St. Jane Lived Jesus
Jane was authentically human; she shows a great deal of affection for her sisters in the many letters she wrote. Her presence warmed the community and inspired others to grow spiritually. She loved as few saints have loved and loved in a normal way, but much more she loved passionately. Think of the sorrow and unquenchable grief she suffered when her husband died. Think of the love she had for her father and her children. Think of the unique and respectful love for Francis and for carrying out his advice and direction. Finally, think of her love for God which was passionate and as strong as death.
For Jane de Chantal all love was summed up in the name or Jesus, and that was only one way to respond to the love found in that holy name—and that was to Live Jesus !—the very heart and soul of the Visitation, its reason for existence:
Since our Lord, in his goodness, has gathered our hearts into one, allow me, my dearest Sisters, to greet you all, as a community and individually, for this same Lord will not allow me to greet you in any other way. But what a greeting it is! The very one that our great and worthy Father Francis taught us: LIVE JESUS! Yes, my beloved Sisters and daughters, I say the words with intense delight. LIVE JESUS in our memory, in our will and in our actions!
Reflection Questions
1. In our modern usage, charity usually refers to generosity. For Jane, charity was love. How are these two aspects of the word related?
2. Why is our total dependence on God necessary for us to have charity?
3. How can we better live the two-fold commandment: love of God and love of our neighbor?
APPLICATION
Scripture
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a ragging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it: If one offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned. (Song of Solomon 8:6, 7)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.-.You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 11:30,31)
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34, 35)
JANE’S WORDS
Ah, my dear Sisters, our beloved Visitation is a tiny kingdom of charity. If union and holy cherishing do not reign, it will soon be divided and consequently, laid waste, losing the luster which all the ingenuity of human effort could never regain. Let us therefore all pray that the Spirit of Love, uniter of hearts, grant to this close and living union with God by the total dependence of our will to his; and between us, a perfect cherishing and reciprocal union of heart and spirit.
We are called to have but one heart and one soul in God. We are called to a surpassing union with God and our neighbor–to a sublime perfection of love. St. Paul says: He who loves God and his neighbor has fulfilled the whole law” Hence springs mutual forbearance, Our Holy Founder tells us that in this kind support is contained the whole of Christian perfection.