Vincent McConnell, OFM
The death of St. Francis is often remembered through the tears of a friend whose role is sometimes forgotten: Lady Jacoba of Settesoli.
Lady Jacoba was a wealthy Roman widow, but her life was forever changed when she encountered Francis. She became a close friend and, in time, gave shape to what we now call the Third Order, a way for lay people to live the Franciscan spirit. Her bond with Francis was marked not by status or wealth, but by a deep, practical love.
When Francis was nearing death, he asked his brothers to write to Lady Jacoba, requesting that she come to him and bring a few things. Yet before the letter ever left the friary, she had already arrived — as if she knew, in her heart, that his time was short. She came prepared, carrying candles and the other necessities for his burial. She also carried something more personal, almond cookies Francis loved.
Francis was a man with almost no earthly desires. He had no home, no possessions, no taste for riches or honors. Yet in those final days, he asked for one small gift — the cookies that Lady Jacoba used to make for him. It was not a desire for luxury, but rather a reminder of friendship, of the small joys that reveal God’s love in ordinary things.
Through her presence, we see Francis’s death in a new light. His brothers wept, grieving the loss of their guide. Francis himself looked toward heaven, which he always called his true home. Lady Jacoba, standing beside him, showed that holiness is not only found in great sacrifices, but also in the humble sweetness of love shared between friends.
In the end, Francis left this world as he had lived in it — poor, joyful, and free. At his side, as a final sign of love, were Lady Jacoba and her almond cookies. A simple gift, yet one that has endured through the centuries as a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can carry us gently toward eternity.
Lady Jacoba’s Almond Cookies (adapted)
4 cups almond flour
½ cup honey (or maple syrup, if you prefer)
2 egg whites
Zest of 1 lemon
Pinch of cinnamon
Mix all ingredients into a dough. Form into small cookies.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–20 minutes, until lightly golden.
Br. Vincent McConnell, OFM is a simply professed Friar, renewing his vows for the first time this past August. He is currently a student at New Theological College.
