Born in Rome in 1384, her parents were wealthy aristocrats. 

At the age of eleven she declared her desire to become a nun but the next year Frances was forced to marry Lorenzo Panziania, commander of the Papal troops. 

Their marriage turned out to be quite happy, though Lorenzo was often sent away to war. 

Frances found company in her sister-in-law, Vannozza, who, like Frances, had a desire to serve the poor. The two became very close and gave a great deal of their time and resources to the poor. 

At one point, Frances became gravely ill. Distraught, Lorenzo sent for a man who could do “magic”, but Frances drove him away. Then, St. Alexis appeared to Frances, and she was healed. 

She had three children, two boys and a girl, but when the plague struck one of her sons died, then she lost a daughter. 

In an effort to help others who suffered, Frances opened her home and used all of her wealth, selling most of what she owned and begged door to door with Vanozza to raise more money. 

Seeing the work they were doing, other wealthy women offered their services to Frances and eventually Frances founded the Benedictine Oblate Congregation, a group of women who took no vows but simply offered themselves in service to others. 

She died on this day in 1440.

St. Frances of Rome, please pray for us.