January 27th - St. Angela Merici, Prophetess, Foundress
(Also known as Angela of Brescia)
Born in Desenzano (near Lake Garda and Brescia), Lombardy, Italy, March
21, 1470
or 1474; died in Brescia, Italy, January 27, 1540; canonized 1807; feast
day
formerly on May 31.
"If any person, because of his state in life, cannot do without wealth and
position, let him at least keep his heart empty of the love of them."
-Saint
Angela Merici.
As is often the case, it was the number of burdens which Angela Merici had
to
endure that brought her ever closer to God and moved her to order her
existence.
Recalling her life, we should thank God for every hard****p He gives us and
the
strength He gives us to endure them. Each trial is an op****tunity to trust
in
God, to realize His power and His movement within and around us. Orphaned
at
age 10, Angela and her sister and brother were raised by their wealthy
uncle,
Biancozi, at Salo. In Angela's first ecstatic experience, the Blessed
Mother
appeared with Angela's elder sister. Thus put her mind at rest regarding
the
salvation of her sister, who had died suddenly without receiving the
sacraments.
Angela became a Franciscan tertiary at 13 and lived austerely, sometimes
eating
only bread, water, and vegetables once a week. From this time onward, she
wished
to possess nothing, not even a bed (because the Son of Man had nowhere to
lay
His head).
On the death of her uncle, the 20-year-old Angela returned to her hometown
and
began giving catechism lessons to the poor children in Desenzano. She
discussed
her horror at the ignorance so many children had of their religion with
her
friends, who were mostly tertiaries. They were eager to help if Angela
could
show them how. Although Angela was small of stature, she had a great
spirit,
charm, and beauty capable of attracting and leading others. She and her
friends
began to regularly and systematically teach their young, female neighbors.
Angela's own success in teaching the catechism in Desenzano led to the
invitation from a wealthy couple, whom she had once helped, to begin a
school in
Brescia.
Angela had the special gift of being able to remember everything she read.
She
spoke Latin well and knew the meaning of some of the hardest passages of
Scripture, which led to her being sought out for counsel. In Brescia she
was
brought in touch with the leading families and became the center of a
circle of
devout men and women whom she inspired with her great ideals.
On a trip to the Holy Land, she suddenly lost her sight in Crete. She
continued
her trip with devotion, and on the return trip, regained her sight at the
very
spot where she'd lost it.
During a visit to Rome for the Holy Year 1525, Pope Clement VII asked her
to
take charge of a group of nursing sisters in Rome, but she declined. She
told
him of a vision she had experienced years before of maidens ascending to
heaven
on a ladder of light, which was what led her to gather young women into an
informal novitiate. In the vision the holy virgins were accompanied up and
down
the ladder by glorious angels who played sweet music on golden harps. All
wore
beautiful crowns decorated with precious jewels. After a time the music
stopped
and the Savior Himself called her by name to create a society of women.
The Holy
Father gave her permission to form a community.
Shortly, thereafter, Saint Ursula appeared to her, which is why she became
the
community's patron. Assisting at Mass one day, Angela fell into ecstasy
and was
said to have levitated.
Soon after her return to Brescia, she was forced to withdraw to Cremona
because
war had broken out, and when Charles V was on the point of making himself
master
of Brescia it was essential that non-combatants leave the city. When peace
again
prevailed, Angela's return to Brescia was greeted with joy by the citizens
who
already venerated her as a prophetess and saint.
In Saint Afra's Church at Brescia on November 25, 1535, Angela and 28
younger
companions bound themselves before God to devote the rest of their lives
to his
service, especially by the education of girls. Angela placed herself and
the
novices under the protection of Saint Ursula, the patroness of medieval
universities and venerated as a leader of women. This was the beginning of
the
Company of Saint Ursula (Ursuline nuns), the first teaching order of
women-a
novel idea that needed time before it was accepted.
The order had no habit (members usually wore a simple black dress), took
no
vows, and pursued neither an enclosed nor a communal life; they worked to
oversee the religious education of girls, especially among the poorer
cl*****,
and to care for the sick. The Ursulines were formally recognized by Pope
Paul
III four years after Angela's death (1544) and were organized into a
Congregation in 1565. At the start much of the teaching was done in the
children's homes: but in her conception of an uncloistered, flexible
society of
women Saint Angela was before her time. She survived to direct the society
for
only four years.
During that time Angela was noted for her patience to her sisters and
kindness
in her many acts of mercy to the poor, sick, and ignorant. Soon there were
150
sisters to whom Angela addressed her wise sayings in her Counsels. As her
sisters surrounded her in prayer at the hour of her death, a beautiful ray
of
light shone upon the saint-a sign that God was welcoming her to her
eternal
home. Angela died with the name of Jesus on her lips.
In 1568, Saint Charles Borromeo called the Ursulines to Milan and
persuaded them
to assume a cloistered communal life. In a provincial synod he explained
to his
suffragen bishops that he knew of no better means for the reform of their
dioceses than to introduce the Ursulines into populous communities. Later
in
France strict enclosure was adopted and the teaching of young girls was
made the
chief concern of the order. The Ursulines flourish today (Attwater,
Attwater2,
Benedictines, Bentley, Caraman, Delaney, Farmer, Schamoni, Walsh, White).
In art Saint Angela is represented by the image of virgins ascending a
ladder;
or with Saint Ursula and companions appearing to her (White).
Readings
Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.
-Saint Angela Merici
We must give alms. Charity wins souls and draws them to virtue.
-Saint Angela Merici
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Prayer of the graces
Mary, Mother of the Eucharist,
precious gem of God,
****ning pearl of the sky and the earth,
co-redemptrix of mankind,
Mother of us all,
look at your poor and humble creatures,
help us to understand the love
of Jesus the Eucharist.
Gain for us the graces
that each one needs,
provided that they are in accordance with God's will.
Mary, Mother of the Eucharist,
Mother of Jesus and our Mother,
we, even if imperfect,
count on your help.
Thank you Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
(At the end say three Hail Mary with the ejaculatory prayer: Mother of
the
Eucharist, pray with us)
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