Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal: Enriched edition. A Window into Saint Jane's Spiritual Legacy

by Jeanne-Francoise de Chantal (Editor), Visitation Nuns (Translator)

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Genres: Nonfiction

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

French-language profile for St. Jeanne-Françoise Frémiot, Baronne de Chantal

Reviews

[gardeningmom7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Jane Frances de Chantal was (dare I say it??) kind of a savage, in the very best of ways. The following quotes are from her letters to two separate Mother Superiors where she was giving advice regarding whether or not they should accept/keep certain novices in the convent.

“As for your novice, I do not see in her the dispositions requisite for her possession…Your house is already overwhelmed with infirm sisters without adding to their number one who besides is a bit of an idiot.” P. 196

“As to Sister N., alack! she is indeed wholly taken up with herself; hers is also a character in which you will find plenty to exercise your charity.” P. 200

[Gerri Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reprint of a 1917 publication. I almost gave it 4 stars because there's a certain repetition in many of the letters. Also because I had hoped for more of her correspondence with St. Francis de Sales. But I upped it to 5 for several reasons:

- the insight it provides into the St. Jane de Chantel's strong leadership and wisdom. She founded and expanded a religious order and did it with clear, compassionate oversight. Women in the 1600s had few opportunities to share such gifts with others.

- the window it opens into life in a cloister, especially when dealing with varying personalities. Religious authorities forced the order into enclosure after it was founded. St. Jane de Chantel accepted that in the same manner she counseled others to approach life: by putting things into the hands of God, accepting, and moving forward.

- the window it opens into family relationships in that era. (Some of the letters are to her children.)

- the supplemental material provided, including annotations, a brief biography and literary analysis and questions, answers and reflections.

As an added bonus, there are a couple of her letters to St. Vincent de Paul.

[Catherine]

I really enjoyed getting to know her in her own words! This collection mostly addresses her as an administrator, but there are gems here and there.