Saint Angela Merici, Virgin
S. Angelae Mericiae Virginis
Saint Angela Merici, a holy virgin of northern Italy, founded the Company of Saint Ursula for the Christian education of girls, and is honoured as the foundress of the Ursulines.
Saint Angela Merici was born about the year 1474 at Desenzano, near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Left an orphan in her youth, she embraced a life of prayer and penance, becoming a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis, and devoted herself wholly to God while living in the midst of the world.
Foundress of the Ursulines
Saint Angela was moved by a deep concern for the Christian formation of young women, in an age when many girls grew up without sound instruction in the faith. Gathering about her a group of like-minded companions — women consecrated to God who continued to live in their own homes and families — she founded at Brescia in 1535 the Company of Saint Ursula, placing it under the patronage of that holy virgin and martyr. The members devoted themselves to prayer, to works of charity, and above all to the teaching of girls in the truths and practice of the Catholic faith.
This was a new kind of consecrated life: women dedicated to God and to the apostolate of teaching, without at first the enclosure of a traditional convent. From this seed grew the great family of the Ursulines, who would spread through many lands and labour for centuries in the education of the young. Saint Angela guided her company with gentleness and wisdom, and died at Brescia in 1540, leaving her daughters a legacy of charity and a love for the souls of the young.
Her witness today
The Church venerates Saint Angela Merici among the holy virgins, and the collect of her Mass thanks God for causing a new company of holy virgins to flourish in His Church through her, and asks that by her intercession we may live in angelic purity and, renouncing earthly things, attain to eternal joys. Her feast on the first of June honours the apostolate of Christian education and the truth that the teaching of the faith to the young is a labour of the highest charity.
The Collect
O God, who through blessed Angela didst cause a new company of holy virgins to flourish in Thy Church: grant us, by her intercession, to live a life of angelic purity; that, renouncing all earthly things, we may deserve to enjoy the joys that are eternal.
Deus, qui novum per beátam Ángelam sacrárum Vírginum collégium in Ecclésia tua floréscere voluísti: da nobis, ejus intercessióne, angélicis móribus vívere; ut, terrénis ómnibus abdicátis, gáudiis pérfrui mereámur ætérnis.
Patronage
She is venerated as the foundress of the Ursulines and is invoked as a patroness of Christian education, of teachers, and of those who care for the formation of the young.
In the Modern Calendar
In the modern calendar her feast is observed on 27 January as an optional memorial.
Common Questions
When is the feast of Saint Angela Merici?
In the calendar of the 1962 Roman Missal her feast is kept on 1 June as a Third Class feast. In the modern calendar it is observed on 27 January.
Who was Saint Angela Merici?
She was a holy virgin of northern Italy (c. 1474–1540) who founded the Company of Saint Ursula at Brescia for the Christian education of girls. She is honoured as the foundress of the Ursulines.
What are the Ursulines?
The Ursulines are the religious family that grew from the Company of Saint Ursula founded by Saint Angela. Devoted especially to the education of girls and young women, they have laboured in many lands for the teaching of the faith.
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