Eucharistic Visions and the Fight for Reverence: What St. Francis of Rome Can Teach Modern Catholic Men

The Forgotten Fire of Reverence

In an age where distractions rule and reverence fades, few saints speak as powerfully to the modern Catholic man as St. Francis of Rome. Her story, brought vividly to life through Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB in his translation Eucharistic Visions of St. Francis of Rome (Sophia Institute Press), cuts through the noise of our culture and reminds us of the holiness demanded of every follower of Christ. 

When I sat down with Fr. Nixon for The Manly Catholic podcast, what began as a conversation about a mystic’s visions turned into a wake-up call for Catholic men everywhere: reverence for the Eucharist is the measure of a man’s faith.

A Woman Torn Between Two Vocations

Born in 1380 into Roman nobility, Francis longed to dedicate her life to Christ as a nun. But God had different plans. Out of obedience to her family, she married, raised children, and managed a home. She lived the hidden life of a wife and mother, yet she never abandoned her prayer, fasting, or acts of mercy.

Her holiness was forged not in a monastery but in the everyday chaos of family life; an inconvenient truth for men tempted to believe sanctity is for “religious professionals.” Francis proved holiness belongs to the ordinary.

As her children grew and her husband neared death, she founded the Torre di Specchi, a Benedictine house for women who, like her, sought to live the Rule of St. Benedict while still engaging the world. Her example shatters modern excuses. You can be immersed in the demands of family and still become a saint.

The Miracle of the Wine Cellar

Fr. Nixon shared one of her most telling stories. Known for her generosity, Francis often gave food and wine to the poor, even when her family’s stores were running low. Her father-in-law rebuked her for what he saw as reckless charity until he discovered the wine barrels mysteriously refilled themselves.

God rewarded her faith and obedience with abundance.

Fr. Nixon paused on this point:

“People who are generous don’t make themselves poor. God has a mysterious way of replenishing whatever we give.”

Men today, often trapped by financial fear or self-preservation, need that reminder. Generosity is not waste; it is warfare. Every act of charity strikes at the heart of greed and self-reliance, two demons that keep men from becoming saints.

Visions of the Eucharistic Reality

Most of Francis’s mystical experiences took place after receiving Holy Communion. At a time when Catholics typically received the Eucharist only once a year, she was granted permission to receive every Sunday, an unimaginable privilege then.

Her visions tore away the veil of complacency and revealed what truly happens at the altar.

One vision transported her to a luminous meadow and a fountain pouring crystal waters from heaven. The waters symbolized divine grace flowing from the Eucharist, nourishing every soul that approached with faith. Just a single drop brought her unspeakable joy.

In another, she saw a blazing pillar of fire representing divine love descending upon four groups of people:

• One rejected it entirely.

• Another ignored it.

• A third received it half-heartedly.

• The final, smallest group embraced it fully with love and devotion.

That vision pierced me. It mirrored our own parishes and how few men truly receive the Eucharist with awe and repentance.

“We should never allow ourselves to treat the Blessed Sacrament as something we just take for granted,” Fr. Nixon said.

Reverence isn’t an optional spiritual flourish. It is the mark of a soul who knows Whom he is receiving.

The Battle in Her Chamber

Holiness always provokes hell. St. Francis’s purity and devotion made her a target for demonic attack. One night, as she prayed in her chamber, three demons appeared: two whipping her savagely, a third spitting venom in her face.

Terrified but resolute, she cried out the Holy Name: “My Jesus!”

At that instant, light filled the room. The demons vanished, and she found herself safely returned to her bed.

That moment encapsulates the essence of spiritual warfare. When the enemy attacks, the weapon isn’t argument or bravado; it’s the Name of Jesus spoken with faith. The same demons that tormented her still roam the world, and Catholic men today must wield that same weapon.

A Vision of the Christ Child

Among her many mystical encounters, one stands apart for its tenderness. On Christmas Day 1434, after receiving the Eucharist, Francis entered a trance and saw the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ. She begged to hold the Child herself.

Mary warned her, “You would not be able to hold Him because of His immense weight. He is the Lord of the universe.”

Francis insisted. And when the Mother of God placed the Child in her arms, she discovered the truth. He was heavy with divine majesty.

Fr. Nixon reflected, “It reminds us that Christ’s love is both beautiful and weighty. To hold Him means to bear His cross, His glory, His responsibility.”

For Catholic men, that’s the challenge. If you desire intimacy with Christ, prepare to shoulder His weight. Love without sacrifice is sentimentality. True devotion demands endurance.

The Forgotten Art of Preparation

Before Vatican II, most Catholics received Holy Communion only once or twice a year. Not from indifference, but because the preparation was rigorous. Fasting, confession, and extended prayer were the norm.

Fr. Nixon explained that this discipline preserved the sacred awe surrounding the Eucharist. Frequent reception, he said, should never mean casual reception.

“If a man feels unprepared, it’s better to refrain from receiving than to approach carelessly. That decision doesn’t show less love for Christ; it shows deeper reverence.”

This counsel flies in the face of modern habits. Many approach the altar distracted, harboring resentment, or indifferent to sin. St. Francis’s example calls us back to seriousness.

Before you receive:

• Examine your conscience.

• Go to Confession regularly.

• Fast and pray with intention.

• Approach with gratitude, not entitlement.

If every Catholic man did this, the Church would regain her fire overnight.

Saints, Angels, and the Brotherhood of Heaven

Francis’s visions often featured saints: St. Benedict, St. Agnes, St. Mary Magdalene, Sts. Peter and Paul, appearing to her in prayer. They encouraged her perseverance and reminded her that we are never alone in battle.

She even saw an angel guiding her carriage through the dark streets of Rome, which is why she is now the patron saint of drivers. The image is powerful: an angel leading a woman through darkness toward light.

Every man needs that same awareness; that he is surrounded by heavenly allies urging him forward. The saints are not distant ideals; they are comrades in the fight.

Visions of Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell

In another series of revelations, St. Francis’s guardian angel led her through the realms of the afterlife. She saw the unspeakable agony of the damned, the cleansing fire of purgatory, and the radiant joy of heaven.

Though private revelations are not dogma, they echo Christ’s own warnings and promises. They strip away complacency.

Men who have lost their sense of eternity, who live as if tomorrow is guaranteed, need to revisit these realities. Heaven and hell are not abstractions; they are destinations.

What Modern Men Must Learn

Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Fr. Nixon what Catholic men should take from St. Francis of Rome. His answer was simple but piercing:

“Stay faithful. Keep the fires burning. Be persistent. Support others in their faith. Sometimes we slip, but the important thing is to hang in there, to remain faithful to the one God who loves us and will set us free.”

In a culture that ridicules faithfulness, constancy is rebellion.

We live in an age of emotional fragility and spiritual laziness. St. Francis’s endurance through marriage, motherhood, demonic attack, and mystical grace, shows us what fortitude looks like.

The Manly Path of Reverence

For men striving to follow Christ in a distracted world, her life offers a roadmap:

• Live with discipline. Integrate prayer and sacrifice into your work and family life.

• Give boldly. Trust that God replenishes what you spend for others.

• Fight spiritually. Invoke the Holy Name when darkness closes in.

• Approach the altar like a warrior. Prepare, confess, and receive as though your life depends on it—because it does.

Holiness is not passive. It demands action, sacrifice, and reverence.

The Mission of The Manly Catholic

At The Manly Catholic, our mission is clear: to challenge, encourage, and motivate men to become saints. We exist to help men recover virtue, discipline, and devotion in a culture that mocks them.

Every episode is a call to arms; a reminder that masculinity without sanctity is weakness, and sanctity without battle is fantasy. Christ calls us to be both warriors and worshippers, men who kneel before the Eucharist and then rise to defend truth, family, and faith.

Now is the time to fight back with reverence, with courage, and with holiness.