JEANNE DE LESTONNAC, Saint. — Niece of the famous essayist Michel de Montaigne, and foundress of the Company of the Daughters of Mary Our Lady, born in Bordeaux in 1556, died there on 2 February. As a young girl, she had to endure the strong influence of her mother, an ardent Calvinist, but she never yielded to heresy; in 1573 she married Baron de Landiras, Gaston de Montferrand, by whom she had seven children.
After being widowed in 1597 and having arranged for the care of her family, she entered in 1603 the Convent of the Fogliantine in Toulouse; but her health could not withstand the strictness of the Rule, so after ten months she returned to her home and there led a retired life entirely devoted to good works; until in 1606, following the plan of two Jesuits, F. Raymond and especially J. de Bordes, she founded a new Congregation, on the model of the Society of Jesus, for the education of young girls, especially to save them from the baleful influences of the prevailing Calvinism.
The institution received the approval of Paul V (7 April 1607) and began to prosper in a wonderful way; but this also cost Jeanne, elected superior from the beginning, bitter disappointments and sorrows: the initial structure of the foundation was altered, and she was removed from office through the envious intrigues of her fellow sisters; but Jeanne bore all with serene peace and trust in God. She was beatified by Leo XIII on 23 September 1900 and canonized by Pius XII on 15 May 1949. Feast day: 2 February.