Saint of the Day: St. Angela Merici (WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27)

Religious Sister (1470-1540)

Her life

+ Angela was born in the Lombardy region of Italy.

+ A member of the Third Order of St. Francis, Angela dedicated herself to the service of poor girls.

+ In 1535, Angela brought together a group of women dedicated to prayer and service under the patronage of the virgin and martyr Saint Ursula. The “Company of St. Ursula” was one of the first communities of teaching sisters in the Church.

+ In the papal bull establishing the Ursuline Sisters as a religious community, Pope Paul III praised Angela declaring, “With maternal love, she embraced all creatures… Her words were inflamed, powerful and sweet, and spoken with such an unheard-of effectiveness that everyone felt compelled to say, ‘Here is God.’”

+ Saint Angela Merici died on January 27, 1540, and was canonized in 1807; she is honored as a patron of those with physical disabilities.

For prayer and reflection

“Try to be faithful to that to which God has called you.”—Saint Angela Merici

Vocations

– Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart (Toledo, OH): ursulinecenter.org

– Ursuline Sisters of St. Louis (Roman Union, U.S. Province): www.usaosu.org

– Ursuline Sisters of Louisville: www.ursulinesisterslouisville.org

– Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland: www.ursulinesisters.org

– Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph (Maple Mount, KY): www.ursulinesmsj.org

– Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk (Jamaica, NJ): www.tildonkursuline.org

– Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown: www.theursulines.org

Prayer

May the Virgin Saint Angela never fail to commend us

to your compassion, O Lord, we pray,

that, following the lessons of her charity and prudence,

we may hold fast to your teaching

and express it in what we do.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.