All I want is some quiet time with You, Lord. Frances heroically devoted herself to the care of the sick, the starving, and the dying, and organized a group of Roman ladies to assist her in this work. "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. Dating culture crisis fuels Catholic marriage . After two more children were born to her -- a boy, Giovanni Evangelista, and a girl, Agnes -- a flood brought disease and famine to Rome. Copyright 2023 Famous Quotes & Sayings. They became close friends and worked out a program of devout practices and services to work together. On Dispelling Fear. Finally Frances was so desperate for food to give to the poor she went to the now empty corn loft and sifted through the straw searching for a few leftover kernels of corn. If you don't have one now, ask God to send you such a companion. Death seemed imminent. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. Her words gave me a tremendous amount of hope. the holy Catholic knight At the age of 52, she had the life she wanted at age 11. by Marion Habig, ofm. 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. But it turned out that Vannozza was just a naturally joyful person. Clement of Rome was the third successor of Saint Peter, reigning as pope during the last decade of the first century. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. Instead, her parents arranged a marriage for her. Her family was right, though -- she was an excellent administrator and a fair and pleasant employer. Read more:Fully alive: The little terror who wanted to be a saint. 2016. This friend, like Frances' Vannozza, may be near you already. She surrendered her will to Gods, but she did so reluctantly. But the troubles were not over. Maybe I could have been a saint, we think, if I hadnt married him or had so many children or gotten in that car accident or had an abortion or dropped out of college or become so bitter. But whatever brought them about, its by those circumstancesthose crossesthat God is sanctifying us. From an early age, she had a strong love for God. We all know that St. Christopher is often invoked by drivers, but did you know that we motorists also have St. Frances as a patroness? Everyone thought that sixteen-year-old Frances was best qualified to take her mother-in-law's place. old. God just had other plans for her in between. She and her sister-in-law both . Her tomb is beneath the high altar in the crypt of the Roman church which is now called Santa Francesca Romana in her honor. "What has always made me respect you, even in thebad times, was your ability to look out at the worldand see what's there. Frances of Rome was an introvert who learned to thrive amid people. The archangel's light was visible to her so that she could read by it. St Frances asked her family to have faith, and walked to the cellar with them. 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. Silence. Does God Really Want Everyone to Be Happy? Today that would describe the Red S, Incredible post Guy. (Source), Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt. His last words to her were, "I feel as if my whole life has been one beautiful dream of purest happiness. Then a miracle happened. After his death, Frances moved into the house with the other Oblates and was made superior. Action. The family flourished under Frances care, but within a few years a great plague began to sweep across Italy. Cecilia suffered under the laughter of her friends and yelled at her daughters-in-law to stop theirs spiritual practices. God had had other plans for her in between. Where there is despair, hope; But though her son came back a charming young man her husband returned broken in mind and body. Keep us faithful in your service, and help us to see and follow you. Copyright 2023 Catholic Exchange. Frances of Rome was disconsolate when her marriage was arranged, but it was through that very marriage that she became a saint. But they also attended Mass together and set up a secret chapel in the palace where they could go and pray. Frances prayed that God would somehow prevent the marriage from happening. ), Saint Frances of Rome, help us to see the difference between what we want to do and what God wants us to do. She had a vision that St. Alexis. Design by Perceptions Studio. In the dishes, in the checking of our inboxes, in the conference calls, in the laundry, in the meetings, in the diaper changeshe is there. When I think of the happiness that is in store for me, every sorrow, every pain becomes dear to me. You can find out more about her here. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. It's hard for us to understand why a thirteen-year-old would want to die but Frances was miserable. What is it that stands higher than words? As if that werent enough, she was able to see and receive spiritual advice from him. At least not as far as we know. One site is in Lake Elsinore, which is the original church. In the life of Saint Frances of Rome, Lord God, you gave us an outstanding example of the married state and the religious life. Still, some of us are so caught up in our penances and what we gave up that we often overlooked these amazing saints. A Florida Lawyer Argues That a Pregnant Inmates Unborn Child Is Being Illegally Detained, Experts Predict the Ozone Layer Will Fully Heal Within 40 Years, The Biblical Reasons for Going Low Waste, The Spiritual Toll of Americas Food Waste Epidemic, The Buffalo Supermarket Shooter Has Been Sentenced to Life in Prison. With Lorenzo's support and respect, Frances started a lay order of women attached to the Benedictines called the Oblates of Mary. In 1425, St Frances of Rome and a half dozen other Roman ladies, her companions, were clothed as oblates of St Benedict. To be loved, as to love. Saint Francis (of Assisi) (1964). May I find You, Lord, in every moment of my day, whether before the tabernacle or in front of a pile of laundry. What do you have to fear? He listened patiently to the 13-year-olds lamentations until she had finished, then remarked calmly, Are you crying because you want to do Gods will or because you want God to do your will?. That must be the definition of 'human being': Misunderstood. Instead of stopping to help them, she brushed the person aside, saying, I have to get to Mass! On the way home, the woman was in an accident and died. Having her husband and father-in-law completely on her side meant she could do what she always wanted. However, there is another layer to St. Francess words. Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. Find Him in Your Household Affairs Apron, St Frances of Rome Quote, Catholic Quote, Catholic Saint, Catholic Apron, Catholic Wedding Gift Ad vertisement by KolbesLittleFlowers. Everyone screamed at Frances. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone. St. Alexis promised Frances that she would live a life that glorified the Lord. (Source), Keep a clear eye toward lifes end. After some time, they also bought a house where widowed members could live in a community together. She decided at eleven that she knew what God wanted for her -- she was going to be a nun. As long as Troja had Battista he knew the Ponzianis would stop fighting. His actions would lay the foundations of a Kingdom for Christ that would eventually reach around the world and spread the Catholic faith to millions of souls. "T, The writer Fran Leibowitz once gave an inter, Inequality is a problem and an issue. Where there is doubt, faith; From her mother she inherited a quiet manner and a pious devotion to God. 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. Saint Frances was born at Rome in 1384. With the new responsibilities of family life, the young mother turned her attention more to the needs of her own household. For months she lay close to death, unable to eat or move or speak. He told the story of an elderly woman who went to daily Mass faithfully, and who, one day, passed someone in desperate need. Where there is Poverty and Joy, there is neither Cupidity nor Avarice. Her husband called a man in who dabbled in magic, but St Frances drove him out of the house in no uncertain terms. Amen. During the forty years or their married life they never had a disagreement. The basics: Born . At 11yrs, St Frances wanted to be a nun. He raved at the saint, telling her she was bringing privation upon them to feed strangers. Again Frances tried to embrace her cross and again it proved to heavy for her. Keep it up if you initially fought 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." Twitter. Rome was invaded in 1410; and during the civil war which followed, a series of calamities befell the Ponziani family. Frances began a lay order of women who attached to the Benedictine. She lived in solidarity with the poor though her home was a castle. Then her nightmare began. The Lord loves the time I spend with Him. She too had entertained thoughts of entering a convent before her marriage, and she joined St Frances in her works of piety and charity. By age 11, she decided that she wanted to become a nun. Sign up for our Premium service. God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. Writing under the pen name "Melissa Cecilia," she is the author of the Will and Lina series. Not what you'd like to see, oreven what you need to see, but simply what's there. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. Return to Franciscan Calendar Page Return to Incorruptible Saints Page Return to Saints Page Return to Roman Catholic Saints Homepage. After her surviving son was grown and marriedand with the full support of her husbandSt. Lorenzo, who fought with the papal troops, was wounded; and after St Frances had nursed him to health, he went back to the war. There are good laws and there are occasionally bad laws, and it conforms to the highest traditions of a free society to offer resistance to bad laws, and to disobey them. What made it worse was that Frances was thrown into a very social life. She wanted to devote her life to Jesus Christ. ~Famous quote of Saint Frances. With this new commitment, and a sister in Christ by her side, Frances turned more of her attention toward the needs of her own household. The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure. We chose the wrong vocation or the wrong spouse or made one bad choice that ruined our lives. in Religious Studies from Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles and has completed part of an M.A. What Can Christians Do About Climate Change? To be consoled as to console, Yet with all this, its for her simple devotion as wife and mother that she is remembered. Finally the wars were over and Battista and her husband returned home. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. * Inequ, Art, My wife was born in Pawtucket. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you. After she left Lorenzo came in and was stunned to find the previously empty granary filled with yellow corn. Frances died in 1440 at the age of 56. little known incorrupt saint Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The years passed, and Frances gave birth to two sons and a daughter. Her father, on the other hand, wanted her to devote her life to Lorenzo Ponziani, commander of the papal guard. Click the link below! She was an uptown girl of noble birtha holy girl, wholly unimpressed by her position. The whole thing overwhelmed Soon after her marriage, Frances fell seriously ill. She was a Third Order Benedictine, founded an order of Oblates, and for decades saw her guardian angel with her at all times. Even though my children are older now, new challenges come into play. Same boat, friend. Prompted by this, she started the blog My Domestic Monastery (www.mydomesticmonastery.com), where she shares inspiration for families wanting to grow in holiness. The life of St. Frances is an encouraging one. On her feast day (March 9), lets ask her intercession for all those who feel trapped in their lives, particularly those who feel alone and need a Vannozza to spur them on to holiness. Where there is Mercy and Prudence, there is neither Excess nor Harshness. The Franciscans remain an influential group within the Church, and the pope himself was so moved by his ministry that he took the name Francis. , On the Feast of St. Frances of Rome #BISblog //. Its no surprise that most saints whose feast days fall during Lent every year are often overlooked. It was difficult for people to understand her objection. Alek asked. She desired to enter the convent, but in obedience to her parents was instead married at age twelve to a young nobleman named Lorenzo de' Ponziani. Where there is Love and Wisdom, there is neither Fear nor Ignorance. They devoted themselves to God and served the poor.