If we take our faith seriously, we will undoubtedly find ourselves longing to go to Mass or adoration, and to spend more time in prayer. From her father, however, she inherited a strong will. Hoping for quiet and stillness at Mass so I can soak in the grace I desperately need for the next week. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Close to death, Frances had a vision of St. Alexis, a fourth-century monastic who became a beggar instead of marrying and lived a life of anonymity, even to his family. Her consolation would be that God would grant her the grace of having an archangel as her guardian angel for the remainder of her life. In the early days of my motherhood, I encountered the quote famously attributed to St. Frances, It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. I wanted to be sure of one thing, though could this vocation truly lead me to holiness? St. Frances of Rome: Finding God in the Little Things Michele Chronister When I was an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame, I began to feel that God was nudging my heart in the direction of the married vocation. After his death, Frances' second son appeared to her and brought her an archangel to take the place of her guardian angel. After her husbands death, Frances moved in with the Oblates of Mary and became the superior. But I know, deep down, that my experience is not unique. But neither of us should tolerate degradation in any of it forms. Frances was born in Rome to a noble family in 1384 and died in March 1440. St. Frances had three children: two sons and a daughter. "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." "While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart." She couldnt eat, speak, or even Much though she wanted to be a nun, Gods will was clear in the will of her father. Ask a Franciscan: What Does the Common Good Mean. . 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. He told the story of an elderly woman who went to daily Mass faithfully, and who, one day, passed someone in desperate need. Eventually, her husband and father-in-law had a deeper conversion, which allowed her to sell her jewels and fancy clothing to give more to the poor. . Then just to make sure she wouldn't have a chance to give away more, he sold off their extra corn, leaving just enough for the family, and all but one cask of one. Soon after her marriage, Frances fell seriously ill. Frances fell ill for a time, but this apparently only deepened her commitment to the suffering people she met. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. Frances of Rome, the married saint most famous for remarking, A married woman must, when called upon, leave her devotions to God at the altar to find him in her household affairs, did not want to be married. Born in Normandy, France, she joined the Sisters of the Christian Schools in 1833 after meeting St. Marie, I doubt she was singing in 1987 (Afghanistan, "Free States." Along those same lines, I remember a homily that my childhood pastor gave at Mass one day. God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. However, at 12yrs, she was forced by her family into an arranged marriage to a wealthy commander of papal troops, Lorenzo Ponziani. Her father, however, had promised her hand in marriage to the son of As she and Battista walked the streets, crowds of people tried to block her way or grab Battista from her to save him. move. No one. She gave birth to two sons and one daughter. another wealthy family. She serves as a model for all married women who strive to integrate their devotion to God with their vocation as a wife and mother. Sign up to get our top five trending stories delivered every weekday! Frances was born in 1384 in Rome. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. Sarah loves her faith, coffee, and good books. The hardest words she could have said -- but the right words to set her on the road to sanctity. And her life story has taught me a lot: Lord, I long to spend time with You in prayer. But Mabilia wanted none of it. May I find You, Lord, in every moment of my day, whether before the tabernacle or in front of a pile of laundry. She decided at eleven that she knew what God wanted for her -- she was going to be a nun. Her father, however, had promised her hand in marriage to the son of another wealthy family. The only difference was that St. Alexis was able to run away and became a beggar, becoming unrecognizable to his family upon his return who treated him like another beggar. A devoted and loving wife, she longed for a lifestyle of prayer and service, so she organized a group of women to minister to the needs of Romes poor. They simply offered themselves to God and to the service of the poor. Saint Frances of Rome was a busy mother, who found herself often distracted and pulled away from her morning devotions. We need only look and be surprised by the ways he reveals himself. Where there is darkness, light; "And St. Francis said: 'My dear son, be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. For the first time in my life, I had to leave in the middle of Mass and take my girls home. There are two parishes that represent St. Frances of Rome. President Gellhaus Speech, annualmeeting.acog.org. She looked around, cleared out the wreckage of the house and turned it into a makeshift hospital and a shelter for the homeless. , On the Feast of St. Frances of Rome #BISblog //. The two noblewomen went out to the streets to beg instead. | Sitemap |. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Frances of Rome Donald R. McClarey March 9, 2021 I feel as if my whole life has been one beautiful dream of purest happiness. Frances gave orders that no one asking for alms would be turned away and she and Vannozza went out to the poor with corn, wine, oil and clothing. But the two spiritual friends went to mass together, visited prisons, served in hospitals and set up a secret chapel in an abandoned tower of their palace where they prayed together. She always worked with the poor in Rome. Clement of Rome was the third successor of Saint Peter, reigning as pope during the last decade of the first century. Frances life combines aspects of secular and religious life. There was nothing she could do about it. However, we can live our lives in such a way that we never cease praying. But just as he wouldn't listen to her, Frances wouldn't listen to him. Frances was born in the city of Rome in 1384 to a wealthy, noble family. entertain, and live a worldly life that didnt appeal to her. When all the resources had been exhausted, Frances and Vannozza went door to door begging. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone. Just so we don't fall into any bad habits." She was expected to attend and host numerous parties while her heart longed for quiet time with God. Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have receivedbut only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage. "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.". I wanted to be sure of one thing, though - could this vocation truly lead me to holiness? The Lord loves the time I spend with Him. Frances of Rome, the married saint most famous for remarking, "A married woman must, when called upon, leave her devotions to God at the altar to find him in her household affairs," did not. (Source), Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Her family flourished under her care. by Marion Habig, ofm. The life of St. Frances is an encouraging one. But in the midst of one of her tempers she was afflicted with a strange illness; and after Frances' hand calmed and cured her she became a changed person. When Frances poured out her heart to Vannozza and it turned out that this sister-in-law had wanted to live a life devoted to the Lord too. We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer. Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Robert B. Parker, Be ever more convinced that your guardian angel is really present, that he is ever at your side. I loved going to daily Mass. I have been all things unholy. Prompted by this, she started the blog My Domestic Monastery (www.mydomesticmonastery.com), where she shares inspiration for families wanting to grow in holiness. Her future husband Lorenzo Ponziani was noble, wealthy, a good person and he really cared for her. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. St. Frances of Rome is one of the great mystics of the 15th century. Thank you. As a young girl, she desperately longed for religious life. She was an uptown girl of noble birtha holy girl, wholly unimpressed by her position. 25 Years of Thursdays: The Legacy of Angela Baird, Second Sunday in Lent: The Transfiguration, St. Katharine Drexel: First Family of Charity. The challenge is, like Frances of Rome, to be open to finding God in the little and unexpected moments. Many of us feel that our lives have gone irreparably wrong. The family flourished under Frances care, but within a few years a great plague began to sweep across Italy. When necessary, use words." This is, perhaps, the best known and most commonly quoted statement made by St. Francis of Assisi. Saint of the Day for Saturday, March 4th, 2023, First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. All Rights Reserved. We might expect that the grief of losing her mother-in-law soon after might have been mixed with relief -- no more pressure to live in society. Last words of her dying husband Lorenzo to Saint Frances. With the new responsibilities of family life, the young mother turned her attention more to the needs of her own household. My, Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Placide Viel, Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Cele-Christ, Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Chad of Mercia, Matthew Archbold of Natl Catholic Register, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICRSS), Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, The Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius (SJC), Latino Partnership for Cnsrvtv Principles, Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney, The Republican National Hispanic Assembly. After years of begging he was so unrecognizable that when he returned home his own father thought he was just another beggar and made him sleep under the stairs. All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. Getting Back to Lenten Basics with Bishop Robert Barron. When I think of the happiness that is in store for me, every sorrow, every pain becomes dear to me. When she saw God at heavens gate, he asked her, Why wouldnt you help me on your way to Mass? Although daily Mass seemed like the obvious good, God was calling her to encounter him in a particular way that day, but she refused to be open to that encounter. The verbiage hasn', "I could destroy you with one interview." Cue the Ohh! chorus. of love in marriage as well as in religious life. She lived in solidarity with the poor though her home was a castle. For three days, Deacon Lawrence went throughout the city and invited all the beloved poor, handicapped, and misfortunate to come together. (Source: The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi 1905). Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! One year after his death Evangelista came to her in a vision and told her that Agnes was going to die too. Alexander Bickel, But it won't be much of a battle, will it?" Married Saint: St. Frances of Rome. Soon after her marriage, St Frances fell seriously ill. Top St Frances Of Rome Quotes Since when do you and I talk about the world," she said. Unfortunately, in this fallen world of ours, sometimes it isnt possible and sometimes God is calling us to encounter him in a less traditional way. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. A constant companion and spiritual adviser, he once commanded her to stop her severe penances (eating only bread and water and wearing a hair shirt). .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Meg Hunter-Kilmer - @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.css-1xovt06 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-1xovt06 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 03/09/17.