by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 24, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
During her marriage to Christophe, one of Jane’s greatest joys was service to the poor and sick. She devoted herself to them at her husband’s estates in Bourbilly and later at Monthelon, her father-in-law’s estate. She saw it as one way to share her...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 23, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
Jane was no stranger to suffering, especially the suffering caused by the death of a loved one. Her mother died while Jane was a baby; her husband was killed in a hunting accident when she was very young and it happened just after the birth of her fourth child. Three...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 22, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
Francis’ description of a Sister of the Visitation as “the Will of God in her,” surely applies first and foremost to Jane de Chantal. Her whole life could be called an image of love stretched out, surrendered, offered, accepting all in its embrace of...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 21, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
Both Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales firmly believed and taught that holiness was cultivated by striving to live in the present moment This means not only should we abandon ourselves to God’s will but also we should give up our natural tendency to worry...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 19, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
While devotion to God was always Jane’s and Francis’ primary goal, they also recognized the necessity of working in the real world with real and fallible people. Therefore, they continually advised that devotion to God should look pleasant and appealing to...
by Sister Susan Marie | Mar 15, 2011 | "Prayerful Moments" booklet, Salesian Spirituality, St. Jane de Chantal
When first married, Jane arranged for Mass to be said before the hunt, her husband’s favorite pastime. She had daily Mass offered at Bourbilly which she attended regularly and encouraged her servants to attend. When living with her father-in-law, she rose very...