Join us in celebrating our patroness
St. Jane Frances de Chantal!
Feast Day: August 12th
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.
Who is St. Jane?
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.
May this simple greeting from our beloved patron saint carry you and encourage you to live this day well for the Lord:
"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."
St. Jane de Chantal, pray for us!
Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS
Mr. Jonathan Dick, OSFS
Father Don Heet, OSFS
Oblates share their favorite Saint Jane quotes and stories
Father Paul Colloton, OSFS
“In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking.”
“With God, there is no need for long speeches.”
Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS
The peak of perfection lies in our wanting to be what God wishes us to be.”
Father Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
“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.”
Father Patrick O’Connor, OSFS
“In prayer, one must hold fast and never let go, because the one who gives up, loses all. If it seems that no one is listening to you, then cry out even louder. If you are driven out of one door, go back in by the other.”
“Follow your own way of speaking to our Lord, sincerely, lovingly, confidently, and simply, as your heart dictates.”
“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.”
