matter what one is feeling, no matter what tragedy or chaos life throws at you, we must heed the great commandment to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and love our neighbor as ourselves.  Just because we are having a bad day, a bad week, a bad decade, we are not excused from the commandment to love.

So when we experience the crucible of human suffering, may we, like Saint Frances de Chantal be found faithful to the Gospel of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That we like St. Frances de Chantal, we may respond to life's challenges with faith, perseverance, and love, and that we may grow in our trust in God, allowing His peace to fill us even amidst life's turmoil.

For all who serve the sick and suffering, that they may be inspired by St. Frances' example of charity and selflessness, and for religious communities, that they may continue to exemplify the virtues in their service to the Church. 

For those facing trials of the spirit, temptations, or spiritual dryness, those experiencing grief and depression, for parents who have lost children, and for those experiencing any kind of darkness in their lives, that they may find hope in the examples of saints who persevered through similar struggles

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

Loving and merciful God, as we celebrate the saints, hear our prayers, that we like them may face life’s challenges with unwavering faith, persevering hope, and generous charity. Through Christ our Lord.