Born: November 6, 1596 in Roanne, France Died: September 11, 1670 in Paris, France   The Life of Venerable Jeanne Chézard de Matel At an early age, Jeanne came to know the Lord, receiving Him in Holy Communion when she was only twelve. Her life was one of prayer and sacrifice as her relationship with Jesus progressed over the years. She was blessed with a vivid presence of God, infused contemplation, and a clear understanding of Scripture which pervades all her writings. On July 2, 1625, at age twenty-nine, and guided by her spiritual directors, Jeanne began the work of founding the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament with two companions. Jesus, the Son of God, the Incarnate Word had directed her to do this, and He appeared to her saying, "In this establishment, I who am the Incarnate Word will make an extension of My Incarnation". Jeanne de Matel established four foundations of the Order in France: Avignon (1639); Grenoble (1643); Paris (1644); and Lyon (1655). Throughout her life, both personally and as a foundress, Jeanne encountered opposition, criticism, and other difficulties. She even delayed to fulfill her desire to take the habit and make profession of religious vows to establish the Order. It was only on her deathbed that Jeanne's desire was realized. Against all odds, Jeanne de Matel received the habit of the Order she had founded and made her religious profession, a few hours before her death in the early morning of September 11, 1670. The Cause of Beatification of Jeanne Chézard de Matel has been introduced in Rome, and on March 7, 1992, Pope John Paul II declared that she had lived a life of heroic sanctity and accorded her the title, Venerable. Her writings have further been studied and deemed orthodox. Her beatification awaits the authentication of one miracle.   Chateau de Matel, Roanne Birthplace of Jeanne de Matel     Relics of Jeanne de Matel, Lyon      St. Etienne Church, Roanne Site of Jeanne's Baptism