Tertiaries can become Saints

It is always a delight to encounter a Third Order saint like the Italian Franciscan St Mary Frances of the Five Wounds (1715-1791, feast day today) who devoted herself to prayer and care for the poor in Naples.  As a tertiary (equivalent to 'secular' in our usage) myself, I feel some kind of kinship with other tertiaries.  Moreover Mary Frances was a member of the Tertiaries of St Peter of Alcantara, a major influence on St Teresa.  This man (1499-1562) performed a role among the Franciscans akin to Teresa’s in the Carmelites.  His reformed branch was even known by the term ‘discalced’ and members did not wear shoes.  ‘In St. Teresa of Ávila Peter perceived a soul chosen by God for a great work, and her success in the reform of Carmel was in great measure due to his counsel, encouragement, and advocacy. It was a letter from Peter, dated April 14, 1562, that encouraged her to found her first monastery in Avila, Spain on August 24 of that year. The autobiography of St. Teresa is the source of much of the extant information on Peter's life, work, gift of miracles, and prophecy.' [Courtesy of Wikipedia] St Mary Frances seems to have had a very Carmelite temperament - she combined a deep commitment to contemplative prayer with her service of the community. For some reason she is known as the patron of expectant mothers.

Intercessions

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly