St. Jane

Jane Frances de Chantal (January 28, 1572 – December 13, 1641) was born in Dijon, France. The mother of six children (three of whom died shortly after birth), she was widowed at the age of 28. She met Saint Francis de Sales when he preached at the Sainte Chapelle in Dijon and was inspired to start a Catholic religious order for women, the Congregation of the Visitation. She died at the Visitation Convent in Moulins, one of those she founded, and was buried in Annecy. She was beatified on November 21, 1751, by Pope Benedict XIV, and canonized on July 16, 1767, by Pope Clement XIII. Her liturgical celebration is on December 12. In the United States it has been transferred to August 12, to allow for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.