Franca Visalta
Encyclopedia
Saint Franca Visalta also known as Franca of Piacenza, was a Cistercian abbess
.
Born in Piacenza
, Italy
, she became a Benedictine
nun
in St Syrus Convent at the age of seven and became abbess
at a young age. However, she was removed and isolated because of the severe austerites she imposed. Only one nun, Carentia, agreed with Franca's discipline and she moved to a Cistercian convent in Rapallo
.
Franca then persuaded her parents to build a Cistercian house in Montelana where she and Carentia both entered. Franca became abbess
and maintained the strict austerites on herself, even when her health was failing, and spent most nights praying for several hours in chapel
. She later moved the Cistercian community to Pittoli, where she died in 1218. Saint Franca was canonised by Pope Gregory X
.
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
.
Born in Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, she became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
in St Syrus Convent at the age of seven and became abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
at a young age. However, she was removed and isolated because of the severe austerites she imposed. Only one nun, Carentia, agreed with Franca's discipline and she moved to a Cistercian convent in Rapallo
Rapallo
Rapallo is a municipality in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy. As of 2007 it counts approximately 34,000 inhabitants, it is part of the Tigullio Gulf and is located in between Portofino and Chiavari....
.
Franca then persuaded her parents to build a Cistercian house in Montelana where she and Carentia both entered. Franca became abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
and maintained the strict austerites on herself, even when her health was failing, and spent most nights praying for several hours in chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
. She later moved the Cistercian community to Pittoli, where she died in 1218. Saint Franca was canonised by Pope Gregory X
Pope Gregory X
Pope Blessed Gregory X , born Tebaldo Visconti, was Pope from 1271 to 1276. He was elected by the papal election, 1268–1271, the longest papal election in the history of the Roman Catholic Church....
.