Mar 9

St. Frances of Rome, Feast of

St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) is the patron saint of widows. Despite the death of her children, her husband's banishment, and the confiscation of their estates, she never faltered. Eventually she founded a society of women who pledged to offer themselves to God and to serve the poor. When she died, St. Frances' body was removed to Santa Maria Nuova in Rome, which is now known as the church of Santa Francesca Romana.