St. Jane of Valois
Name: St. Jane of Valois
Date: 4 February
Queen
Born of the royal blood of France, herself a queen, Jane of Valois led a life remarkable for itshumiliations even in the annals of the Saints. Her father, Louis XI, who had hoped for a son tosucceed him, banished Jane from his palace, and, it is said, even attempted her life. At the age offive the neglected child offered her whole heart to God, and yearned to do some special service inhonor of His blessed Mother. At the king’s wish, though against her own inclination, she wasmarried to the Duke of Orleans. Towards an indifferent and unworthy husband her conduct was always patient and dutiful. Herprayers and tears saved him from a traitor’s death and shortened a captivity which his rebellionhad merited. Still nothing could win a heart which was already given to another. When herhusband ascended the throne as Louis XII, his first act was to repudiate, by false representations,one who through twenty-two years of cruel neglect had been his true and loyal wife. At the finalsentence of separation, the saintly queen exclaimed, “God be praised who has allowed this, that Imay serve Him better than I have heretofore done.” Retiring to Bourges, she there undertook to realize her long-formed desire of founding the Orderof the Annunciation, in honor of the Mother of God. Under the guidance of Saint Francis ofPaula, the director of her childhood, Saint Jane was enabled to overcome the serious obstacleswhich even good people raised against the foundation of her new Order. In 1501 the rule of theAnnunciation was finally approved by Alexander VI. The chief aim of the institute was to imitatethe ten virtues practiced by Our Lady in the mystery of the Incarnation. Its Superior was called“Ancelle,” handmaid, in honor of Mary’s humility. Saint Jane built and endowed the first conventof the Order in 1502. She died in heroic sanctity in 1505, and was buried in the royal crown andpurple, beneath which she wore the habit of her Order. |
