Wednesday, March 9, 2011

March 9: St Frances of Rome OSB, Memorial


The martyrology entry for St Frances reads:

"At Rome, St. Frances, widow, renowned for her noble family, holy life, and the gift of miracles."

Famed both as a mystic and for her charitable works, St Francis is co-patron of Benedictine Oblates. 

St Frances (1394-1440) was a married woman who founded a congregation of oblates (third order without religious vows), following the Benedictine Rule living in community, but not cloistered.

Renowned as a mystic, she was married for forty years, was devout but attentive to the duties of her state in life, and had six children.

She and her sister, together with other wealthy women she inspired prayed, visited the poor, and took care of the sick. After her husband's death in 1436 she entered and became prioress of the congregation she had founded.

Her monastery still exists today.

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