I have great affection for St. Frances of Rome, Santa Francesca Romana.
When I was exiled from these USA to Rome, I lived at first in her house, the Palazzo of the Ponziani family into which she married, where you find a chapel where she died in 1440. I feel as if she took me under her wing in those first critical months in Trastevere, where Romanaccio was being fused into my marrow with great intensity.
I went from the tutelage of a Roman virgin martyr, St. Agnes (in St. Paul) to a Roman widow (in Rome).
She is patroness of Rome, along with Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Philip Neri (on whose feast I was ordained).
She had the grace of being able to see her Guardian Angel. How cool is that?
As mentioned, young Frances married into the Ponziani family, whose medieval palazzo is still in Trastevere close to the Basilica of Santa Cecilia.
At the death of her husband she founded a convent of Benedictine nuns, Oblates of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveti, headquartered in the nearby Tor di Specchi. This convent is open once a year, today, for the public to enjoy.
St. Francis body is in the church in the Roman Forum called S. Maria Nova al Foro Romano.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia,
“With her husband’s consent Frances practiced continence, and advanced in a life of contemplation. Her visions often assumed the form of drama enacted for her by heavenly personages. She had the gift of miracles and ecstasy, (as) well as the bodily vision of her guardian angel, had revelations concerning purgatory and hell, and foretold the ending of the Western Schism. She could read the secrets of consciences and detect plots of diabolical origin. She was remarkable for her humility and detachment, her obedience and patience[.]”
During life she was renowned for her works of mercy, almsgiving, and miraculous healings.
St. Frances, pray for us. Help especially the Church in Rome! Ask your guardian angel to guide our pastors.
Here is her entry from the Martyrologium Romanum:
Sanctae Franciscae, religiosae, quae, adulescentula nupta, in matrimonio quadraginta annos vixit, uxor et materfamilias probata, pietate, humiltate et patientia admirabilis. Temporibus calamitosis, bona sua paurperibus distribuit, aegrotis ministravit et, coniuge defuncto, inter oblatas, quas sub Regula santi Benedicti Romae congregaverat, secessit.
Who wants to take a crack at it?
Today in the Vetus Ordo Santa Francesca receives a commemoration. Here is her collect:
Deus, qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti: concéde, quaesumus; ut, intercessiónis eius auxílio, Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.
My 1st Class Relic of the Saint.
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Saint Frances, a religious, who, married at a young age, lived in marriage for forty years, proved a wife and housewife, admirable in her piety, humility, and patience. In times of calamity, she distributed her possessions to the poor, ministered to the sick, and, after the death of her spouse, retired among the offerings which she had collected under the Rule of St. Benedict of Rome.
I love hearing about all those places you were blessed to find to live. I know Priest have 2 Guardian Angels…Maybe one is a Travel Agent.
Not: In that case, I would just as soon have him do me a favor and move me around like he did Phillip the Deacon.
Great job, Chrystanthmom! I did pretty well translating most of it (although not as beautifully as you did) but got lost at the last bit about ‘after the death of her spouse …’. Anyway, it was fun trying!
The film star Tyrone Power married actress Linda Christian in 1947 or 1948 in the Church of St Frances of Rome, by an American monsignor (now becoming an endangered species). One of his daughters was named Romina.
About Saint Frances, a religious, who married as an adolescent, lived in marriage for 40 years. She had been esteemed as a wife and mother for her piety, humility, and remarkable patience. In times of calamity, she distributed her own goods, and ministered to the poor. Her spouse having died, she withdrew among the oblates of Rome, which under the Rule of Saint Benedict she had previously brought together (founded).
O God, who among the gifts of grace given to your blessed servant Frances, you adorned her with the familiar experience of (seeing) her angel. Grant we beseech thee, that with the help (reinforcement [more of a military term for auxilio]) of her intercession we may seek to serve alongside the comradery of the angels.