St. Jane of Valois

St. Jane of Valois Biography

St. Jane of Valois (1464-1505) was a French princess and the second wife of King Louis XI of France. She was born in the castle of Bouteville, the daughter of Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans, and his wife, Charlotte of Savoy. As a member of the French royal family, she was well-educated and was considered to be a cultured and accomplished young woman.

In 1476, at the age of 12, Jane was married to Louis, who was then the Dauphin of France. The marriage was arranged as part of a political alliance between Louis and Jane’s father, and it was not a love match. However, the couple did come to care for each other over time, and Jane gave birth to a son, Charles, in 1478.

Despite this, the marriage was annulled in 1498 on the grounds that it had not been consummated. It is believed that this was done at the request of King Louis, who had found a new political ally in Anne of Brittany and wanted to marry her. Following the annulment, Jane retired to the Convent of Poissy where she lived the rest of her life as a nun.

While at the convent, Jane devoted herself to a life of prayer and charity. She was known for her deep piety and her concern for the poor. She also became involved in the education of young girls at the convent, and was remembered as a kind and loving teacher.

In 1505, Jane fell ill and died at the Convent of Poissy. She was buried in the convent’s chapel, and her tomb was later inscribed with the words “”Here lies Jane, a most pure virgin.””

After her death, many stories and legends arose about her life and her virtues, and she quickly became known as a model of piety and devotion. In 1850, the Roman Catholic Church officially recognized her as a saint, and she is now venerated as the patron saint of widows, orphans and those seeking a peaceful death.

Despite her relatively short life, St. Jane of Valois left a lasting legacy of charity and devotion. Her selfless dedication to serving others, especially the poor and marginalized, serves as an inspiration to those who seek to follow in her footsteps.

Furthermore, her annulled marriage, the way she handled it and lived the rest of her life in a convent, made her a model of patience, resignation and virtue for those facing difficult situations in their own lives.

The Life of St. Jane of Valois

St. Jane of Valois, daughter of King Louis XI and Charlotte of Savoy, was born in 1464. The King had hoped for a son to succeed him, and was doubly disappointed at Jane’s birth because of her deformed body and small stature. Consequently, when the child was five she was banished from the palace.

Patiently she suffered the tribulations heaped upon her. At that early age Jane of Valois gave her heart to God and longed to honor the Blessed Virgin in some special way. At the age of twelve, in 1476, not with standing her bodily defects, her father married her against her desire to Louis, Duke of Orleans.

In 1498 Louis ascended the throne as Louis XII, and shortly thereafter, by false representations, divorced St. Jane, now the Queen. The Queen, who had been a true and loyal wife for twenty-two years, acquiesced in the sentence, exclaiming: “”God be praised who has allowed this, that I may serve Him better than I have heretofore done””. The King, pleased at her submission, gave her the duchy of Berry, Pontoise and other townships.

Service to Her People

Retiring to Bourges, St. Jane led a life of mortification and prayer, devoting her great wealth to works of charity for her people. In 1500, under the direction of her spiritual adviser, a holy Francis can Friar, St. Jane founded the Order of Nuns of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. St. Jane built and endowed the first convent of the Order in 1502. She died in the odor of sanctity in 1505. She was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1738.

“I am ugly in body but I want a beautiful soul.” – St. Jane of Valois

 

Popular St. Jane Medal and St. Jane Rosary

Prayers to St. Jane of Valois

Prayer to St. Jane of Valois

Dear St. Jane,

You were a woman of great faith and devotion, dedicating your life to serving God and helping others. I ask for your intercession as I seek to live my own life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.

May your example inspire me to be a person of deep compassion, strong character, and unwavering faith.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Jane of Valois

St. Jane,

You were a woman of great charity and kindness, always putting the needs of others before your own. Help me to follow your example, and to always have a heart that is open to the needs of those around me.

May your love for God and your dedication to his work fill me with the courage and strength to do what is right, no matter the cost.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Jane of Valois

O St. Jane,

You were a woman of great courage and perseverance, facing many trials and difficulties in your life with grace and dignity. Help me to have the courage to face my own challenges, and to always trust in the Lord and his plan for my life.

May your devotion to God and your love for his people inspire me to be a faithful servant, always striving to do his will in all things.

Amen.

St. Jane of Valois: Patron Saint of Widows

St. Jane of Valois is a revered saint who is remembered for her devotion to the Church and her commitment to helping those in need. She is honored as the patron saint of widows and is remembered for her own experiences as a widow and for her efforts to support other widows in their time of need.

Patron Saint of Widows

St. Jane of Valois is the patron saint of widows, and she is invoked by those who have lost their spouses and are facing the challenges of being a widow. She is remembered for her own struggles as a widow and for her efforts to help other widows in their time of need. She is seen as a symbol of hope and strength for those who are facing the difficulties of life as a widow.

St. Jane of Valois’s legacy continues to inspire people all over the world, and she is remembered as a great example of devotion to the Church and of compassion for those in need. Through her example, she reminds us of the importance of supporting those who are struggling and of using our faith to serve others.

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Saints Similar to St. Jane of Valois

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Jeanne Jugan. Both St. Jane of Valois and St. Jeanne Jugan were dedicated to serving the poor. St. Jane founded the Order of the Annunciation and St. Jeanne Jugan founded the Little Sisters of the Poor. Next up: Biography of St. Januarius

 

Also check out our handmade St. Jane of Valois Medal and St. Jane of Valois Rosary and St. Jane of Valois Rosary Bracelet.