(1474-1540) Angela was born on a farm in northern Italy, orphaned at 10 years old, raised by her uncle, and eventually joined the Third Order of Saint Francis around 15 years old. She dedicated herself to God and received a vision of her role to inspire women in their vocations. There is a story of Angela making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with friends, during which she was struck blind on the island of Crete. She continued her pilgrimage with devotion and was healed at the same place she lost her vision on her return. She founded the Ursuline Sisters to educate girls and young women. Saint Angela was buried, by request, with the martyrs of Brescia, Italy, until the church was completely destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II.
The Ursuline Sisters were the first teaching order of women religious. Saint Angela’s goal was to ennoble family life through the religious education of future wives and mothers. Family has a dramatic impact on our lives. How do you work to elevate the institution and impact of family in recovery?
“Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family” (Saint Angela Merici).
Reflection by Brad Farmer