St. Frances of Rome

Widow

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti : concéde, quæsumus ; ut intercessiónis ejus auxílio Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who amidst the manifold gifts of thy grace didst endue thy blessed servant Frances with the familiar converse of an Angel : grant, we beseech thee ; that at her intercession we may be found worthy to be admitted to the company of the Angels in thy heavenly kingdom.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

The Church of Santa Francesca Romana, Rome

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Símile est regnum cælórum * hómini negotiatóri quærénti bonas margarítas : invénta una pretiósa, dedit ómnia sua, et comparávit eam.

Ant. on Magnif:  The kingdom of heaven * is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti : concéde, quæsumus ; ut intercessiónis ejus auxílio Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who amidst the manifold gifts of thy grace didst endue thy blessed servant Frances with the familiar converse of an Angel : grant, we beseech thee ; that at her intercession we may be found worthy to be admitted to the company of the Angels in thy heavenly kingdom.  Through.

Ant:  Hic vir, despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

Ant:  Lo, a servant of God, who esteemed as naught all things earthly, and by word and work laid him up treasures in heaven.

V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
R.  And shewed him the kingdom of God.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum Joánnem, tuo amóre succénsum, inter flammas innóxium incédere fecísti, et per eum Ecclésiam tuam nova prole fœcundásti : præsta, ipsíus suffragántibus méritis ; ut igne caritátis tuæ vítia nostra curéntur, et remédia nobis ætérna provéniant.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, who didst enkindle with thy love the heart of thy blessed servant Saint John, that he was thereby enabled to walk unhurt amid the flames of fire, and hast through him enriched thy Church with a new offspring : grant that by the help of his merits our sins may be purged with the fire of thy charity, and our souls healed to the attainment of everlasting salvation.  (Through.)

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn
 

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the Common of Holy Women, Mulierem fortem.

Lessons from Common of Holy Women
 

Second Nocturn

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Francísca, nóbilis matróna Romána, ab ineúnte ætáte illústria dedit virtútum exémpla ; étenim pueríles ludos et illécebras mundi réspuens, solitúdine et oratióne magnópere delectabátur.  Undecim annos nata, virginitátem suam Deo consecráre et monastérium íngredi propósuit : paréntum tamen voluntáti humíliter obtémperans, Lauréntio de Pontiánis, júveni æque díviti ac nóbili, nupsit.  In matrimónio arctióris vitæ propósitum, quantum lícuit, semper retínuit ; a spectáculis, convíviis aliísque hujúsmodi oblectaméntis abhórrens, lánea ac vulgári veste utens, et quidquid a domésticis curis supérerat témporis, oratióni aut proximórum utilitáti tríbuens ; in id vero máxima sollicitúdine incúmbens, ut matrónas Románas a pompis sæculi et ornátus vanitáte revocáret.  Quaprópter domum Oblatárum, sub régula sancti Benedícti, congregatiónis Montis Olivéti, adhuc viro alligáta, in Urbe instítuit.  Viri exsílium, bonórum jactúram ac univérsæ domus mærórem non modo constantíssime tolerávit ; sed, grátias agens cum beáto Job, illud frequénter usurpábat : Dóminus dedit, Dóminus ábstulit : sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.

The noble Roman matron Frances was a pattern of godliness from her earliest years.  As a child she shrank from games, and set no store by the amusements of the world, but delighted to be continually alone and engaged in prayer.  At the age of eleven years she desired to consecrate her virginity to God, and to enter a convent, but humbly yielded obedience to the wishes of her parents, and was married to Lawrence de Pontiani, a young man whose rank was equal to his wealth.  As a wife she persevered, as far as she lawfully could, in her determination to lead an austere life ; she abstained as much as possible from going to shows, feasts, and such like amusements, dressed plainly in woollen stuffs, and spent in prayer or the service of her neighbour whatever time she did not occupy with her duties as mistress of her husband's house.  She strove earnestly to wean the married women of Rome from the vanities of the world and the frivolities of dress.  To this end she founded during her husband's lifetime the Sisterhood of the Oblates, under the rule of the Benedictine congregation called Of the Mount of Olives.  When it pleased God that her husband should be banished, all her goods taken away, and her home ruined, she meekly bowed down before his holy will, often repeating the words of the blessed Job : The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the Name of the Lord.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam : * Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.
V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
R.  Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

R.  Ride on because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and righteousness : * And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
V.  In thy comeliness, yea, in thy beauty, go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
R.  And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Viro defúncto, ad prædíctam Oblatárum domum cónvolans, nudis pédibus, fune ad collum alligáto, humi prostráta, multis cum lácrimis eárum número adscríbi supplíciter postulávit.  Voti compos facta, licet esset ómnium mater, non álio tamen quam ancíllæ, vilissimæque féminæ, et immundítiæ vásculi título gloriabátur.  Quam vilem sui existimatiónem et verbo declarávit et exémplo ; sæpe enim e suburbána vínea revértens, et lignórum fascem próprio cápiti impósitum déferens, vel eísdem onústum agens per Urbem aséllum, paupéribus subveniébat, in quos étiam largas eleemósynas erogábat : ægrotantésque in xenodochíis vísitans, non corporáli tantum cibo, sed salutáribus mónitis recreábat.  Corpus suum vigíliis, jejúniis, cilício, férreo cíngulo, crebrísque flagéllis in servitútem redígere júgiter satagébat.  Cibum illi semel in die herbæ et legúmina, aqua potum præbuit.  Hos tamen córporis cruciátus aliquándo confessárii mandáto, a cujus ore nutúque pendébat, módice temperávit.

On her husband's death she betook herself immediately to the house of the Oblates, and, with her feet bare and a rope round her neck, threw herself down on the threshold, entreating the sisters with tears to receive her into their number.  When she obtained her wish, although she was the mother of them all, she would be among them only as one that served, glorying rather to be called the most degraded of women and a vessel of uncleanness.  Her lowly esteem of herself was shewn both by her word and example.  She passed often through the city from a vineyard in the country carrying a bundle of sticks on her head, or driving an ass laden with faggots ; she succoured the needy, for whom she collected large alms, and visited the sick in the hospitals, ministering to them both food for the body and exhortations healthful for their souls.  She strove continually to bring her body into subjection by watchings, fastings, haircloth, the wearing of an iron girdle, and the often use of a scourge.  She never ate but once a day, and then only vegetables, and she took no drink but water.  These severities she however sometimes relaxed, in obedience to her confessor, on whose word and wishes she framed her customs.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem : * Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.
V.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam.
R.  Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.

R.  Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity : * Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.
V.  Because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and of righteousness.
R.  Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Divína mystéria, præsértim vero Christi Dómini passiónem, tanto mentis ardóre tantáque lacrimárum vi contemplabátur, ut præ dolóris magnitúdine pene cónfici viderétur.  Sæpe étiam cum oráret, máxime sumpto sanctíssimæ Eucharístiæ sacraménto, spíritu in Deum eleváta ac cæléstium contemplatióne rapta, immóbilis permanébat.  Quaprópter humáni géneris hostis váriis eam contuméliis ac verbéribus a propósito dimovére conabátur : quem tamen illa impertérrita semper elúsit, Angeli præsértim præsídio, cujus familiári consuetúdine gloriósum de eo triúmphum reportávit.  Grátia curatiónum et prophetíæ dono enítuit, quo et futúra prædíxit et córdium secréta penetrávit.  Non semel aquæ, vel per rivum decurréntes vel e cælo labéntes, intáctam prorsus, dum Deo vacáret, reliquérunt.  Módica panis fragménta, quæ vix tribus soróribus reficiéndis fuíssent satis, sic ejus précibus Dóminus multiplicávit, ut quíndecim inde exsaturátis, tantum superfúerit, ut canístrum impléverit ; et aliquándo earúmdem sorórum, extra Urbem mense Januário ligna parántium, sitim recéntis uvæ racémis ex vite in árbore pendéntibus mirabíliter obténtis, abúnde expléverit.  Dénique, méritis et miráculis clara, migrávit ad Dóminum, anno ætátis suæ quinquagésimo sexto.  Quam Paulus quintus Póntifex máximus in Sanctórum númerum rétulit.

So great was her mental realisation of the things of God, and chiefly of the sufferings of the Lord Christ, and so abundant her tears in contemplating them, that she seemed sometimes about to sink under her grief.  Often when she was engaged in prayer, and principally after she had received the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, her spirit became altogether lifted up to God, and she remained motionless, carried away by the thought of heavenly things.  The enemy of man assailed her with divers reproaches and buffetings to break her off her intent, but she feared him not, and with the help of an Angel whom God gave her to be her familar friend, she won a noble victory over the tempter.  God glorified her with the gifts of healing and of prophecy, whereby she foretold things to come, and saw the secrets of the hearts of men.  More than once while her thoughts were busy in God she remained unwet by streams or rain.  When there was left only bread enough for three sisters, the Lord at her prayers was pleased so to multiply it, that fifteen had enough, and the basket was filled again with the fragments.  In the month of January also, when the sisters were gathering sticks in the country, and were thirsty, she satisfied them abundantly with bunches of fresh grapes from a tree.  She departed to be with the Lord, famous for good works and miracles, in the fifty-sixth year of her age.  The Supreme Pontiff Paul V caused her to be numbered among the saints.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Fallax grátia, et vana est pulchritúdo : * Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.
V.  Date ei de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.

R.  Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, * But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
V.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
R.  But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

After the conclusion of the Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Third Nocturn

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Simile est regnum cælorum thesauro abscondito is read from the Common of Holy Women.

Gospel Homily from Common of Holy Women

Lesson IX is from the Homily of the occurring weekday
 

Lauds

The first part of Lauds is in the Ordinary

V.  Diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis.
R.  Proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.

V.  Full of grace are thy lips.
R.  Because God hath blessed thee for ever.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Date ei * de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.

Ant. on Bened:  Give her * of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

THE BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti : concéde, quæsumus ; ut intercessiónis ejus auxílio Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who amidst the manifold gifts of thy grace didst endue thy blessed servant Frances with the familiar converse of an Angel : grant, we beseech thee ; that at her intercession we may be found worthy to be admitted to the company of the Angels in thy heavenly kingdom.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Second Vespers

V.  Diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis.
R.  Proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum.

V.  Full of grace are thy lips.
R.  Because God hath blessed thee for ever.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Manum suam * apéruit ínopi, et palmas suas exténdit ad páuperem, et panem otiósa non comédit.

Ant. on Magnif:  She stretcheth out her hand * to the poor ; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy; she eateth not the bread of idleness.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti : concéde, quæsumus ; ut intercessiónis ejus auxílio Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who amidst the manifold gifts of thy grace didst endue thy blessed servant Frances with the familiar converse of an Angel : grant, we beseech thee ; that at her intercession we may be found worthy to be admitted to the company of the Angels in thy heavenly kingdom.  Through.

Commemoration of the following day and of Feria