St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) was a model for housewives and widows. Despite the death of her children, her husband’s banishment, and the confiscation of their estates, she continued to nurse the sick and care for the poor. St. Frances’s feast day is observed on March 9, the date on which she died. Because she is also the patron saint of motorists, it is customary for Italian drivers to flock to the Colosseum in Rome for the blessing of their cars. Crowds also visit Tor de Specchi and Casa degli Esercizi Pii (formerly her home), whose rooms are opened to the public on this day. Discuss