09 MAR - SAINT OF THE DAY [S FRANCES OF ROME (1384-1440)]

 Frances was born at Rome and her parents were of high rank. They overruled her desire to become a nun, 

    and at the age of twelve, she married a Roman noble. During the forty years of their married life they never had a disagreement. 

    While spending her days in retirement and prayer, she attended promptly to every household duty, saying, "A married woman must leave God at the Altar to find Him in 

    her domestic cares;". Her ordinary food was dry bread. Secretly she would share good food with beggars. During the invasion of Rome, in 1413, her husband was banished, 

    his estates confiscated, his house destroyed, and his eldest son taken as a hostage. Frances saw in these losses only the finger of God, and blessed His holy name. 

    When peace was restored, her husband recovered his estate. After her husband's death, at the age of 52, She founded the institute known as the Oblates. 

    She lived always in the presence of God, and amongst many visions was given constant sight of her Angel guardian, 

    who shed such brightness around him that the Saint could read her midnight Office by this light alone. He shielded her in the hour of temptation, 

    and directed her in every good act. But when she was betrayed into some defect, he faded from her sight; and when some light words were spoken before her, 

    he covered his face in shame. During the three periods of her life, three Angels of different rank accompanied her, 

    ready to protect her soul against any onslaught of hell and to lead her step by step to spiritual perfection. Day and night, she saw her Angel busy at a mysterious task. 

    With three little golden spindles, he unceasingly spun golden threads, strung them around his neck, and diligently wound them into balls. A half year before her death 

    he changed his work. Instead of spinning more golden thread, he began to weave three carpets of varying size with the golden thread he had spun. 

    These carpets symbolized her lifework as virgin, mother, and religious. Shortly before her death, she noticed how the Angel was hurrying his work, 

    and his face was unusually fresh and happy. At the very moment when the last carpet had reached its required length, her soul departed into eternal bliss.




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