St. Frances of Rome

Friends in Christ, today is the feast of St. Frances of Rome. St. Frances was born in 1384. She was of nobility, married at the age of 12, and although her marriage had been arranged, it was a happy one, lasting for forty years. But there were sorrows. They lost two children to the plague.

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In those days Rome was a horrid place, with violence, disease, and poverty; wolves were even known to roam the streets. All of this made Frances and her husband very sensitive, especially to the needs of the poor.

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Marvelous things surrounded the life of Frances. Once when the army of Naples demanded their son as a hostage, Frances went to church and dedicated her son to the Blessed Virgin. When the troops arrived and put her son on a horse, the horse refused to move. The soldiers, seeing the hand of God in it, returned the boy to his mother.

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But marvels through her life did not stop with external signs. Her prayers and her life became such an example to the wealthy ladies of Rome, that many in her social circles gave up their worldly lives to help the sick. These women eventually began the Benedictine Oblate Sisters, and after her husband’s death, Frances herself joined this order.

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Having lived in this Benedictine Order, the Mother superior wrote this about Frances: With peace of soul Frances always accepted the will of God and gave him thanks for everything that happened. She endured the slander of those who reviled her, and did not show the least hint of aversion toward them. She habitually prayed to God for those against her.

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The superior also said this: ‘God made Frances so lovable that anyone with whom she spoke was immediately captivated by love for her and ready to help in everything she wanted. Divine power was present and working in her words; in a few sentences she could bring consolation to those who were anxious, calm the restless, pacify the angry, and reconcile enemies. Frances seemed able to calm the passions of every type of person with a single word, and lead them to do whatever she asked. For this reason people flocked to her from all directions. Nevertheless, she openly rebuked them for their sins and fearlessly reproved what was evil.

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St. Frances also had the special privilege of a visible presence of her guardian angel. She is the patron saint of automobile drivers, taxi drivers, the death of children, and widows.