Jeanne Chezard de Matel
French mystic (1596-1670)
Who they were
Jeanne Chézard de Matel was born at the Château de Matel near Roanne, in the Archdiocese of Lyon, on 6 November 1596, and consecrated her virginity to God at the age of twelve. Guided mainly by Jesuit priests, she came to believe God was calling her to found an enclosed women's institute devoted to contemplating and worshipping the Incarnate Word and to educating girls.
On 2 July 1625, with two companions, she began the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and the Blessed Sacrament at Roanne. She moved to Lyon in 1627 and opened further houses at Avignon (1639), Grenoble (1643) and Paris (1644). She bore slander and injustice with courage, took religious vows on her deathbed, and died in Paris on 11 September 1670.
The miracles
The Church has not yet approved a miracle in this cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A French mystic who founded the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and the Blessed Sacrament.
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 84 (1992), pp. 1007-1011 - Decree on heroic virtues, 7 March 1992
- Wikidata Q3176013 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Jeanne Chezard de Matel (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.