I was having difficulty deciding which Saint to feature in today's post, so I pulled out my copy of Butler's Lives of the Saints (mine is the Complete Edition published in 1956). I chose a Saint whose feast is celebrated today, Blessed Frances (Francoise) d'Amboise.
Frances was born in 1427 in the castle of Thouars, the daughter of a rich noble. At the age of three or four she was sent to be brought up in the court of the Duke of Brittany and was (for political reasons) engaged to marry his second son, Peter. The two were married in 1442 when Frances was 15. She found herself in a difficult marriage. Her husband was jealous, sulky and sometimes violent. Frances dealt with her troubles without complaint and by her patience and prayers, gradually changed her husband's heart. In 1450, after the death of Peter's elder brother, Peter became Duke and Frances became the Duchess. She used her new position to forward the work of God, founding convents, promoting the cause for canonization of St. Vincent Ferrer and spending large sums in works of charity.
The duke died in 1457, leaving no legitimate heir. His successors were not fond of the Dowager Duchess' popularity and influence, so she withdrew herself from public affairs and retired to one of the convents she had founded. In 1468 she took the veil herself as a Carmelite. She entered as an ordinary sister and became infirmarian for the convent, caring for the sick of the convent. In 1473, the nuns elected her prioress for life, even though she asked for release again and again.
Blessed Frances died on November 4,1485 and her last testament was a phrase which she has said often during her life, "In everything, do that which will make God loved the more!"
Blessed Frances d'Amboise, pray for us.
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