# St. Jane Frances de Chantal: Cheerful Faith in Suffering
*2015-08-12*

> Bill Young reflects on the life of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, highlighting her perseverance through loss and depression, and offers a heartfelt prayer for unity of heart with God.

## A Brief Portrait of St. Jane Frances

St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1562‑1641) was a wife, mother, nun, and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when she was only eighteen months old, and her father, who headed the parliament in Dijon, shaped her education. Jane grew into a woman of beauty, refinement, and a lively, cheerful temperament. At twenty‑one she married a baron and bore six children, three of whom died in infancy. At her castle she restored the daily Mass and was deeply involved in charitable works.

## Loss, Depression, and New Hope

After seven years of marriage, Jane’s husband was killed. She fell into a deep depression for four months, feeling that her children might be taken from her if she did not return to her home. Despite the harshness of her husband’s former household and an insolent housekeeper, Jane remained cheerful.

She later met St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual director. He softened the strict spiritual regimen imposed by a previous director and encouraged her to consider religious life, though he persuaded her to defer the decision. Jane took a vow of perpetual chastity and obedience to her director.

## Founding a New Institute

Three years later, Francis de Sales shared his plan: to establish an Institute of Women that would welcome those whose health, age, or other obstacles prevented them from entering existing convents. The community would have no cloister, allowing its members to engage freely in works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal, and would model the virtues of the Virgin Mary—humility and meekness.

## A Prayer for Unity of Heart

Bill offers this prayer for all sinners seeking God’s light:

"O God, our hearts are often shrouded in darkness, torn between you and the enemy. Grant that we{{ not}} be divided between good and evil, but that your light may enlighten us and unite us wholly to you. Remove from us the coexistence of lies and truth, love and hate, humility and pride. Fill our hearts with peace and a sincere desire for you. May your holy will dwell within us so that we may truly become your children. Help us, Lord Jesus, to obtain forgiveness and to understand the gifts you give, even when we mistakenly reject good actions. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, without end. Amen."

May we, like St. Jane Frances, remain cheerful and faithful amid life’s trials.

*Even in deep sorrow, a heart fixed on God can remain joyful and productive in His service.*