The birth of Jeanne Chezard de Matel, November 6,
1596 in Roanne was an answer to prayer. Her Mother, Jeanne, had
previously had four pregnancies, in which the babies were stillborn
or died at or soon after birth. The couple longed to have a family,
and they prayed and sacrificed for this intention. Their prayer
was heard, and in 1596, in spite of many complications during
the pregnancy, little Jeanne was born.
The precocious young girl delighted her parents and had a happy childhood in spite of her too-often absent father who held a position in the King's court in Paris. She was also plagued by a severe recurring malaria-like illness which left her moody and irritable.
She was a pious young girl and except for a period during her teen-age years when her attention was diverted from her religious practices, Jeanne continued to grow in love of God and prayer.
During her twenties, she spent six years trying to discern her vocation. One day in prayer she was told, "I have destined you to institute an order in my name." She would later learn, through prayer, that the title of the new Order would be "Incarnate Word." Jeanne began the Order on July 2, 1625, in Roanne, France. Before her death in 1670, this great mystic, writer and spiritual director had established houses in Lyons, Grenoble, Avignon, and Paris.
After Jeanne's death, her beloved establishment would continue to manifest the Incarnate Word through its members. However, the Order would be completely dispersed during the French Revolution. Afterward, the Incarnate Word would raise up a champion, Father Stephen Denis, to restore the Order which would consequently continue to spread and bring the Incarnate Word forth into out day.