Franco Lippi was born to noble Italian parents in 1211 in the city of Siena. He joined the military in his early teens, fought in many battles, and lived a life of sin and vice. During a battle in 1261, he was blinded. Desperate to regain his sight, he began to pray for the intercession of St. James. He promised to change his life of sin if his sight was restored. Miraculously, his sight returned and Franco kept his promise. He became a Carmelite hermit to do penance for his earlier life, and he saw visions of Jesus, Mary, and angels. He died as a hermit, of natural causes.
CHALLENGE
Blessed Franco of Siena was physically blinded battling human enemies. Living a life of unrepented sin causes spiritual blindness against our spiritual enemies. Today, pray to your guardian angel and the Blessed Mother and ask for their help in examining your conscious. Then before you go to bed, make time in your schedule over the next week to go to confession.
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