Saint of the day: Santa Francesca of Rome

Saint of the day: Santa Francesca di Roma: Francesca's life combines aspects of secular and religious life. A devoted and loving wife. She wanted a lifestyle of prayer and service, so she organized a group of women to assist the needs of the poor in Rome.

Born to wealthy parents, Francesca found herself attracted to religious life during her youth. But her parents objected and a young noble was chosen as a husband. When she met her new relatives, Francesca soon discovered that her husband's brother's wife also wanted to live a life of service and prayer. So the two, Francesca and Vannozza, left together, with the blessing of their husbands, to help the poor.

The story of Santa Francesca of Rome

Saint of the day, Santa Francesca of Rome: Francesca fell ill for a while, but this apparently only strengthened her commitment to the suffering people she met. Years passed and Francesca gave birth to two sons and a daughter. With the new responsibilities of family life, the young mother turned her attention more to the needs of her own family.

The family thrived under Frances's care, but within a few years a great plague began to spread throughout Italy. It struck Rome with devastating cruelty and left Francesca's second son dead. In an effort to help alleviate some of the suffering. Francesca used all her money and sold her belongings to buy everything the sick could need. When all the resources were exhausted, Francesca and Vannozza went from door to door to beg. Later, Francesca's daughter died and the saint opened a part of her house as a hospital.

Francesca became more and more convinced that this lifestyle was so necessary for the world. It wasn't long before she applied for and received permission to found a society of no-vote bound women. They simply offered themselves to God is at the service of the poor. Once the company was founded, Francesca chose not to live in the community residence, but rather at home with her husband. She did this for seven years, until her husband died, and then went to live the rest of her life with society, serving the poorest of the poor.

Reflection

Looking at the exemplary life of fidelity to God and devotion to her fellow men that Frances of Rome was blessed to lead, one cannot help but remember St Teresa of Calcutta, who loved Jesus Christ in prayer and also in the poor. The life of Francesca of Rome calls each of us not only to seek God in depth in prayer, but also to bring our devotion to Jesus who lives in the suffering of our world. Frances shows us that this life is not to be limited to those who are bound by vows.