St. Frances of Rome

 

St. Frances of Rome is one of the most remarkable saints in the history of the Catholic Church. She was a wife, a mother, a mystic, a founder, a leader, and a servant of the poor. She lived in a turbulent time of war, plague, and schism, but she never lost her faith or her love for God and her neighbor. In this blog post, we will explore her life and legacy, and learn from her example of holiness and charity.

 

 

St. Frances was born in 1384 in Rome to a wealthy and noble family. Her parents were Paolo Bussa and Iacobella dei Roffredeschi, who lived in the Parione district near the Piazza Navona. She was baptized in the Church of St. Agnes, where she developed a devotion to the virgin martyr saint.

 

From an early age, Frances felt a call to the religious life. She wanted to join the Poor Clares, a Franciscan order of nuns who lived in poverty and contemplation. However, her parents had other plans for her. When she was twelve years old, they arranged her marriage to Lorenzo Ponziani, a young nobleman who was the commander of the papal troops in Rome.

 

Frances accepted this marriage as God’s will for her, and soon grew to love her husband. They had a happy and harmonious relationship, based on mutual respect and affection. They also shared a common desire to serve God and the poor. Frances’ sister-in-law, Vannozza, who was married to Lorenzo’s brother, became her close friend and companion in charity.

 

 

Frances and Vannozza began to visit the poor and the sick in their neighborhood, bringing them food, clothing, medicine, and comfort. They also invited them to their homes, where they washed their feet, dressed their wounds, and fed them. They inspired other wealthy women of Rome to join them in their works of mercy.

 

Frances also had a deep prayer life and a gift of mystical experiences. She often saw visions of angels, saints, and Jesus Christ. She also had a guardian angel who accompanied her everywhere and helped her in times of danger or difficulty.

 

One time, Frances fell seriously ill and was near death. Her husband called a man who practiced magic to cure her, but Frances rejected him and said: “Begone, thou servant of Satan! Nor ever venture into these walls again!” Then she saw a vision of St. Alexis, who touched her and healed her.

 

Another time, Frances’ father-in-law was angry with her for giving away too much food and clothing to the poor. He took away the keys to the storerooms where she kept the supplies. But when Frances prayed, the storerooms were miraculously replenished with corn and wine.

 

 

Frances’ life was not without trials and tribulations. She lived in a time when Rome was ravaged by war, famine, and plague. The pope had left Rome for Avignon in France, causing a schism in the Church. There were also rival factions fighting for power in the city.

 

Frances’ husband Lorenzo was loyal to the pope in Avignon, and fought against the anti-popes who claimed to be the true successors of St. Peter. He was often away from home, leaving Frances to manage the household and care for their children.

 

Frances gave birth to three children: two sons named Battista and Giovanni Evangelista, and a daughter named Agnes. She loved them dearly and raised them with piety and virtue.

 

However, she also suffered the loss of two of them. Her second son Giovanni Evangelista died during a plague outbreak when he was six years old. He appeared to Frances after his death as an angel with wings of gold.

 

Her daughter Agnes also died at a young age after being married to another noble family. She appeared to Frances as well after her death as a beautiful maiden crowned with flowers.

 

Frances also faced danger when she had to deliver her eldest son Battista as a hostage to the Neapolitan troops who were besieging Rome. She obeyed this order on the command of her spiritual director, but entrusted her son’s life to the Blessed Mother.

 

When she arrived at the Campidoglio with her son, she stopped at the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli to pray before an image of Our Lady of Grace. Then she proceeded to the place where she had to hand over her son.

 

But when the soldiers tried to put Battista on a horse to take him away, the horse refused to move despite being whipped. The soldiers saw this as a sign from God and let Battista go. Frances and her son returned home safely, thanking God and the Virgin Mary for their protection.

 

 

Frances had a long-standing desire to found a religious community of women who would dedicate themselves to God and to the service of the poor. She wanted them to be oblates, meaning that they would not take vows, but would offer themselves to God and live according to a rule.

 

She consulted with her spiritual director, a priest named Giovanni Mattiotti, who was also a Benedictine monk. He encouraged her to pursue her project, and helped her to write a rule based on the Rule of St. Benedict.

 

Frances also received a vision of St. Benedict, who showed her a place where she could establish her community. It was an old monastery called Tor de’ Specchi, or Tower of Mirrors, near the Capitol Hill in Rome.

 

Frances obtained the permission of the pope and the approval of the local bishop to found her community. She also received the support of her husband Lorenzo, who gave her some money and property to start the foundation.

 

In 1425, Frances and Vannozza moved to Tor de’ Specchi with some other women who wanted to join them. They became known as the Oblates of Mary, or the Oblates of St. Frances of Rome. They wore a simple black habit with a white veil and a leather belt.

 

They followed the Rule of St. Benedict, but adapted it to their lay status. They prayed the Divine Office, attended Mass, practiced silence and fasting, and performed manual work. They also continued their service to the poor and the sick, going out from their monastery every day to visit them.

 

They also welcomed guests and pilgrims who came to Rome, offering them hospitality and spiritual guidance. They became known for their kindness and generosity, as well as their holiness and wisdom.

 

 

Frances lived at Tor de’ Specchi for fifteen years, until her husband Lorenzo died in 1436. She then returned to her home with her son Battista, who was now married and had children of his own.

 

She continued to lead the Oblates of Mary as their superior, visiting them regularly and giving them instructions. She also maintained her prayer life and her mystical experiences.

 

She had a special devotion to the Passion of Christ, which she contemplated every Friday. She also had a gift of prophecy, which she used to warn people of impending dangers or events.

 

She predicted the end of the Western Schism in 1417, when Pope Martin V was elected as the sole successor of St. Peter. She also predicted the fall of Constantinople in 1453, when the Ottoman Turks conquered the Byzantine capital.

 

She also performed many miracles, such as healing the sick, multiplying food, calming storms, and raising the dead. She was revered by many people in Rome and beyond, who sought her counsel and intercession.

 

She died on March 9, 1440, at the age of 56. She was buried in the Church of Santa Francesca Romana, which was built on the site of her home. Her tomb became a place of pilgrimage and veneration.

 

 

Frances was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1608. Her feast day is March 9 in the Roman calendar, and March 10 in some local calendars.

 

She is the patron saint of Benedictine oblates, automobile drivers, widows, and Rome. She is also invoked against plague and war.

 

She is represented in art as a noblewoman in black with a white veil, holding a book or a rosary. Sometimes she is shown with an angel by her side, or with a basket of bread or flowers.

 

 

St. Frances of Rome is an inspiring example of how one can live a life of holiness and charity in any state of life. She was faithful to God’s will in her marriage and motherhood, as well as in her service to the poor and her foundation of a religious community.

 

She combined aspects of secular and religious life, showing that they are not incompatible but complementary. She was a woman of prayer and action, who loved God with all her heart and loved her neighbor as herself.

 

She teaches us that we can all be saints in our own way, by following God’s call and using our gifts for his glory and for the good of others.