Bl. Frances d’Amboise

  Posted on November 6, 2020  by admin  No comments

Born: 28 September 1427 in Thouars, Deux-Sèvres, France 

Died: 4 November 1485 at Les Couêts, Nantes, France of natural causes while in a religious ecstasy, miracles reported at her tomb, her body had to be moved to save it during the Huguenot wars, and again in the French Revolution 

Venerated: in Roman Catholic Church

Beatified: 16 July 1863, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Papal States by Pope Pius IX

Feast: November 4

Daughter of Louis d’Amboise, Viscount de Thouars, she grew up in the courts of Brittany. Duchess of Brittany, being married to Peter II, Duke of Britanny at age 15; she was betrothed to him at age four. It was not a happy marriage, and Peter sometimes abused her, but Frances softened Peter over the years, and he assisted in her charitable work. She established a Poor Clare convent at Nantes, France, and worked for the canonization of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Supported the Dominican convent at Nantes. Widowed in 1457, she devoted herself to religious life. Joined the Carmelite nuns at Bondon on 25 March 1468, making her final vows in 1469. Spiritual student of Blessed John Soreth. Worked in the infirmary for a while, and was elected prioress for life in 1473. Considered the foundress of the Carmelite nuns in France.