This observance appears in the catholic calendar with liturgical color green .
Saint Angela Merici is revered as the visionary founder of the Ursulines, the first teaching order of women dedicated to educating girls and women in the world.
Saint Angela Merici, a remarkable Italian virgin and foundress, is celebrated for her pioneering spirit in establishing the Company of St. Ursula in 1535, a groundbreaking institute of consecrated women. Unlike traditional cloistered nuns, Angela envisioned a community where women could live a consecrated life in their own homes, dedicated to God and serving the needs of society, particularly through the education of young girls. Her innovative approach provided a new model for women's active participation in the Church's mission, emphasizing personal holiness, communal support, and a practical apostolate, thereby profoundly influencing the development of religious life and education for centuries.
Saint Angela Merici, born in 1474 in Desenzano del Garda, a town nestled on the shores of Lake Garda in Lombardy, Italy, emerged from a humble farming family. Her early life was marked by significant personal loss; she was orphaned at a young age, losing both her parents and her beloved older sister within a few years. These profound experiences of grief and instability deepened her spiritual sensitivity and fostered a profound reliance on God. After the death of her parents, she moved to Salò to live with her uncle, where her devotion to prayer and her desire for a life consecrated to God became increasingly evident. Around the age of fifteen to twenty, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, embracing a life of penance, prayer, and service while remaining in the world, a precursor to the innovative path she would later forge for other women. This period of her life was characterized by a growing interiority and a deep commitment to Christian virtues, setting the stage for her divine calling.
It was around 1506, while working in the fields near her home, that Angela experienced a pivotal vision that would shape the remainder of her life. She saw a ladder extending from heaven to earth, with young girls and angels ascending and descending, accompanied by celestial music. This profound mystical experience was interpreted by Angela as a divine mandate to establish a community dedicated to the education and spiritual formation of young girls, a mission that was remarkably prescient for her time. Education for girls, particularly beyond the wealthy elite, was largely nonexistent, and formal religious life for women was almost exclusively confined to strict cloister. Angela’s vision thus laid the groundwork for a revolutionary approach to consecrated life and social apostolate, identifying a critical need in society and offering an innovative solution rooted in faith and practical charity.
Angela's commitment to her spiritual journey led her to undertake significant pilgrimages, further solidifying her vocation. In 1524, she embarked on a perilous pilgrimage to the Holy Land. During this journey, she experienced a temporary blindness, which miraculously healed upon her return, a sign often interpreted as God confirming her spiritual sight and mission. The following year, in 1525, she traveled to Rome for the Jubilee Year, where her reputation for holiness and wisdom had preceded her. She was granted an audience with Pope Clement VII, who, impressed by her piety and vision, encouraged her to establish a community in Rome. Despite the Pope's invitation, Angela, guided by an inner conviction, felt called to return to Brescia, a city then experiencing significant social and moral challenges, believing it to be the divinely appointed place for her foundational work.
Upon her return to Brescia, Angela began to gather a group of women who shared her fervent desire for a deeper spiritual life and a commitment to serving God through charitable works. These women, initially living in their own homes, met regularly for prayer, spiritual formation, and mutual support. On November 25, 1535, the Company of St. Ursula was formally founded. Angela deliberately chose St. Ursula as their patroness, symbolizing the community's dedication to education and the spiritual nurturing of young women. This foundational act was revolutionary, as it established a form of consecrated life that did not require cloister or public vows, allowing the members to remain integrated within their families and society while pursuing a life of profound dedication to God and service to others.
What made the Company of St. Ursula truly groundbreaking was its unique structure, often referred to as a “secular institute” centuries before the concept was formally recognized by the Church. Angela envisioned a community where women could live a consecrated life without the traditional monastic enclosure, allowing them to engage directly with the world and address its needs. The Ursulines lived among the people, wore no distinctive habit, and focused their apostolate primarily on the Christian education of girls, especially those from poorer backgrounds, who had limited access to schooling. This innovative model provided a flexible and adaptable framework for women's active participation in the Church's mission, emphasizing personal holiness, communal support, and a practical apostolate that directly addressed the educational and spiritual poverty of the era.
Angela Merici served as the first superior of the Company of St. Ursula, guiding its initial development with remarkable wisdom, humility, and foresight until her death. She authored a Rule, along with Counsels and Legacies, which served as foundational documents for the Company. These writings emphasized charity, prudence, unity, and an extraordinary adaptability to changing times and needs—a testament to her visionary leadership. Her exhortation, “If, according to times and needs, you should be obliged to make fresh rules and change certain things, do it with prudence and good counsel,” perfectly encapsulates her pragmatic and forward-thinking approach. Saint Angela Merici passed away on January 27, 1540, in Brescia. Her legacy, however, far outlived her. The Company of St. Ursula, later known as the Ursulines, spread rapidly throughout Europe and eventually the world, adapting to various forms, including both active and cloistered branches. Through their dedication to education, particularly for girls and women, the Ursulines profoundly influenced the development of Catholic education and women's religious life, making Saint Angela Merici a pivotal figure in Christian history and an enduring inspiration for those dedicated to service and spiritual formation.
It was a warm, sun-drenched day in the early 16th century, the kind that whispers of divine presence in the gentle breeze. Young Angela Merici, still in the bloom of her youth, was toiling in the fields near her beloved hometown of Desenzano, tending to her family's crops. Her hands were busy, but her heart and mind were ever turned towards God, a constant prayer echoing within her soul. Suddenly, the ordinary world faded, and a vision of breathtaking beauty unfolded before her eyes.
The sky above seemed to open, and from its depths, a luminous ladder descended, reaching down to touch the very earth where she stood. Up and down this ladder ascended and descended not only radiant angels, but also a multitude of young girls, dressed in simple, yet pristine white garments. As they moved, a melody, sweeter than any earthly music, filled the air, a harmonious chorus that spoke of heaven's joy and purpose. Angela watched, captivated, her spirit stirring with a profound sense of wonder and understanding.
In that sacred moment, the meaning of the vision became clear to her. This was no mere dream, but a divine revelation, a call from God. The ladder symbolized a path to holiness, and the girls, both earthly and heavenly, were a sign of a mission yet to be fulfilled. She understood, with an unshakable certainty, that she was being called to dedicate her life to the spiritual and moral education of young girls, to guide them, like those ascending the ladder, towards God and a life of virtue. This extraordinary encounter solidified her vocation and became the foundational inspiration for the revolutionary work she would undertake, revealing her deep spiritual receptivity and her unwavering commitment to God's will, even when it led her down an entirely new and challenging path for women in the Church.
c. 1539-1540
My dear daughters, remember that you are all one body, of one heart and one will, and therefore you should be united in mind and spirit, and always strive to live in peace and harmony.
First, my dear daughters, I urge you to have faith, hope, and charity, for these are the foundations of our spiritual life. Have faith in God, for He is all-powerful and all-good, and He will never abandon you. Have hope in His mercy, for He is always ready to forgive our sins and to help us in our needs. And have charity towards God and towards your neighbor, for charity is the greatest of all virtues, and it is the bond of perfection.
Secondly, I recommend to you, above all, to have great charity among yourselves, to live in concord, united together, all of one heart and one will. This is the true sign that you are daughters of God and disciples of Christ. For if you are united, you will be strong against all adversities, and if you are divided, you will be weak and easily overcome. Therefore, strive always to be one, and to bear one another's burdens with patience and love.
Thirdly, I exhort you to be diligent in your studies and in all your duties, for idleness is the root of all evil. Be zealous in acquiring knowledge, especially in matters of faith and salvation, for knowledge is a lamp that guides our steps. And be diligent in fulfilling all your obligations, both spiritual and temporal, for diligence is a virtue that pleases God and benefits our neighbor.
Fourthly, I counsel you to be humble and obedient, for humility is the foundation of all virtues, and obedience is the key to paradise. Be humble in your thoughts and words, and always acknowledge that all good comes from God. And be obedient to your superiors, for obedience is a sacrifice that is most pleasing to God. For if you are humble and obedient, you will be truly free and truly happy.
Fifthly, I warn you against vanity and worldly attachments, for these are snares that hinder our spiritual progress. Do not be puffed up with pride, for pride is the enemy of God and of all good. And do not be attached to worldly possessions or pleasures, for these are fleeting and unsatisfying. Rather, seek only God, and you will find true riches and true happiness.
Sixthly, I urge you to be constant in prayer, for prayer is the breath of the soul and the key to heaven. Pray always, and never cease to pray, for prayer is a powerful weapon against temptation and a sure means of obtaining divine grace. And pray not only for yourselves, but also for others, for prayer is an act of charity that benefits all.
Seventhly, I counsel you to be patient in trials and afflictions, for trials are a means of purification and a path to perfection. Do not lose heart in times of difficulty, for God permits trials for our good. Rather, accept them with resignation and trust in His divine providence. For if you are patient in trials, you will grow in virtue and merit eternal glory.
Eighthly, I exhort you to be discreet and prudent in all your actions and words, for discretion is a virtue that preserves us from many evils. Think before you speak, and act with caution and wisdom. Avoid rash judgments and hasty decisions, and always seek good counsel. For if you are discreet and prudent, you will avoid many pitfalls and live in peace.
Ninthly, I recommend to you to have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, for she is our Mother and our advocate. Love her and honor her, and always seek her intercession, for she is powerful with God and full of mercy. And strive to imitate her virtues, especially her humility, her purity, and her obedience. For if you have devotion to Mary, she will guide you to her Son and to eternal salvation.
Finally, my dear daughters, I leave you with this last admonition: Live in such a way that your lives may be a living example of virtue and holiness to all who see you. Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. For if you live in this way, you will be a credit to our Company and a blessing to the world. May God bless you and keep you always in His love. Amen.
2007
Saint Angela Merici (1474-1540) stands as a monumental figure in the history of religious life and women's education, whose vision was remarkably ahead of her time. Born in Desenzano, Italy, during a period of intense societal and ecclesiastical upheaval, Angela's life was shaped by early personal losses and a deep spiritual fervor. Her contribution lies not merely in establishing a new religious order, but in conceiving a revolutionary model of consecrated life for women that broke significantly with established norms. Prior to Angela, women who wished to dedicate their lives to God typically entered cloistered monasteries, largely separated from the world. Angela, however, envisioned a community of women who would live *in* the world, among their families and neighbors, yet consecrated to God through vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. This innovative structure allowed her Company of St. Ursula, founded in Brescia in 1535, to engage directly with the pressing social and spiritual needs of their time, particularly the dire lack of education for girls.
Angela’s genius lay in her understanding that effective evangelization and moral formation required direct engagement with the family and society. She recognized that the education of young girls was crucial not only for their personal spiritual development but also for the well-being of the family and the wider Christian community. The Ursulines, as they became known, were tasked with instructing girls in Christian doctrine, reading, writing, and domestic skills, thereby equipping them to become virtuous wives, mothers, and active members of society. This was an audacious undertaking at a time when formal education was largely reserved for boys and the wealthy. By making education accessible, especially to those from less privileged backgrounds, Angela laid the groundwork for a transformative social apostolate that empowered women and strengthened the fabric of Christian society.
Furthermore, Angela's Rule, Counsels, and Legacies, which served as foundational documents for her Company, reveal her profound spiritual insight and pragmatic leadership. These writings emphasize virtues such as charity, prudence, unity, and adaptability—qualities that were essential for a community living in the world without the traditional protections of the cloister. Her insistence on a flexible Rule, capable of being modified according to 'times and needs,' demonstrated an extraordinary foresight and trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance, ensuring the longevity and widespread influence of her foundation. This adaptability allowed the Ursulines to evolve, eventually forming both active and cloistered branches, and to spread across Europe and, later, the globe, impacting millions through their educational ministries.
Angela’s emphasis on spiritual formation over external structures, on interiority and personal relationship with God, was also profoundly significant. She taught her daughters to find God in their daily lives and to serve Him through their ordinary activities. This spiritual realism resonated deeply with the needs of the emerging modern world, where lay sanctity and active apostolate were becoming increasingly important. She fostered a spirit of freedom and self-direction tempered by humility and obedience, encouraging her members to be discerning and responsible agents of their own spiritual growth and mission. Her life and work thus represent a pivotal moment in the history of women in the Church, demonstrating how a profound spiritual vision, coupled with practical innovation, could open entirely new avenues for consecrated life and service, leaving an indelible mark on Christian education and the role of women within the Catholic tradition.
Ursuline-affiliated institutions worldwide, including numerous schools and colleges, commemorate Saint Angela Merici's feast day with special liturgies, prayer services, and educational programs that celebrate her life and her pioneering vision for women's education.
This tradition honors Saint Angela as the foundress of the Company of St. Ursula, the first teaching order for women, and reinforces the educational charism she established.
Within Ursuline communities globally, there is a dedicated practice of studying and reflecting upon Saint Angela Merici's original writings, such as her Rule, Counsels, and Legacies, particularly around her feast day, to draw inspiration for contemporary challenges.
These documents encapsulate Saint Angela's spiritual wisdom and practical guidance for living a consecrated life in the world, emphasizing adaptability and prudence.
In many Ursuline schools and communities across the United States, students and members participate in community service projects and charitable initiatives during the week of Saint Angela Merici's feast day, reflecting her commitment to active service and addressing societal needs.
This practice is inspired by Saint Angela's emphasis on practical charity and her mission to serve others, particularly through the empowerment of the vulnerable.