St. Angela Merici

Their story

Angela Merici was born around 1474 in Desenzano, a town on Lake Garda in northern Italy. When she was still young, both her parents died, and soon afterward her beloved older sister died too. Angela went to live with an uncle. She grieved deeply and prayed for her sister, and she came to a deep trust in God's mercy. She became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and lived a life of prayer and simple service. As she grew older, Angela saw that many girls in her area received little education and knew almost nothing of the faith. She began gathering girls in her home to teach them. Her reputation for holiness and good sense grew, and in 1516 she was invited to the city of Brescia, where people of every class came to her for advice. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1524 she suddenly lost her sight. She continued the pilgrimage anyway, and her sight returned on the journey home. In 1535 Angela gathered a group of young women and founded the Company of St. Ursula, named after a beloved early martyr. The members lived in their own homes, consecrated to God, and served by teaching girls and caring for those in need. It was something new, a way for women to serve God in the world, and it grew into the Ursulines, who have taught generations of girls around the world. Angela died in Brescia on January 27, 1540, and she was canonized in 1807.