Jeanne de Chantal

(1572-1641)

   saint

   Born Jeanne-Françoise Frémiot in Dijon, Jeanne de Chantal married Christophe of Rabutin, baron of Chantal. Widowed in 1601, she put herself under the tutelage of saint François de sales and with him founded at Annecy the visitation sainte-Marie (1610), which became the order of the visitation, with cloister and solemn vows, and was established throughout France. Jeanne de Chantal, who was the grandmother of Mme de sévigné, was canonized in 1767. The Catholic Church celebrates her feast on August 21.