The life of St Frances of Rome is one full of piety, warring parties, miracles, visions, antipopes, plagues, hair-breadth escapes, troubles, and joy. She is a model for young girls, the example of a devout matron, a widow, and a founder of a few Oblate orders. She was born in 1384 to a wealthy, noble family in Rome during wild and troubled times. She desired to become a nun, but God had different plans for her life. Her hidden life was marvelous in the extreme: visions of terror and beauty followed her all her days. Favors that were never granted to other saints were vouchsafed to her. The world of spirits was continually thrown open to her sight, and yet in her daily conduct, her character and her ways had a simplicity and deep humility.