More on Francesca Romana

Yesterday was the feastday in Rome of Francesca Romana, and many Romans made their way to visit her tomb in the church of Santa Maria Nova, which overlooks the forum. The church is also know as the Basilica of Santa Francesca Romana.

Why the two names?

Here is the story.

When Francesca Romana died, her body was brough to the church of Santa Maria Nova, which overlooks the forum. She used to go to that church regularly; it was attached to a monastery of Olivetan Benedictines, who were a stricter branch and very new at the time. They wear white habits instead, and have a strong contemplative tradition. Francesca's community felt that it would be difficult to have mourners come to view the body in the convent chapel of the Oblates, and everyone in Rome knew that Francesca was part of the parish of Santa Maria Nova.

Well, to make a long story short, instead of burying her the next day, they had to postpone burial because so many people came in a constant procession to see her body and pay their last respects. The lines continued day and night for seven days (not even that many people came to see John XXIII or John Paul II). In the end, it was decided to bury her in the church of Santa Maria Nova. People continued to come to the church to pray near the tomb, and to leave flowers.…… I say "near the tomb" because she was buried in the floor of the nave of the church before the altar, but the floor was not marked so people weren't really sure where the tomb was. But the impact was there. The people of Rome forget the original name of the church and started to call it "Francesca's church".

While everyone in Rome considered her a saint, she was not canonized until 1608. Several years after the canonization the Olivetan Benedictine monks needed to repair the foundations of the church (it has been built in the 1200s). In so doing, they discovered the remains of Francesca. After 200 years her remains were intact. The sanctuary of the church was revamped, and her tomb was placed below the altar, so that it was visible from the church, and so that people could walk beneath the altar and see her remains close up. The remains have since deteriorated, so that all that is left is her skeleton, which is clothed in her widow's garments and her white mantle. The first time I saw her was 30 years ago, and I was very surprised… but I have since been to visit her tomb many times. It is a serious but joyful experience.