Blessed Frances d’Amboise, also known as Francisca de Amboise, Françoise d’Amboise, was a daughter of Louis d’Amboise, Viscount de Thouars, and the Duchess of Brittany, being married to Peter II, Duke of Brittany at age 15.
Born on 28 September 1427 in Thouars, Deux-Sèvres, France, her marriage was not a happy one, and Peter sometimes abused her, but Frances softened Peter over the years, and he assisted in her charitable work. She established a Poor Clare convent at Nantes, France, and worked for the canonization of Saint Vincent Ferrer. She supported the Dominican convent at Nantes. Widowed in 1457, she entered into a conflict with King Louis XI who wanted to marry her, but ultimately was able to devote herself to religious life. Frances joined the Carmelite nuns at Bondon on 25 March 1468, making her final vows in 1469. She was a spiritual student of Blessed John Soreth. After working in the infirmary for a while, she was elected prioress for life in 1473. She is considered the foundress of the Carmelite nuns in France.
She died on 4 November 1485 at Les Couêts, Nantes, France of natural causes, and while in a religious ecstasy. Miracles were reported at her tomb. Her body had to be moved to save it during the Huguenot wars, and again in the French Revolution. She was beatified on 16 July 1863 by Pope Pius IX.
