Born in northern Italy in 1474, Angela Merici was orphaned by
the age of 10, she was soon alone in this world without her nuclear family
since her older sister suddenly died. Called to a life committed to the Lord,
Angela was a Franciscan tertiary (today known as Secular Franciscan) who
devoted herself to as much time in prayer as possible. She was particularly
devoted to Christ crucified because it is "the book from which the soul
learns," having spent hours in prayer before the crucifix. On pilgrimage to the
Holy Land she went blind but was miraculously healed after prayer before the
cross.In a vision from the Lord, Angela formed a group of women who would care
for families and the education of children. The group was called the Company of
Saint Ursula and in some places it is referred to the Institute of Saint
Ursula. Marcocchi's 1986 biography of the saint he said, "In 1535 Angela Merici
founded at Brescia the Company of St Ursula. Its members observed the
evangelical counsels without being bound by vows; they wore no particular
habit; they did not lead a common life as in a monastic community, but lived
with their own families and earned their own living. This initiative, aimed at
inserting consecrated virgins into the world, introduced a feature of great innovation,
as it took shape outside a monastery, in other words, outside the structure
which for centuries had channeled religious life for women (XV)." At this time
in the Church, the Company of Saint Ursula was a completely new form of
religious life that many churchmen had problems with it because it challenged
every sort of preconceived notion of what and how women acted in church and
society. The only form of religious life offered to women was the cloister or
the hospital. An apostolic life like that of the Franciscan and later of the Society
of Jesus for women was unknown. Angela lived under the spiritual influence of Saints
Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Genoa, and later those who followed the converted
solider of Manresa. Angela would not only heed the spiritual doctrines of the Franciscan
but keenly the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Angela died in 1540, the year the Jesuits were approved by Pope Paul III for the Church universal.
Saint Angela
Merici was canonized by Pope Pius VII and is the patron saint of physically
challenged people, sick people, and orphans. Her body remains incorrupt.
My hope is that a revival of the Company of Saint Ursula (the Ursulines) would happen...we need their witness today. Pray for this grace.
Dear Father Paul,
Thank you for posting and article about St. Angela. I was searching around because really want to learn more about her, but most of the materials found are in Italian.
Mother Angela pray for us.
Happy to help. Saint Angela is a favorite friend. PAX!