Saint Angela Merici

Life story

Angela Merici was born around 1474 at Desenzano on Lake Garda in northern Italy. She lost both parents while still young and was brought up by an uncle at Salò. Later she joined the Franciscan Third Order, that is, lay people living a Franciscan way of prayer, and led a simple life of devotion within her family.

Over the following years she became known in Brescia for visiting and consoling the poor and for advising young women. She also made pilgrimages, including, according to early sources, one to Rome. She saw how much girls needed both religious instruction and a general education, which few of them could then obtain.

On 25 November 1535, at Brescia, she and a group of women founded the Company of St Ursula, placed under the patronage of the martyr Ursula. The novelty was that its members were consecrated but did not live in an enclosed convent or wear a religious habit; they stayed in their own homes and taught catechism to girls, while committing themselves to virginity, poverty and obedience. She wrote a Rule for the Company and is regarded as its founder.

She died on 27 January 1540 at Brescia. Her Rule was approved by Pope Paul III in 1544. After her death Ursuline groups in various places gradually became convents and later grew into a major teaching order. She was canonised in 1807 under Pope Pius VII.

Works and witness

• Joined the Franciscan Third Order and lived a life of prayer in ordinary surroundings
• Visited and helped the poor and taught girls in Brescia
• Founded the Company of St Ursula on 25 November 1535
• Wrote a Rule, approved by Paul III in 1544
• Canonised in 1807

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Angela Merici, Regola (Rule of the Company of St Ursula)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.