ST FRANCES OF ROME'S GUARDIAN ANGEL BEAMED WITH HAPPINESS WHEN HE HEARD HER SAY, "JESUS"

St Frances of Rome had the remarkable honor of being able to see her Guardian Angel in bodily form and talk freely with him as she would to a human person. The Angel was with her at all times. When Frances would say, "Jesus", her angel was overcome with happiness, his face beamed and he knelt down in worship.  On occasion the devil was brazen enough to show up uninvited, so he could attempt to incite anxiety in Frances. Yet when Frances uttered, "Jesus", the Enemy of our salvation flew into a rage and he fled.

While Frances was one of the preeminent mystics of the 15th century, which to put it mildly was a long time ago, in our times when in the throes of spiritual attack we may emulate the way she drove the devil from her when she offered the Holy Name. The devil, a fallen spirit, has such contempt for us and our flesh, yet we may use our lips to voice, "Jesus", and expel him from our midst.

And in our devotion to our Guardian Angels, when we offer the Holy Name with love, we give our Angel a special joy, and offer him a worthy token of appreciation.

Frances of Rome and her Guardian Angel are portrayed together in works of sacred art. There is a symbiosis of devotion to Frances and her Angel, and to be devoted to Frances is to come to a deeper appreciation of the office of our Guardian Angels. Gorgeous religious medals may be purchased where the wings of Frances's Angel fan out behind her in protective embrace. Frances was first and foremost a supremely dedicated mother, and I know a tiny few women who fashion themselves after Frances and I would like to suggest to their husbands that they get them the medal for Christmas, but I'll refrain, it might be a little on the nose.