January 27
St. Angela Merici
Angela Merici, or Angela de Merici (Born Mrach 21 1474-January 27 1540) was an Italian religious leader and saint.
She founded the Order of Ursulines in 1535 in Brescia. Saint Angela Merici was born in Desenzano del Garda, a small town on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda in Lombardy. She and her older sister, whom she dearly loved, Giana Maria, were left orphans when she was about ten years old.
Together they came to live with their uncle in the town of Salo. Young Angela was very distressed when her sister suddenly died without receiving the last sacraments. She joined the Third Order Of St. Francis, and increased her prayers to God so her sister's soul could rest in peace.
Legend says that she was satisfied by a vision of her sister in the company of Saints in Heaven.
Angela's uncle dies when she was twenty years old and she returned to her previous home in Desenzano. Angela believed that better Christian education was needed for young girls and then dedicated her time teaching girls in her home which she had converted into a school.
She later had another vision that revealed to her that she was to found an association of women who were to devote their lives to the religious training of young girls. This was a success ans she was invited to start another school in the neighboring city, Brescia. She happily accepted this offer.
In 1524, while traveling to the Holy Land, St. Angela Merici became suddenly blind when she was on the island of Crete.
Despite this, St. Angela continued her journey to the Holy places and was ostensibly cured of her blindness while praying to a crucifix at the same place where she was struck with blindness a few weeks before.
In 1525, she came to Rome to gain the Indulgences of the Jubilee year. While doing this task, Pope Clement VII, who had heard of her virtue and success with her school, invited her to remain in Rome. St. Angela disliked notoriety, and soon she returned to Brescia.
On November 25 1535, St. Angela Merici chose twelve girls and started the foundation of the "Company of St. Ursula" near the Church of St. Afra in a small house in Brescia. On March 18 1537, she was elected "Mother and Mistress" (Superior) of the order.
She died on January 27 1540. Her body was clothed in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary and interred in the Church of St. Afra, Brescia.
Saint Angela Merici was beatified in Rome on April 30 1768 by pope Clement XIII. She was later canonized on May 24 1807 by Pope Pius VII.