Joan Francisca de Chantal (1572–1641)

Biography

When she turned twenty, Juana married the Baron de Chantal, a seasoned soldier. Their marriage lasted happily for nine years and they had a son and three daughters. At the end of that time, her husband died in a hunting accident. Juana asked God for the grace to find a good spiritual director, and in her dreams she saw a tall and venerable priest that she had never seen before. When attending some Lenten exercises preached by Saint Francis de Sales, Juana realized that he was the priest she had seen in her dreams. He asked him to be his spiritual director, and there began a mutual friendship that was to greatly help both spiritually. Juana wanted to become a nun, but Saint Francis advised her to finish educating her children well first, and so she did. He also dedicated a lot to taking care of his old and bad-tempered father-in-law, taking good care of his house and servants, and helping the poor and sick. When her children grew up and despite her family's opposition, Saint Joan became a nun and began her work with the congregation that Saint Francis de Sales wanted to found. This community had a kind and humane regulation “not too harsh for the weak, nor too soft for the strong.” When Saint Francis de Sales died, Saint Joan was left at the head of a newly founded community. Her director was then Saint Vincent de Paul, who said of her that she had suffered terrible trials, abominable temptations and a spiritual dryness that made her suffer a lot, and that he considered her one of the holiest souls that ever existed on earth. When she died, Santa Juana had founded 65 convents.