If you've been keeping track (and I know you have), you will have noted that "Fun with Saints" has featured more male Saints than female. So to start to even us out, today I will share about St. Angela de Merici.
Angela was born in 1474 on a farm in the Lombardy region of Italy. She and her older sister, Giana Maria, were left orphans when she was 15. They went to live with an uncle. Angela's sister also died and then her uncle died when she was 20. She then went to live near her brothers on property that was left to her in lieu of the dowry she would have had had she married.
At the prompting of a vision, she founded an association of virgins who came together to devote their lives to the education of young girls. In November 1535, Angela and the 12 young women who joined her in her work formed the Company of St. Ursula (known as the Ursulines). Her goal was to elevate family life through the Christian Education of future wives and mothers. They were the first teaching order of women religious. The women wore no special habits and took no formal vows. Angela Merici wrote a Rule of Life for the group that emphasized the practice of celibacy, poverty and obedience in their own homes. When Angela died in January 1540, there were 24 communities of the Company of Ursula serving the Church throughout the region.
Angela de Merici's feast day is January 27. She is a patron of those who have lost their parents, handicapped people and sickness.
No comments:
Post a Comment