St. Frances of Rome, March 9
Married into a noble Roman family at 13, Frances (1384-1440) raised her children while nursing the poor through plague and war. In 1425 she founded the Oblates of Tor de’ Specchi, women living a life of prayer and service. She is the patron of drivers, said to have been guided by her guardian angel.
On the General Roman Calendar, March 9 is an optional memorial: Saint Frances of Rome, religious.
Other saints on March 9
- St. Dominic Savio, student of Don Bosco (1857)
Name days on March 9
In countries that keep name days, March 9 is the day for people named Frances, Francesca, and Fran. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Frances | March 9 |
| Francesca | March 9 |
| Fran | March 9 |
March 9 on the calendar
March 9 is the 68th day of the year (the 69th in a leap year), with 297 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping March 9
March 9 falls in winter. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Frances, Francesca, and Fran, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around March 9
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| March 6 | St. Colette |
| March 7 | Sts. Perpetua and Felicity |
| March 8 | St. John of God |
| March 10 | St. John Ogilvie |
| March 11 | St. Eulogius of Córdoba |
| March 12 | St. Maximilian of Tebessa |
The day before, March 8, is the day of St. John of God. The day after, March 10, belongs to St. John Ogilvie. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.