Visitation Monastery, Lyon
Jane was a person of her time who sought holiness in the situations in which she found herself. She suffered valiantly and yet kept going. She wasn’t afraid to be who she was: a woman of courage, who was faithful to the commitments that came with each stage of her life as wife, mother, friend, counselor and teacher.
In advising another sister, Jane quoted Francis: “We have to have strong, unshakable, long-winded courage when we undertake the good works committed to us by God and as long as we see his holy Will in them we must never grow slack. Should he wish us to cease trying even if we have failed, we must let go, gently and peaceably.”
When Archbishop Marquemont made his demands for a change in the structure of the Visitation Order, Jane was all for resisting, “Write to my Lord of Lyons in strong ink;’ she advised Francis. History tells us what happened. Francis knew that the spread of his Order depended on its acceptance by the King of France who relied heavily on such churchmen as Archbishop Marquemont to give approval for religious houses to be established in the country. He discerned that it would be better to acquiesce to the Archbishop’s wishes-establish a regular Order approved by Rome, with solemn vows, and cloister. Jane, of course, followed suit and never uttered another word against the new situation. But we can wonder which required more courage of Jane–for her to have gone against the Archbishop’s wishes or to yield her cherished plans and to accept such a radical change for the little congregation she loved so much.
Reflection questions:
- What are some of the little things that we can offer God in our everyday lives?
- Why would God be especially pleased in our fulfilling and offering to him our everyday commitments?
- What me some ways to keep this goal of offering evary little thing to God uppermost in our minds?
APPLICATION
Scripture
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)
When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offering and sin offerings You have taken no pleasure. Then said I, “See, God, I have come to do your Will. O God, in the scroll of the book it is written of me.” (Hebrews 10:5-7)
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him. (John 19:16-18)
JANE’S WORDS
Live joyously and courageously, my dear daughter, never doubting that Jesus Christ is entirely yours.
A generous heart does not know how to refuse anything to God. It demands nothing, placing all its confidence in his strength.
To gave upon God while suffering with gentleness and submission is quite enough. Courageous feelings do not lie within our power, but courageous conduct does indeed lie within our power. This it is that God requires of you at the moment, while He holds you on the cross.