Jane Frances Freiniot de Chantal was born at Dijon in Burgundy, of noble parents, and from her childhood gave clear signs of her future great sanctity. It was said that when only five years of age, she put to silence a Calvinist nobleman by substantial arguments, far beyond her age, and when he offered her a little present she immediately threw it into the fire, saying: "This is how heretics will burn in hell, because they do not believe Christ when He speaks." When she lost her mother, she put herself under the care of the Virgin Mother of God, and dismissed a maid servant who was enticing her to love of the world. There was nothing childish in her manners; she shrank from worldly pleasures, and thirsting for martyrdom, she devoted herself entirely to religion and piety. She was given in marriage by her father to the Baron de Chantal, and in this new state of life she strove to cultivate every virtue, and busied herself in instructing in faith and morals her children, her servants and all under her authority. Her liberality in relieving the necessities of the poor was very great, and more than once God miraculously multiplied her stores of provisions; on this account she promised never to refuse any one who begged an alms in Christ's name.

Her husband having been killed while hunting, she determined to embrace a more perfect life and bound herself by a vow of chastity. She not only bore her husband's death resignedly, but overcame herself so far as to stand godmother to the child of the man who had killed him, in order to give a public proof that she pardoned him. She contented herself with a few servants and with plain food and dress, devoting her costly garments to pious usages. Whatever time remained from her domestic cares she employed in prayer, pious reading, and work. She could never be induced to accept offers of second marriage, even though honourable and advantageous. In order not to be shaken in her resolution of observing chastity, she renewed her vow, and imprinted the most holy name of Jesus Christ upon her breast with a red-hot iron. Her love grew more ardent day by day. She had the poor, the abandoned, the sick, and those who were afflicted with the most terrible diseases brought to her, and not only sheltered, and comforted, and nursed them, but washed and mended their filthy garments, and did not shrink from putting her lips to their running sores.

Having learnt the will of God from St. Francis de Sales her director, she founded the Institute of the Visitation of our Lady. For this purpose she quitted, with unfaltering courage, her father, her father-in-law, and even her son, over whose body she had to step in order to leave her home, so violently did he oppose her vocation. She observed her Rule with the utmost fidelity, and so great was her love of poverty, that she rejoiced to be in want of even the necessaries of life. She was a perfect model of Christian humility, obedience, and all other virtues. Wishing for still higher ascensions in her heart, she bound herself by a most difficult vow, always to do what she thought most perfect. At length when the Order of the visitation had spread far and wide, chiefly through her endeavours, after encouraging her sisters to piety and charity by words and example, and also by writings full of divine wisdom: laden with merits, she passed to the Lord at Moulins, having duly received the Sacraments of the Church. She died on the 13th December, in the year 1641. St. Vincent de Paul, who was at a great distance, saw her soul being carried to heaven, and St. Francis de Sales coming to meet her. Her body was afterwards translated to Annecy. Miracles having made her illustrious both before and after her death, Benedict XIV. placed her among the Blessed, and Pope Clement XIII. among the Saints. Pope Clement XIV. commanded her feast to be celebrated by the universal Church on the 12th of the Calends of September.

The office of Martha seemed at first to be destined for thee, O great Saint! Thy father, Francis de Sales, forestalling St.Vincent de Paul, thought of making thy companions the first daughters of Charity. Thus was given to thy work the blessed name of Visitation, which was to place under Mary's protection thy visits to the sick and neglected poor. But the progressive deterioration of strength in modern times had laid open a more pressing want in the institutions of holy Church. Many souls called to share Mary's part, were prevented from doing so by their inability to endure the austere life of the great contemplative Orders. The Spouse, who deigns to adapt his goodness to all times, made choice of thee, O Jane, to second the love of his Sacred Heart, and come to the rescue of the physical and moral miseries of an old, worn-out, and decrepit world.

Renew us, then, in the love of Him Whose charity consumed thee first; in its ardour, thou didst traverse the most various paths of life, and never didst thou fail of that admirable strength of soul, which the Church presents before God to-day in order to obtain through thee the assistance necessary to our weakness. May the insidious and poisonous spirit of Jansenism never return to freeze our hearts; but at the same time, as we learn from thee, love is only then real, when, with or without austerities, it lives by faith, generosity, and self-renunciation, in humility, simplicity, and gentleness. It is the spirit of thy holy institute, the spirit which became, through thy angelic Father, so amiable and so strong: may it ever reign amidst thy daughters, keeping up among their houses the sweet union which has never ceased to rejoice heaven; may the world be refreshed by the perfumes which ever exhale from the silent retreats of the Visitation of holy Mary!

O Glorious saint, blessed Jane Frances, who, by thy fervent prayer, attention to the divine Presence, and purity of intention in thy actions, didst attain on earth an intimate union with God, be now our advocate, our mother, our guide in the path of virtue and perfection. Plead our cause near Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, to whom thou wast so tenderly devoted, and whose holy virtues thou didst so closely imitate. Obtain for us, O amiable and compassionate saint, the virtues thou seest most necessary for us; an ardent love of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, a tender and filial confidence in His blessed Mother, and, like thee, a constant remembrance of His sacred passion and death. Obtain also, we pray thee, that our particular intention in this novena may be fulfilled.

Almighty and merciful God, Who didst grant blessed St. Jane Frances, so inflamed with the love of Thee, a wonderful degree of fortitude through all the paths of life, and wast pleased through her to adorn Thy Church with a new Religious order; grant, by her merits and prayers, that we, who, sensible of our weakness, confide in Thy strength, may overcome all adversities with the help of Thy heavenly grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

O Great St. Jane Frances! who, to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when thou wert called to the religious state, didst despise all the ties of nature and of blood; obtain for us also the grace to correspond faithfully with all devine impulses, and to sacrifice to God whatever is most dear and precious to us.

O Great St. Jane Frances, who didst execute, with the utmost exactness, thy singular and difficult vow to do always what thou didst recognize as most perfect; obtain for us the grace always to aspire to the acquisition of the most sublime sanctity, and never to omit the means which we know may conduce to this end.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
O God the Father of heaven,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy upon us.
O Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.


Holy Mother of God,
Pray for us. *

St. Francis de Sales, *
St. Jane, *
St. Jane, virgin modest and fervent, *
St. Jane, valiant woman, *
St. Jane, prudent woman, *
St. Jane, woman fearing God, *
St. Jane, most chaste, *
St. Jane, enemy of pomps and delights, *
St. Jane, ever devoted to prayer, *
St. Jane, ever occupied in instructing thy children and setting them an example of constant piety, *
St. Jane, mother of thy servants, *
St. Jane, comforter of the afflicted, *
St. Jane, nurse of the poor, *
St. Jane, true Christian widow, *
St. Jane, most constant in the faith, *
St. Jane, ever filled with the love of God, *
St. Jane, so ardent in love of God, *
St. Jane, whose charity was so fervent, *
St. Jane, whose heart was so mild, *
St. Jane, so humble of heart, *
St. Jane, so attached to the Catholic doctrine, *
St. Jane, most devoted to the Apostolic See, *
St. Jane, so submitted to the pastors of the Church, *
St. Jane, mirror and example of every state in which we desire to serve God, *
St. Jane, ever ready to respond to the voice of the Lord, *
St. Jane, abandoning family, home, and all, for the love of God, *
St. Jane, foundress, Mother, and first religious of the order of the Visitation of St. Mary, *
St. Jane, living rule of religious obedience, *
St. Jane, vigilant guardian of modesty, *
St. Jane, perfect observer of evangelical poverty, *
St. Jane, enlightened conductress of the spouses of Christ, *
St. Jane, ever patiently enduring wrongs, *
St. Jane, zealous in propagating God's glory, *
St. Jane, inflamed with divine love, *
St. Jane, consolation of those who have recourse to thee, *
St. Jane, ever the honor and glory of thy order, *


Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.


V. Pray for us, St. Jane Frances.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us pray:

Almighty and merciful God, Who inflaming blessed Jane Frances with thy love, didst endow her with a marvelous fortitude of spirit to pursue the way of perfection in all the duties of Life, and wast pleased through her to enrich thy church with a new family; grant, through her merits and intercession, that we, knowing our own weakness, and trusting in thy strength, may, by the gift of thy heavenly grace, overcome all things that oppose us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.