From: hildegard8@excite.com   
      
   December 30th - Saint Jane Frances de Chantal   
      
   Jane, the daughter of Bénigne Frémyot and Marguerite de Berbisey, was born   
   on January 23, 1572 at Dijon, France. Her father was president of the   
   parliament of Dijon. At 18 months of age her mother died. Her father saw to   
   it that his children were well-educated both in faith and in secular   
   subjects.   
      
   At the age of 21 Jane was married to Baron Christophe de Rabutin-Chantal.   
   They had six children, two of whom died at an early age. Seven years after   
   her marriage, her husband was shot during a hunting trip and only lived for   
   about nine more days. Jane went through a time of severe depression until   
   her father reminded her of her obligation to her young children.   
      
   Jane returned to her father's home for a brief period, but her father-in-law   
   threatened to disinherit her and her children if she did not return to her   
   husband's ancestral home at Monthelon. Jane spent the next seven years among   
   a domineering and unkindly father-in-law as well as an insolent and   
   insulting housekeeper, raising her children and growing in patience and   
   humility. She also gave much of her time to visiting the sick and helping   
   the poor.   
      
   In 1604 Jane met St. Francis de Sales. This meeting would subsequently lead,   
   under the guidance and direction of St. Francis, to her founding of the   
   Visitation of Mary nuns in 1610. The community's focus was to minister to   
   those in need, especially the poor and sick. The new order encountered much   
   opposition and was made an enclosed order under the rule of St. Augustine.   
   St. Francis de Sales added constitutions which were wise and moderate in   
   their focus. The virtues of humility and meekness were their building   
   blocks.   
      
   Jane encountered a brief stormy period after her father's death when she had   
   to return home to settle his affairs and was harassed by relatives and   
   family friends to abandon this absurd obligation she had undertaken and   
   return to her rightful place in the family. She returned to her community   
   and in 1613 the focus of the community was changed from outward ministries   
   to a cloistered contemplative direction. It was officially elevated to a   
   religious order on April 23, 1618. Jane went on to found several monasteries   
   throughout France.   
      
   When Jane died on December 13, 1641 at Moulins, France there were 80   
   convents of the Visitation nuns. She was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in   
   1767. Her order continues in many parts of the world today. As a young woman   
   Jane was described as a strong, firm and forceful individual, with a   
   hardness and rigidity of character. Over the years through much prayer and   
   suffering, as well as the prudent guidance of St. Francis de Sales and St.   
   Vincent de Paul, Jane grew in humility, gentleness, love, patience and a   
   peace-filled spirit.   
      
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Take this as a general rule: judge with charity all that you see others   
   doing. When that is not possible, excuse them and pray for them.   
   -St. Jane Frances de Chantal   
      
   Bible Quote   
   1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began   
   to do and to teach, 2 Until the day on which, giving commandments by the   
   Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. 3 To whom   
   also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty   
   days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.  (Acts 1:1-3)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   LITANY FOR PRIESTS   
      
   Jesus, meek and humble of heart,   
   give all priests Thy spirit of humility;   
      
   Jesus, poor and worn out for souls,   
   give all priests Thy spirit of zeal;   
      
   Jesus, full of patience and mercy for sinners,   
   give all priests Thy spirit of compassion;   
      
   Jesus, victim for the sins of the world,   
   give all priests Thy spirit of sacrifice;   
      
   Jesus, lover of the little and the poor,   
   give all priests Thy spirit of charity.   
      
   Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us;   
   and obtain for us numerous and holy priests   
   and religious. - Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)