Histories of St. Francesca Romana by Antoniazzo Romano

Saint Frances of Rome (or Francesca Romana) (Rome, 1384–Rome, March 9, 1440), like many saints, was born of wealthy Italian parents. Image File history File links AntoniazzoRomano. ... Image File history File links AntoniazzoRomano. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 8th century BC Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,285 km²  (496. ... Events May / September 3 - Siege of Lisbon by the Castilian army, during the 1383-1385 Crisis Births Antoine, Duke of Brabant (died 1415) St Frances of Rome (died 1440) Khalil Sultan, ruler of Transoxiana (died 1411) Deaths January 1 - King Charles II of Navarre (b. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... For alternative meanings, see number 1440. ...

When she was eleven years old, she decided to be a nun, but within two years her parents married her off to Lorenzo Ponziano (or de Ponziani), commander of the papal troops of Rome. Although the marriage had been arranged, it was a happy one, lasting for forty years, partly because Lorenzo admired his wife and her sister, Vannozza, and partly because he was frequently away at war. The women prayed, visited the poor, and took care of the sick, inspiring other wealthy women to do the same. Francesca became widely known among the poor by a nickname "Ceccolella". Nun in cloister, 1930; photograph by Doris Ulmann In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ... The Papal States (Gli Stati della Chiesa or Stati Pontificii, States of the Church) was one of the major historical states of Italy before the boot-shaped peninsula was unified under the Piedmontese crown of Savoy (later a republic). ...

Francesca and Lorenzo lost two of their three children to the plague. In their case, it sensitized them to the needs of the poor. During the wars between the legitimate pope and various antipopes, Lorenzo served the former. However, in his absence, much of his own property and possessions were destroyed. Eventually he would return, wounded, to Francesca's care, dying in 1436. Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ... During certain periods of turbulence in the Roman Catholic Church, Papal elections were conducted which were not considered valid by the Roman Catholic Church, either at the time of the election itself, or were subsequently declared invalid. ... Events April - Paris is recaptured by the French End of the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. ...

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "With her husband's consent Frances practiced continency, and advanced in a life of contemplation. Her visions often assumed the form of drama enacted for her by heavenly personages. She had the gift of miracles and ecstasy, (as) well as the bodily vision of her guardian angel, had revelations concerning purgatory and hell, and foretold the ending of the Western Schism. She could read the secrets of consciences and detect plots of diabolical origin. She was remarkable for her humility and detachment, her obedience and patience[.]" The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in 1913 by The Encyclopedia Press. ... Contemplation comes from the latin root for temple, and means to enter an open or consecrated place. ... The gift of miracles is, in Christian theology, among the charismata or gifts mentioned by St. ... A guardian angel is a spirit who is believed to protect and to guide a particular person. ... Purgatory commonly refers to a doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church, which posits that those who die in a state of grace undergo a purification in order to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering. ... Historical map of the Western Schism. ...

Francesca had turned part of the family's country estate into a hospital. On the feast of the Assumption, August 15, [1425], she founded the Oblates of Mary, a lay congregation of pious women, attached to the church of S. Maria Nova in Rome, but neither cloistered nor bound by formal vows, which on July 4, 1433 received the approval of Pope Eugene IV. The group became the Oblates of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto, headquartered in the nearby Tor di Specchi. She died in 1440 and was buried in that church. Look up assumption in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... Events Births June 23 - Francis II, Duke of Brittany Kettil Karlsson Vasa, later Regent of Sweden. ... Eugenius IV, né Gabriel Condulmer (1383 - February 23, 1447) was pope from March 3, 1431 to his death. ... The Olivetans, or the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order formally recognised in 1344. ...

On May 9, 1608 she was canonized by Pope Paul V, and in the following decades a diligent search was made for her remains. They were found on April 2, 1638 and reburied on March 9, 1649. Again, in 1869, the body was exhumed and this time exposed to the veneration of the faithful in a crystal coffin. The church of S. Maria Nova is usually now referred to as the church of S. Francesca Romana. Peculiarly, in 1925 Pope Pius XI declared her the patron saint of automobile drivers. Her feast day is celebrated on March 9, the date of the first translation of her remains. May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... Events March 18 - Sissinios formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia May 14 - Protestant Union founded in Auhausen. ... Canonization is the process of declaring someone a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she qualifies for this. ... Paul V, né Camillo Borghese (Rome, September 17, 1552 – January 28, 1621) was Pope from May 16, 1605 until his death. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... // Events January 30 - King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Pope Pius XI (Latin: ) (May 31, 1857 – February 10, 1939), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, reigned as Pope from February 6, 1922 and sovereign of Vatican City from 1929 until his death on February 10, 1939. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ...

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia article
• 09 March saints at St. Patrick's Church