St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds (1734-1791)
October 6
A young girl by the name of Anna Maria faced a familiar
situation when she turned sixteen. Her father wanted her married, but she wanted
to stay an unmarried virgin. So her father whipped her and locked her in her
room. He later relented and allowed her to become a Franciscan tertiary in the Order
of St. Peter of Alcantara and to be a consecrated virgin still living
at home. Her religious name is Mary Frances.
Gallo family life was not easy, in a house filled with brothers
and sisters. Mary’s time was absorbed by prayer, penance, and doing works of
charity. She befriended the sick and needy of Naples, caring for the poor. She was especially devoted to praying for souls in purgatory and in meditating on
the passion of Christ. She received the stigmata on her hands, feet, and side. (Curiously,
most stigmatists are female). Mary Frances of the Five Wounds not only was
gifted with visions of Jesus, but she also reportedly had frequent visits from
her Guardian Angel. She was canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867, and is a
patroness of Naples, Italy.
