Who is St. Jane?
St. Jane was an incredible woman! She is one of the rare women in the Church who lived out her vocation both as a mother of children and as a mother of a religious order! Today, she is known to be the spiritual mother of so many people, religious orders, parishes, and schools.
St. Jane, a widowed mother of four adult children, co-founded the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary with Saint Francis de Sales after the two developed a close spiritual friendship. By the time of her death, over 80 Visitation monasteries had been established. The Visitation Sisters are largely responsible for the existence of the Oblates. It was a Visitation Sister, Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis, who strongly urged and supported Blessed Louis Brisson in founding the Oblates. Just as Saints Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales worked closely together, the Oblates and Visitation Sisters continue the tradition with close collaboration.
“Follow your own way of speaking to our Lord, sincerely, lovingly, confidently, and simply, as your heart dictates.”
— St. Jane de Chantal
Encouragement From St. Jane
"Since our Lord, in his goodness, has gathered our hearts into one, allow me, my dearest ones, 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 brothers, my daughters and sons, I say the words with intense delight: LIVE JESUS in our memory, in our will, and in our actions."
A note from the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales:
May this simple greeting from our beloved patron saint carry you and encourage you to live this day well for the Lord. St. Jane de Chantal, pray for us! May God be praised!
Oblates share their favorite St. Jane quotes…
“The peak of perfection lies in our wanting to be what God wishes us to be.”
Bro. Mickey McGrath
Fr. Paul Colloton, OSFS
“In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking.”
“If we wish to possess the virtue of neighborly love, we must accustom ourselves to accept people just as they are, regardless of their failings and actions.”
Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
Video reflections on St. Jane de Chantal
The Visitation Sisters are largely responsible for the existence of the Oblates. It was a Visitation Sister, Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis, who strongly urged and supported Bl. Louis Brisson in founding the Oblates. Just as Saints Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales worked closely together, the Oblates and Visitation Sisters continue the tradition with close collaboration.
Reflections on the Visitation Order:
