The Saints: St. Frances of Rome

1384 - 1440 / Feast - March 9

Born to the noble Busso family, Frances was married at 13 to the wealthy Lorenzo Ponziani and bore three children. In Rome, during years of war, famine and plague, she devoted herself to works of mercy and joined with other women in doing charitable works. The group began to live in community in 1433, and Frances joined them after her husband’s death. The Oblates of Tor de Specchi still exist. An example of love in marriage and religious life, Frances was canonized in 1608.