Jacoba de Settesoli, OFM Tert.
(also known as Jacqueline de Settesoli)
13th century. Jacqueline, friend of Saint Francis of Assisi, was born into a noble Italian family descended from the Norman knights who invaded Sicily. She married well to Gratien Frangipani, a family renowned for its charity.
When Jacqueline was about 22 (1212), Saint Francis came to Rome for an audience with the pope. While there, he preached so well that he became famous. When Jacqueline heard Francis praise poverty that opens wide the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven, she realized that charity is not dealt with as one would deal with a servant, and that charity is not a fact, but a state. The next day, Jacqueline sought Francis’s direction.
Francis told her to return home, she could not abandon her family. “A perfect life can be lived anywhere. Poverty is everywhere. Charity is everywhere. It is where you are that counts. You have a husband and two children. That is a beautiful frame for a holy life.” And, so, Jacqueline joined the third order of Saint Francis; and because she was masculine and energetic she was nicknamed “Brother Jacoba.”
Saint Francis, who was often her guest, had no more devoted follower, and on his visits to Rome she cared for him like a mother. Jacoba helped the brothers in many ways: collecting goods, repairing clothes, finding the house for the Hospice of Saint-Blaise.
To thank her for all the mending she had done, Brother Thomas gave her a lamb that he had trained to follow him everywhere. Jacqueline accepted this new friend as a type of little spiritual guide. The lamb followed her everywhere, especially to Church, and stayed close by her as she prayed.
When Francis was about to die, he sent for her. “Set out as soon as possible, if you wish to see me once more. Bring with you what is necessary for my burial.” Jacoba arrived with all that was needed for his comfort and was with him to the end. She settled at Assisi, so that she might be near those who loved him, and until she died she helped to preserve his work.
saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0208.shtmlJacqueline lived to be about 80. During her life she had taken part in all kinds of triumphs, vexations, and miracles with the friends of Saint Francis, who were her friends, too. She had the good fortune to care for him while he lived and was also with him after his death, for she was buried in the same crypt as Saint Francis, facing him, in the basilica of Assisi (Encyclopedia, Gill).
There is no Saint Jacqueline. There is a Blessed Jacqueline Monnier.Hello,
I have done a search online but have been unsuccessful in finding a Saint Jacqueline. Does anyone know if one exists? Thank you for your help.