St. Frances of Rome, Patroness of Rome and Heavy Traffic!

O God, who have given to us in Saint Frances of Rome a singular model of both married and monastic life, grant us perseverance in your service, that in every circumstance of life we may see and follow you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. — Collect from today’s Mass

Today is the feastday of Saint Frances of Rome, particularly beloved by me because she was a wife and mother who lived monasticism within her station — she is a Patron Saint of Benedictine Oblates — and she is (informally but affectionately) one of the patrons of Rome along with my dear Saint Philip Neri. Seems wonderful to me that her memorial falls during a time of prayer for the church, and her future, and while all eyes are turned to Rome.

That’s a picture of her relics, taken in Rome in 2010, and this is why you never let me near a camera; like me, everything I shoot is fuzzy and slightly tilted.

Bearing Blog has a nice post up on the life of Francesca, who was a kind of Mother Teresa of her day. The little community of devout women Frances founded in the 15th century still thrives at Santa Maria Nova, which is the titular church of Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

St. Frances is also considered the patroness of drivers, particularly in heavy traffic. There is a tradition of blessing taxis, at her church, on this day. And their riders. :-)