Homily – 08-18-2008 – St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Jane Frances de Chantal was a 17^th century French woman who had it all, and then nearly lost it all. She was married, for a while until her husband was killed in a hunting accident. Her three eldest children died in childbirth; she raised three more children. Her husband was a baron, however he left her with a great debt upon his death.

But Jane was a woman of great faith and becoming friends with St. Francis de Sales she was always dedicated to helping the poor and the sick. She wanted to enter the cloister when her children were of age, but Francis persuaded her not to. Rather, they together founded the Sisters of the Visitation comprised of women who had been rejected from joining a religious order because of ill health. They were dedicated to helping the poor and the sick modeling their virtuous lives after the scene of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth.

Jane said that the secret of happiness was finding yourself, finding love and finding the right job. She said that we must "throw ourselves into God as a little drop of water into the sea, and lose ourselves indeed in the Ocean of Divine Goodness."

We can only find ourselves as we exist in that Ocean of God's love, we can only find real love there; and the right job is doing what we feel him calling us to do to exercise and promote that love wherever we feel he is assigning us to do that! Even in the smallest details of hospitality and care there is the amazing reality of God's presence and power!

Our first reading today talks of a worthy wife! Jane Frances was certainly that! The gospel passage speaks of those who do the will of God as true and authentic family members of Jesus! Jane Frances was certainly that, as well!

We are invited to be and do the same! We do not have to belong to a religious order to do works of charity and loving helpfulness! We all can do our little part this day to make someone else's life brighter and more enjoyable!

In you, Lord, I have found my peace! Let me share that peace with all I meet today!