St. Frances of Rome Catholic Prayer Card

Francesca Bussa de' Leoni was a 14th / 15th century Italian Catholic mystic, organizer of charitable services and a Benedictine oblate who founded a religious community of oblates, who share a common life without religious vows. When she was 11, she wanted to be a nun, but, at about the age of twelve, her parents forced her to marry Lorenzo Ponziani, commander of the papal troops of Rome and member of an extremely wealthy family. Even though the marriage was arranged, it was a happy one, lasting for forty years. Frances visited the poor and took care of the sick, inspiring other wealthy women to do the same.