SAINT FRANCES OF ROME

St. Frances of Rome
Saint Frances was born in Rome in 1384 to a wealthy noble family. Her father had promised her in marriage to the son of another wealthy family. She stubbornly prayed to God to prevent the marriage until her confessor pointed out, “Are you crying because you want to do God’s will or because you want God to do your will?” She reluctantly gave in to the marriage to Lorenzo. Saint Frances only thirteen was thrust into the whirl of parties and banquets and collapsed from the strain. For months she lay close to death, unable to eat, move or speak.

Saint Frances had a vision of Saint Alexis and he told her God was giving her an important choice. Did she want to recover or not? she whispered, “God’s will is mine.” Saint Alexis replied,” Then you will live to glorify His Name.” Her recovery was immediate and complete.

The beginning of the fifteenth century brought the birth of her first son, Battista, named after John the Baptist. After two more children were born to her a boy, Giovanni Evangelista, and a
girl, Agnes.

A flood brought disease and famine to Rome. Frances gave orders that no one asking for alms
would be turned away. Her father-in-law, furious that she was giving away their supplies during a famine, took the keys of the granary and wine cellar away from her. Saint Frances was so
desperate for food to give to the poor that she went to the empty corn loft and sifted through the straw searching for a few leftover kernels. After she left Lorenzo came in and was stunned to find the previously empty granary filled with yellow corn. Frances drew wine out of their one cask until one day her father in law went down and found it empty. Everyone screamed at Frances. After saying a prayer, she led them to cellar, turned the spigot on the empty cask, and out flowed the most wonderful wine.

Civil war came to Rome. Lorenzo was seriously wounded and his brother was arrested. Troja sent word that Lorenzo’s brother would be executed unless he had Battista. When Frances heard this she grabbed Battista by the hand and fled. She ran into her spiritual adviser, Don Andrew, who told her she was choosing the wrong way and ordered her to trust God. Slowly she turned around and made her way to Capitol Hill where Count Troja was waiting. Troja put Battista on a soldier’s horse but every horse they tried refused to move. Finally the governor gave in to God’s wishes. Frances was left alone against the attackers after sending Lorenzo out of Rome to avoid capture. Invaders broke into her house, tortured and killed the servants and demolished the palace. Battista was kidnapped and taken to Naples. A plague took the live of Frances’ nine-year-old son, Evangelista.

One year after his death Evangelista came to her in a vision and told her that Agnes was going to die and in return God was granting her a special grace by sending an archangel to be her
guardian angel for the rest of her life. She would always been able to see him. The angel commanded her to stop her severe penances. “You should understand by now,” the
angel told her, “that the God who made your body and gave it to your soul as a servant never intended that the spirit should ruin the flesh and return it to him despoiled.”

After the wars ended Battista and her husband returned home. Her husband returned broken in mind and body. Frances had to restore Lorenzo back to his old self. Battista married a woman named Mabilia.

Frances started a lay order of women attached to the Benedictines called the Oblates of Mary. The women lived in the world but pledged to offer themselves to God and serve the poor. Frances nursed Lorenzo until he died. His last words to her were, “I feel as if my whole life has been one beautiful dream of purest happiness. God has given me so much in your love.” After his death, Frances moved into the house with the other Oblates and was made superior. At 52 she had the life she dreamed of when she was eleven.

Frances died four years later. Her last words were “The angel has finished his task. He beckons me to follow him.” Her Feastday is March 9.

rosary.team