Today, November 5, is the memorial of Blessed Frances d’Amboise.
Carmelite religious and widow.
Frances was born in 1427 in a castle in Thouars, France. Her father was Louis d’Amboise, Prince of Talmont and Viscount of Thouars, and Louise-Marie de Rieux.
At the age of three, Frances was already engaged to marry Peter II, a son of John V, Duke of Brittany, for political reasons. She married the Duke of Brittany, Peter II, at the age of 15. She was crowned with Peter II in 1450, becoming the Duchess of Brittany in the process. As a duchess, she helped the poor and the sick.
When her husband died of natural causes in 1457, Frances decided to pursue her religious vocation. She established the first French Carmelite monastery in 1463, in response to an advice from Blessed John Soreth, the Prior General of the Carmelites.
In 1477 she moved to the Nantes monastery, one of her foundations. It was recorded that Frances was a prioress of a strong personality, motherly understanding, and keen awareness. Her written spiritual direction to her nuns have been preserved. She is credited for the introduction of frequent communion (daily for the sick) and the fourth vow of strict enclosure.
Her last words were: “In everything, do that which will make God loved all the more!”
She died in 1485. She was beatified by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1866.