Françoise d'Amboise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedFrançoise d’Amboise OCarm |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 29 May 1427 Château de Thouars, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 4 November 1485 (aged 58) Nantes, Kingdom of France |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 16 July 1863, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal States by Pope Pius IX |
| Feast | 4 November |
| Attributes | Carmelite habit, crucifix, crown |
Françoise d'Amboise (born May 29, 1427 – died November 4, 1485) was a French noblewoman who became a Carmelite nun. She is honored as "Blessed" in the Roman Catholic Church. She was known for her kindness and for helping those in need during her lifetime.
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Françoise d'Amboise was born in 1427 at the castle of Thouars in France. Her father was Louis d'Amboise, a wealthy noble who was the prince of Talmont and Viscount of Thouars. Her mother was Louise-Marie de Rieux.
When Françoise was very young, her family moved to the court of Brittany. This was a safer place to live because there was a lot of fighting in France at the time. At just three years old, she was promised in marriage to Peter. He was the second son of John V, Duke of Brittany. This marriage was arranged for political reasons, to create strong ties between noble families.
Françoise married Peter in 1442 when she was fifteen years old.
Duchess of Brittany
In 1450, Peter's older brother died unexpectedly. This meant that Peter became the new ruler of Brittany, known as Duke Peter II. Françoise d'Amboise then became the Duchess of Brittany.
As Duchess, Françoise played an important role in governing Brittany. She worked quietly but actively to help her people. She was especially known for helping the poor and the sick. She also cared deeply about fairness and justice for everyone.
A New Path: Becoming a Nun
Duke Peter II died in 1457 after an illness. Françoise was now a widow and had no children. After her husband's death, King Louis XI of France wanted to marry her. However, Françoise had other plans for her life.
In 1463, Françoise decided to dedicate her life to God. She worked with Jean Soreth to establish the very first convent for Carmelite nuns in France. A convent is a community where religious women, called nuns, live and pray together. Françoise later became the leader of this convent, known as the prioress.
In 1468, she officially became a nun by taking the "veil." This means she made her religious promises and entered the Carmelite convent in Vannes. This convent was called "The Three Maries." Françoise d'Amboise passed away in 1485 at the Carmelite monastery in Nantes.
Legacy and Recognition
Many years after her death, Françoise d'Amboise was recognized for her holy life. In 1863, Pope Pius IX officially declared her "Blessed." This is a special step in the Catholic Church towards becoming a saint, recognizing someone who lived a life of great virtue and holiness.
