Saint of the day January 27, 2025

Angela Merici was born on March 21, 1474, in Desenzano, Lake Garda, Italy. She made a vow of virginity before she was ten years old, and persuaded her older sister to do the same. Her parents died when she was only ten years old. Together, with her older sister, she moved to the nearby town of Salo, to live with her uncle. She and her only sister, who was three years older, loved each other very much. But soon the sister of Angela followed her parents by a sudden death. Her sister's tragic death left Angela disconsolate because it occurred before her sister could receive the last sacraments of the Catholic Church. Angela lost herself in prayer and good works. Although she had great faith, she could not help but wonder if her sister was safe in heaven.

One day during harvest, Angela was alone in the fields when she experienced a life-changing vision: the heavens opened and angels and young women came toward her singing a melody, surrounded by light. One of the young girls was Angela’s sister and she spoke, telling her that God wanted her to establish a company of consecrated virgins. Since then she has been known as a Saint, thanks to her spiritual life and her capacity to understand and help people. Despite opposition from her adopted family, she found herself irresistibly drawn to join the Franciscan Third Order.

She became an educator of women from all classes of society. Her vision was to serve the needs of the rich and poor alike. Her love and sensitivity to human needs won her the title, “Madre Angela,” from the people of Brescia, Italy. She based her work on a deep understanding of God’s love for all, and respect for the innate dignity of each person and their potential in the eyes of God. Her vision for the community encompassed the practical support of each individual, recognition of the gifts of all, and the power of gathering as a loving community.

At the age of 50, she decided to make a long pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This was indeed a big step into the unknown by someone born and bred in the country, with little education. It was also a courageous step to undertake this dangerous, almost six-month journey. She was already in “old age” for her day, and it was not customary for an unmarried woman to travel so far. But Angela was prepared to risk all the dangers to meet her one desire; to visit and pray at the holy places where Jesus had lived and died.

She had been warned about the dangers and risks that lay ahead, but she had placed all her trust in God and believed that he would protect them on their journey. When the ship stopped in Crete on the outward journey, she was suddenly struck with a temporary blindness. Thus, when Jerusalem was finally reached, Angela bereft of her sight, had to be guided by hand by her companions to all the places that she had set her heart on seeing. She said later that she was able to see them with the eyes of her soul, just as if she had actually seen them.

In 1535, Angela established the Order of Ursulines in Italy, named for its patron saint, Saint Ursula, a martyr. She was the first woman in the history of the Church to draw up a Rule of life for women who wanted to lead a religious life outside the cloister.

Canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII, her feast day is January 27th.

Reflection

God used Saint Angela for a unique mission. She fell in love with her God at an early age, dedicated herself solely to Him as her Spouse, and followed His will as it unfolded. At first, her mission was a personal mission of loving girls and guiding them to God in her home. Eventually, God expanded that mission and enfolded it into His Church.
God does not call every person to start a new movement within the Church or to spark the beginnings of a religious order, but He does call us all to see the needs of those around us and work to meet those needs with love and devotion. Saint Angela saw the need to care for and teach young girls. Ponder the needs that are present around you and in imitation of Saint Angela, offer yourself to God so that you may help meet those needs in accord with God’s divine will.