822 ST. FRANCES given her the moDastic habit, an angel appeared and placed the veil on her head. Franca soon became abbess, and practised great austerity. Many miracles are attributed to her. The most fiamons is that once two dolia (measures) of wine being dried up, she put her lips to the cask and began to drink; immediately the vessel was full of wine. A popular tumult determined her to leave Placentia, and live in greater solitude than the convent life of St. Sirio permitted. She fled to Mount Luna, and thought of building a convent there. That being impracticable, she went to Yalleria, and there also failing to find what she required, she journeyed on to a place called Plectole, where she took the Cistercian habit with all her nuns. Funds were required to build a new convent for the reception of the strangers and others who might be called to join them. A rich young lady of Placentia, named Carentia, very clever and studious, attracted by the wisdom and sanctity of Franca, had often visited her when she was at St. Sirio, and now desired to become one of her nuns. She was persuaded by Franca to supply the deficiency, and a convent was bmlt by her means. Franca was appointed to preside over the new convent. Fifty nuns had followed her from Placentia, and many virgins and widows joined her. At Plectole her fasts became more and more rigorous. All through Lent she lived on bread and vegetables. At length her health gave way, and towards the middle of Lent, 1218, she was seized with a painful illness, and died April 25 or 27. St. Franca, is counted among the Myroblites, i.e, the saints whose tombs distil a miraculous oil. B,M. Papebroch, in the AA.SS., from a contemporary authority. Cahier. Honriquez, Lilia Cistercii. Bagatta, Admiranda. St. Frances (l ), of Placentia, Franca. B. Frances (2), March 27. + March 2r), 1238. O.S.F. Francesca Comitola was the daughter of the Count of Colle- mezzo, who came from Todi and settled in Perugia, and was there called dei Comitoli. She was a sister of Pietro Comitoli, created cardinal and bishop of Albano, in 1244, by Innocent IV. She took the veil under St. Clara in 1213. She saw the Holy Child Jesus in the arms of Clara. Jacobilli, Santi delT Umbrta, B. Frances (3), or Francischtna, of Gubbio, Feb. 6. + 1360. 3rd O.S.F. Her body lay neglected in the church of Gubbio, in Umbria, until certain Hungarian pilgrims discovered its miracle-working powers, since whei), the saint has been held in great honour by the Franciscans. AA.SS. B. Frances (4), of Fano, Sept. 30. 16th century. Nun of the Order of St. Francis, in the convent of Corpo di Cristo, at Pesaro, under B. Felicia, of Meda. Jacobilli, Santi delV Umbria, St. Frances (5), of Rome, March 9. 1384-1440. Patron of Rome. Founder of the Order of Oblates or Collatines. One of the chief saints of the Olivetan Order, and one of the most popular saints of Rome. Represented generally in the dress of a Benedictine nun, with a black gown and white hood: (1) in company with St. Charles Borromeo, founder of the Oblate brotherhood at Milan; (2) with an angel holding open the book of the office of the Virgin, at the words, " Tenuisti manum dexteram meam," etc., in allusion to a legend given below; (3) the B. V. Mary appearing to her, holding a number of broken arrows, while dead and dying persons lie around, in allusion to the cessation of an epidemic attributed to the prayers of Frances; (4) leading an ass laden with wood; (5) finding grapes on a leafless vine, in mid-winter, to satisfy the thirst of her nuns. She was the daughter of Paolo de Bassi and Giacobella Rofrodeschi, both of whom were of noble families now extinct. She gave early evidence of her pious and serious disposition, shunning childish amusement, and all familiarity even with persons of her own family. She would not suffer her father to touch her hands unless thoy were covered up. At eleven years old she wished to become a nun, but in obedience to her
