Subj : April 26th - St. Franca of Piacenza, Virgin and Abbess To : All From : rich Date : Sat Apr 25 2020 10:05:45 From: rich April 26th - St. Franca of Piacenza, Virgin and Abbess d. 1218 FRANCA VISALTA was only 7 years old when she was placed in the Benedictine convent of St. Syrus at Piacenza and 14 when she was professed. Young though she was, she had already outstripped all her sisters in obedience, devotion and self-denial. After the death of the abbess she was chosen superior, and for a short time all went well. But the zealous young abbess soon began to tighten the reins of discipline, prohibiting amongst other luxurious innovations the practice of cooking vegetables in wine. So bitter was the opposition that Franca was actually deposed in favour of the bishop's sister, = who did not share her reforming spirit. For years Franca had to suffer calumny and misrepresentation, as well as severe interior trials. Her one earthly solace was a young girl called Carentia who used to visit her. By her advice Carentia underwent a year's novitiate in the Cistercian convent at Rapallo, = and then persuaded her parents to build for the order a house at Montelana which she entered, while it was arranged that St. Franca should be transferred from St. Syrus to rule the new foundation. Later the community settled at Pittoli. They kept the Cistercian rule in all its poverty and austerity, but even that was not enough for the abbess. Night after night she would go to the chapel to spend in prayer hours which others devoted to sleep. Her daughters, marking with dismay her failing health, bade the sacristan withhold the key, but it would have required more than a key to keep her from her vigil. She died in 1218, and Pope Gregory X, Carentia's kinsman, sanctioned her cultus for Piacenza. In the Acta Sanctorum, April, vol. iii, are printed a letter of a contemporary Cistercian prior recounting a vision of one of his monks to whom was revealed the glory of St. Franca Visalta, and also a lengthy biography by Father Bertram Recoldi, written in 1336. Bible Quote: I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.=C2 (Acts 20:29-32) <><><><> For a Sick Person =C2 O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant N. for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort him with a sense of thy goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction. In thy good time, restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory; and grant that he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .