인창동성당 게시판

 

축일 : 1월 27일

성녀 안젤라 메리치 동정

St Angela Merici, Third Order Franciscan

St.Angela de’Merici, OSU V (RM)

Sant’ Angela Merici Vergine

21 March 1474 at Desenzano, Lake Garda, Italy -

24 January 1540 at Brescia, Italy;

relics in the church of Saint Afra, Brescia, Italy; body incorrupt

Beatified :1768 by Pope Clement XIII

Canonized :1807 by Pope Pius VII

Name Meaning : angel; messenger (=Angela)

Foundress: The Ursuline Sisters

 

안젤라 메리치는 레이크 가르다에서 태어나 어릴 때 고아원에 맡겨졌다.

그녀가 성장한 후 프란치스꼬회 재속 3회원이 되었고,

이 때부터 인근의 마을 어린이들에게 교리를 가르치기 시작했는데,

이 일이 크게 성공하여, 그녀는 1516년 브레쉬아로 초청되어 일을 계속하게 되었다.

성지와 로마를 순례한 뒤 그녀는 브레쉬아에서 계속 교리를 가르쳤고, 크레모나 전쟁 때까지 계속하였다.

1535년, 안젤라와 일단의 동료들이 브레쉬아의 성 아프라 성당에 모여 하느님께 자신들을 봉헌하여 봉사 활동을 하리라 다짐하였다.

그들은 특히 소녀들의 교육에 투신코자 하였다.

 

이것이 우르술라회의 출발인데, 여성 교육을 표방한 수녀회는 이 수녀회가 첫번째이다.

처음에는 공동체 생활이나 서원도 없었고 수녀복도 입지 않았다.

이런 현상은 안젤라의 사후 거의 4반세기까지 계속되었다.(성바오로수도회홈에서)

 

The painting shows Angela Merici

with Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Luigi Gonzaga.  

Angela was beatified by the Church on the 30th April 1768.

church of Saint Afra (now Saint Angela’s sanctuary) in Brescia

 

1470년경 브레시아 근처의 데센차노에서 태어났다.

성 프란치스꼬의 제3회 입회하고, 처녀들을 모아 그들에게 자선 사업에 대해 가르쳤다.

1535년 브레시아에서 성녀 우르술라의 이름을 지닌 수녀회를 창립했는데,

그 회의 목적은 가난한 소녀들을 교육시켜 그리스도인 생활로 이끄는 데에 있었다.

1540년 세상을 떠났다.

 

성녀 안젤라 메리치의 유언에서

 

그분은 만사를 은혜로이 대해 주셨습니다

 

그리스도 안에서 사랑하는 원장님들과 자매들이여,

여러분은 무엇보다 먼저 여러분의 자매들은 보살피고 다스릴 때 하느님의 도우심을 받아 오직

하느님께 대한 사랑과 영혼들의 구원에 대한 열성으로 이끌려지는 저항과 마음 상태를 얻도록 노력해야 합니다.

 

이 이중의 사랑에다 기초를 두어야만 여러분의 보살핌과 다스림은 선한 열매를 맺을 것입니다.

우리 구세주께서는 복음서에서 "좋은 나무가 나쁜 열매를 맺을 수 없다." 고 말씀하셨습니다.

 

좋은 나무, 즉 좋은 마음과 사랑으로 불타는 영혼은 선하고 좋은 일밖에 할 줄 모릅니다.

그래서 성 아우구스띠노는 말했습니다.

" 사랑하십시오. 그리고 당신이 원하는 바를 하십시요." 즉, 사랑과 애덕을 지니십시오. 그리고 여러분이 원하는 바를 하십시오.

이 말은 분명히 "사랑은 죄를 범할수 없다."는 뜻입니다.

 

여러분에게 또 권합니다.여러분의 각 자매들이 지닌 특성을 참작하여 그들의 이름만이 아니라

그들의 성격과 마음 상태도 여러분의 마음속에 새겨 간직하십시오.

여러분이 그들은 참된 사랑으로 사랑한다면 이렇게 하는 것은 어렵지 않은 것입니다.

 

육신의 어머니들은 천 명의 자녀들을 갖고 있다 해도 그 자녀 하나하나를 마음속에 새겨 그 중에 한 사람도 잊지 않습니다.

이것이 그들의 참된 사랑의 열매입니다. 또 자녀들이 많으면 많을수록 그들 각자에 대한 사랑과 관심이 커집니다.

이보다 더 풍부한 모성을 지닌 영신의 어머니들은 이와 똑같이 할 수 있고 또 해야 합니다.

영적인 사랑은 혈육에서 솟아 나오는 사랑보다 더 강력하기 때문입니다.

 

그러므로 사랑하는 원장님들이여, 여러분이 여러분의 자매들을 참되고도 생동적인 애덕으로 사랑한다면,

모든 자매들 하나하나가 여러분의 생각과 마음에 새겨져 있지 않을 수 없을 것입니다. 나는 여러분에게 권고합니다.

오만과 거친 태도가 아닌 사랑과 겸손과 자비로 자매들을 이끌어 주어, 모든 이들을 예수 그리스도의 모범에 따라 기쁘게 대하십시오.

주님은 말씀하십니다. "나는 마음이 온유하고 겸손하니 나에게서 배워라."

또 지혜서에 나오는 말씀에 의하면 하느님께서는 "모든 것을 은혜로이 대해 주셨습니다." 예수님은 또 말씀하십니다.

"내 멍에는 편하고 내 짐은 가볍다." 여러분은 또 모든 이들을 가능한 한 온유하게 대하도록 힘써야 합니다.

특히 강제력을 사용하여 목적을 이루려 하지 마십시오.

 

하느님께서는 각 사람에게 자유를 주시고 어느 누구에게도 강요하지 않으시며 오직 암시를 주시고 부르시고 권고하실 뿐입니다.

때로는 한층 더 엄격한 권위를 행사해야 할 때도 있겠지만, 상황의 중요성과 개개인의 필요와 성격을 고려하여 그렇게 해야 합니다.

그럴 때에도 우리는 다만 영혼에 대해 사랑과 열정으로 이끌려져야 합니다.(가톨릭홈에서)

 

 

안젤라 메리치는 자선의 면에서나 교육의 면에서

커다란 업적을 남긴 성녀로서 1474년 3월 21일 북 이탈리아의 덕망있는 부호 [메리치] 가문에서 태어났다.

어려서부터 신심이 두터웠던 그녀는, 당시 세력을 펼치고 있는 新 異敎主義에 대항하여 싸우기 위해서는

가족 단위의 신앙 유대가 견고히 서야만 함을 절감하고 장래 가정의 어머니가 될 같은 또래의 소녀들을 모아 [우술라] 회를 설립하게 되었다.

 

일반 신앙 도덕의 앙양과 소년 소녀의 교육을 목적으로

한 수도원 내에 기거를 같이하며 힘을 합하여 박애 육영 사업에 종사하기로 마음 먹게 되었다.

이것이 바로 안젤라의 이상을 실현하려고 노력하는 [우술라] 수도원의 시초이다.

 

소년 소녀의 문화적 정도를 성인의 수준까지 끌어 올리면서 안젤라 메리치는 가정의 정신에 새로운 혁신을 불러 일으켰으며

결혼한 신자의 가정에 사랑 안에서 더욱 친밀한 결합을 이룰 수 있는 정신적 기초를 확립하였다.

그러나 오늘 날까지 소년 소녀의 교육과 가정의 문제는 심각하게 남아 있는 것은 사실이다.(성바오로딸수도회홈에서)

 

 

안젤라 메리치 동정은 자선의 면에서나 교육의 면에 커다란 종적을 남긴 성녀로서

1473년 3월 21일 북 이탈리아의 덕망있는 부호 메리치 가문에서 태어났다.

 

어려서부터 아버지를 닮아 의지가 강하고 어머니를 닮아 신심이 두터웠고,

그 뿐 아니라 이 아이에게는 특별한 하느님의 성소와 보호가 있다는 것을 양친을 어느덧 알고 있었다.

그랬던 만큼 그녀가 겨우 13세에 동정의 종신 서원을 발했다는 것도 별로 놀랄 일이 아니다.

 

 

수많은 성인 성녀의 예처럼 안젤라도 주님의 뜻에 의해 일찍부터 교통의 십자가를지지 않으면 안 되었다.

즉 15세 때 그리운 부모를 여의고 나서 또 가장 사랑하던 언니마저 세상을 떠나 아주 고독한 신세가 되었던 것이다.

 

어느 날이었다. 의탁할 데 없는 데다 적적함에 못 이겨 안젤라가 뜨거운 눈물을 흘리며 하느님께 기도를 바치고 있는데,

갑자기 성모 마리아께서 많은 천사들의 호위를 받아가며 발현하셨는데, 잘 보니 그 중에는 언니의 모습도 섞여 있었다.

 

그와 동시에 안젤라의 마음에는 “네가 걷기 시작한 길을 어디까지나 걸어야 한다.

그러면 너도 언젠가는 우리의 즐거운 단란 속에 낄 수 있을 것이다”하는 소리가 들려왔다.

이를 듣자 이상하게도 지금까지의 마음의 적막한 감이나 슬픔은 감쪽같이 사라지고 명랑한 마음의 기쁨 그녀에게 충만해졌다고 한다.

 

 

 

그러나 곧 그보다 더 심하고 혹독한 시련이 안젤라에게 닥쳐왔다.

그것은 이제까지 천사와 같이 정결하던 그녀의 마음에 악마의 소행인지 더러운 생각이나 상상이 자꾸만 머리에 떠올라

밤이나 낮이나 그녀의 마음을 산란케 하고 번뇌와 고민에 허덕이게 되었다.

그러나 그녀는 끝까지 하느님을 신뢰하고 그와 같은 악마의 공격에 굴하지 않았다.

그녀는 열렬히 기도하고 자주 단식재를 지키고 엄중히 자신의 몸을 다스리며 필사적으로 지옥의 무리들과 싸웠다.

마침내 시련의 시기가 지나자 그녀의 마음에는 다시 깊은 천상의 평화가 충만하게 되었다.

 

 

안젤라는 매일 영성체를 모시며 사랑하는 주 예수와 일치하는 생활을 하며, 또 수도원에는 들어가지 않았을 지라도

상속받은 재산을 모두 가난한 이들에게 희사하고 아시시의 성 프란치스코가 세운 제3회원이 되어 수녀처럼 검소한 극욕 극기의 생활을 했다.

그녀가 자신의 사명을 깨달은 것은 이때인데, 그 뒤 자신의 물건을 희사하기도 하는 등 자선 사업의 활동을 시작했다.

 

물론 이와 같은 탄복할만한 행위가 반향을 일으키지 않을 수 없었다.

곧 그녀에게는 같은 뜻을 가진 소녀 수명이 모여와서 그녀의 지도하에 숭고한 박애 사업에 종사하게 되었다.

 

 

안젤라가 당시 살고 있던 곳은 고향의 마을이 아니라 브레쉬아 시였는데,

마침 독일에서 일어나 순식간에 전국에 퍼진 마르틴 루터의 이단은

급류와 같은 힘으로써 브레쉬아를 거쳐 이탈리아에도 침입하려고 했다.

 

하느님께서는 이 이단의 탁류를 막기 위해 안젤라 등의 사업을 한 방파제로 사용하셨다.

즉 그녀가 무죄한 아이들의 마음에 정성을 들여 심어준 그리스도교의 진리는

후에 자라서도 소멸되지 않고 이단의 함정에 빠지는 일이 없었기 때문이다.

 

 

그녀는 많은 사람들의 존경을 받아 영성에 관해 교훈을 받으러 오는 이들 중에는

학식면으로는 훨씬 그녀보다 훌륭한 신학박사나 신분이 높은 귀족들도 있었다.

그녀의 감화력은 무척 위대해 그가 성녀라는 것을 느끼게 하고도 남음이 있었다.

 

브레쉬아 시의 백작 두 사람은 다년간 원수로 지내오며 어떠한 사람이 중개해도 화목하지 않기를 고집해 왔으나,

안젤라가 그들에게 십자가를 보이며 두 세 마디의 말을 하자 하느님의 은총을 받았음인지

두 사람은 서로 상대자를 포옹하고 눈물을 흘리며 서로 죄를 용서하며 그 후부터는 절친한 사이가 되었다고 하는데,

이를 보더라도 그녀의 감화력이 얼마나 컷던가를 가히 짐작할 수 있다.

 

그 뒤 브레쉬아에 있는 안젤라의 동료는 점차 증가했으므로

그녀는 하느님의 뜻인 줄 알고 일반 신앙 도덕의 앙양과 소년 소녀의 교육을 목적으로 하는

우르술라회라는 수도원을 창립하기로 결정하고

1535년 11월 25일, 12명의 동료들과 더불어 새로이 수도 서원을 세워 규정한 회칙을 지킬 것을 맹세했다.

 

그러나 종전과 같이 회원의 마음대로 어린이를 모으고 병자를 간호하고 빈민을 돌보고 죄수들을 위로할 수 있도록

당분간은 각자 친척집에 이속하며 공동생활은 하지 않았으나 수도회가 크게 발전해 2년 동안 회원수가 76명이나 증가했으므로

드디어 한 수도원 내에 기거를 하며 힘을 합해 박애 육영사업에 종사하기로 했다.

이것이 안젤라의 이상을 실현하려고 노력한 우르술라 수도원의 시초이다.

 

 

안젤라의 성덕은 임종시에 한층 더 빛났다.

그때 그녀는 겸손한 마음에서 성 프란치스코의 통회의 의복을 입고 한 묶음의 볏짚 위에 누워

“성부여, 내 영혼을 당신 손에 맡기나이다”라는 말을 최후로 숨을 거두어 영원한 복을 누리기 위해 천국으로 향했다.

때는 1540년 1월 27일이었다.(대구대교구홈에서)

 

 

안젤라 메리치는 최초의 교육 수녀회인 우르술라회를 조직한 사람이다.

그는 수녀회를 창립하면서 우르술라를 수호 성인으로 모시고, 수녀회의 이름도 그에게 헌정하였다.

’수호 성인’은 천상 은혜의 전구자요 보호자다.

가톨릭 교회는 개인은 물론 직업, 전문 분야, 의료 부분, 사회 제도, 국가 등 어디에나 수호 성인을 모시는 전통을 가지고 있다.

배가 아플 때 도와 주는 성 에라스모에서부터

한국 교회의 수호자이신 성 요셉과 원죄 없이 잉태되신 복되신 동정 마리아까지 수없이 많은 수호 성인들이 있다.

가톨릭 신자들은 세례성사나 견진성사를 받을 때 수호 성인을 정하고 그의 이름을 본명으로 받게 되는데,

이 수호 성인들은 각자의 삶에서 특별한 의미를 갖게 된다.  

 

(이 책에서 만나게 되는)성인들 중 몇몇은 당신의 개인적인 친구나 수호 성인이 될 수 있을 것이다.

수호 성인은 영적 여정의 길잡이로서 우리가 도움을 요청하면 언제든지 우리에게 응답해 주신다.  

 

성인들의 응답이 항상 우리가 바라는 때에 바라는 방식으로 이뤄지는 것은 아니지만,

우리의 소망이 하느님의 뜻 안에 있는 것이라면, 수호 성인은 언제나 우리를 위해 쉬지 않고 일하고 계시다는 것을 확신해도 좋다.  

 

성인들과 계속 만나는 것은 신앙을 성숙하게 하며 우리를 사랑 안에서 자라게 해줄 것이다.

나의 수호 성인은 누구인가?

만약 없다면 어느 성인을 택하고 싶은가? 수호 성인의 보호에 나를 맡기겠다. (까리따스수녀회홈에서)

 

*성녀 우르술라 동정 축일:10월21일.인창동성당게시판1431번.

 

 

 

♬ 태양의 찬가

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sant’ Angela Merici Vergine

27 gennaio - Memoria Facoltativa  

 

Desenzano del Garda, 1474 ? Brescia, 27 gennaio 1540

 

Fondo l’istituto delle Orsoline per l’assistenza spirituale e materiale delle fanciulle orfane e povere, vedendo in esse la viva presenza di Cristo. Ideo un metodo pedagogico tutto animato da sollecitudine materna. Con la sua esperienza precorre le intuizioni che oggi hanno trovato espressione negli istituti secolari e nella partecipazione dei laici alla missione della Chiesa. (Mess. Rom.)

 

 

Etimologia: Angela = messaggero, nunzio, dal greco

 

 

Emblema: Giglio

 

Nata a Desenzano sul Garda, Angela Merici ebbe della vita religiosa un’idea del tutto rivoluzionaria per i tempi in cui visse. In quel periodo di fasto civile, di prosperita economica ed effervescenza artistica che prende il nome di Rinascimento, la voce severa e minacciosa di fra Girolamo Savonarola, impiccato e poi arso in Piazza della Signoria a Firenze nel 1498, scagliava fulmini contro il dilagante materialismo; vent’anni dopo un frate agostiniano, Martin Lutero, volle dare alla Chiesa quella "riforma" che si tradusse in dolorosa lacerazione dell’unita dei cristiani. Dal coro robusto di queste voci che reclamavano la riforma dei costumi, ecco levarsi la voce sommessa di una donna illetterata che offriva il suo contributo pratico e illuminato all’attuazione dei consigli evangelici. Angela aveva trascorso la sua gioventu offrendo un esempio di pacifica contestazione della mondanita, aggregandosi al Terz’ordine francescano per obbligarsi a una vita religiosa piu intensa e fattiva.

Cresciuta in una sana famiglia di contadini, dopo la perdita dei genitori, a quindici anni, volle avventurarsi in lunghi pellegrinaggi e raggiunse infatti la Terrasanta, che pero pote ammirare solo con gli occhi della fede per una misteriosa cecita temporanea, che la privo della vista giusto il tempo che trascorse in Palestina. Dio volle farle intravedere in compenso in quell’occasione una immagine folgorante di luce che le rivelava l’alto compito al quale era chiamata: ella vide una lunga scala che poggiava sulla terra e spariva su nel cielo, percorsa da una fitta schiera di fanciulle. Comprese che la sua vocazione era quella dell’assistenza spirituale e materiale delle giovani. La scuola in quell’epoca era ancora appannaggio delle famiglie facoltose ed era riservata ai maschi, avviati alla carriera religiosa, politica, diplomatica o militare.

Angela Merici ebbe quindi un compito assai vasto e rivoluzionario, e per dare continuita alla sua iniziativa fondo a Brescia nel 1535 la compagnia di S. Orsola, una congregazione di religiose dimesse (cioe umili, senza una particolare divisa che le contraddistinguesse), conosciute ormai in tutto il mondo col nome di Orsoline, col compito appunto di aprire convitti e scuole femminili, precorrendo cosi gli stessi Istituti secolari, e la cui regola venne stampata dopo la morte della Merici. Angela Merici mori a Brescia il 27 gennaio 1540 e venne canonizzata nel 1807. Festeggiata dapprima al 31 maggio, poi, dal 1955, il 10 giugno per lasciare il posto alla festivita di Maria Regina, ora e ricordata nel giorno della morte.

 

 ...............

 

 

 

ANGELA MERICI

Also known as

Angela of Merici, Angela de Marici

Memorial

27 January

Profile

Franciscan tertiary at age 15. She received a vision telling her she would inspire devout women in their vocation.

 

In Crete, during a pilgrimage to Holy Land, she was struck blind. Her friends wanted to return home, but she insisted on going on, visiting the shrines with as much devotion and enthusiasm as if she had her sight. On the way home, while praying before a crucifix, her sight was restored at the same place where it had been lost.

 

In 1535 she gathered a group of girl students and began what would become the Institute of Saint Ursula (the Ursuline Sisters), founded to teach children, beginning with religion and later expanding into secular topics; her first schools were in Desenazno and Brescia.

Born

21 March 1474 at Desenzano, Lake Garda, Italy

Died

24 January 1540 at Brescia, Italy; relics in the church of Saint Afra, Brescia, Italy; body incorrupt

Beatified

1768 by Pope Clement XIII

Canonized

1807 by Pope Pius VII

Name Meaning

angel; messenger (=Angela)

Patronage

bodily ills, disabled people, handicapped people, illness, loss of parents, physically challenged people, sick people, sickness

Representation

cloak; ladder

Additional Information

Google Directory For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein

Miniature Stories of the Saints, by Father Daniel A Lord, SJ

Catholic Online

The Saints: A concise Biographical Dictionary, by John Coulson

Catholic Encyclopedia, by Michael Ott

Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society

Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph, Maple Mount, Kentucky

Patron Saints for Girls

 

Writings

Spiritual Testament

Print References

New Catholic Dictionary

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Translate

espanol | francais | deutsch | italiano | portugues

Readings

Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.

 

Saint Angela Merici

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We must give alms. Charity wins souls and draws them to virtue.

 

Saint Angela Merici

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As our Savior says: "A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit."

 

He says: A good tree, that is, a good heart as well as a soul on fire with charity, can do nothing but good and holy works. For this reason Saint Augustine said: "Love, and do what you will," namely, possess love and charity and then do what you will. It is as if he had said: Charity is not able to sin.

 

Mothers of children, even if they have a thousand, carry each and every one fixed in their hearts, and because of the strength of their love they do not forget any of them. In fact, it seems that the more children they have the more their love and care for each one is increased.

 

Be sincerely kind to every one according to the words of our Lord: "Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Thus you are imitating God, of whom it is said: "He has disposed all things pleasantly." And again Jesus said: "My yoke is easy and my burden light."

 

from Spiritual Testament by Saint Angela Merici

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If according to times and needs you should be obliged to make fresh rules and change current things, do it with prudence and good advice.

 

Saint Angela Merici

................

 

 

St. Angela Merici (1474-1540)

 

Angela Merici was born on March 21st, 1474, at Desenzano on Lake Garda; left an orphan at the age of ten she was brought up by her uncle and on his death went to live with her brothers. She was a devout girl and, having joined the Third Order of St. Francis, devoted herself to teaching children. As her work became known she was asked to go to Brescia where a house was put at her disposal and a number of women came to join her; she was thus enabled to establish a religious association of women, under the patronage of St. Ursula, who, remaining in the world, should devote themselves to every sort of corporal and spiritual work of mercy; but the particular emphasis was on education. Angela’s methods were far removed from the modern idea of a convent school; she preferred to send her associates to teach girls in their own families, and one of her favorite sayings was, ’Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family’. It was by educating children in the milieu in which they lived that she strove to effect an improvement in social conditions.

 

Angela Merici is known now as the foundress of the Ursuline nuns- and so she was, but despite her own inclinations. In reality she was in advance of her own times. Her plan of religious women without distinctive habit, without solemn vows and enclosure, was directly contrary to prevailing notions at her period, and under the influence of St. Charles Borromeo at Milan and subsequent papal legislation (under St. Pius V) the Ursulines were obliged to adopt the canonical safeguards then required of all nuns.

 

Angela Merici died in Brescia on January 27th, 1540.

 

Taken from "The Saints: A concise Biographical Dictionary", edited by John Coulson, published by Hawthorn Books, Inc. 1960.

...........

 

January 27

ST. ANGELA MERICI

Angela was born in the small Italian town of Desenzano, Italy, around

1474. Her parents died when she was ten. She and her only sister, who was

three years older, loved each other very much. A wealthy uncle took the

girls into his home. Still suffering from the loss of her parents, Angela

was struck again when her sister also passed away. The older girl had died

even before a priest could arrive to administer the last sacraments. Angela

worried about her sister’s soul. Jesus revealed to her that the girl had

been saved. Angela felt peace return to her own soul. She thanked the Lord

in prayer. She wanted to do something to show her gratitude. This desire

led her to promise to spend the rest of her life serving Jesus totally.

When she was about twenty-two, Angela began to notice that the children of

her town knew little about their religion. Angela invited some of her

girlfriends to join her in teaching religion classes. Angela’s friends were

anxious to help her with the children.

At that time there were no religious orders of teaching sisters. No one

had ever thought of such a thing. St. Angela Merici was the first to gather

together a group of women to open schools for children. On November 25,

1535, twenty-eight young women offered their lives to God. It was the

beginning of the Ursuline order. Angela placed the congregation under the

protection of St. Ursula. This is how they got their name. The women

remained in their own homes at first. Because of many difficulties, it was a

long time before they could live together in a convent. Angela died on

January 27, 1540, when her congregation was still in its beginning stages.

Her trust in God had gotten her through many hard tests in her lifetime.

There was no doubt in her mind that the Lord would take care of the mission

she had begun. And so he did.

The Ursuline Sisters have spread to many countries. The order continues

its works for Jesus and his Church, especially in the education of children

and young adults. Angela was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius VI in 1807.

Angela Merici reminds us that our own struggles and disappointments can

help us see the hurts of others. When we are willing to reach out, the Lord

will use us to do his wonderful work. Let us ask St. Angela to show us how

to be sensitive and compassionate.

..............

Patron Saints for Girls

The Life of Saint Angela

 God has been often pleased to operate His grandest works by the agency of instruments which appear to man to be entirely unsuited to such great ends. What immense benefits have accrued to religion and society, through the instrumentability of the Ursuline nuns! Devoted by their institute to the Christian education of the youth of their own sex, their Order has now flourished for fully three centuries throughout all the Catholic Kingdoms.

 

To a poor girl without credit or authority, but inflamed with the love of God, and filled with zeal for the salvation of her kind, we are indebted for these ineffable benefits. This girl was called Angela Merici. She was born in Italy at Dezensano, a town in the States of Venice, in the diocese of Verona, near the lake of Garda, March 21st, of the year 1470. Her father and mother were distinguished in their social position, but still more distinguished were they for their exalted piety. Their first and chief care was to train up their child in the respect and fear of God.

 

Angela’s pious disposition greatly facilitated her early education. From her tenderest, infancy she was grave and modest, loving secluded life, prayer, and the meditation of heavenly things. The ordinary amusements of children afforded her no pleasure. Religion, and all that pertained to it, constituted her delight. The father and mother congratulated themselves on the piety of their child, and blessed the Lord for it. Nevertheless, they did not live to witness the full development of those seeds of virtue, which they had planted in their infant’s heart. They were taken from this world before their child had grown to girlhood.

 

Angela, deprived of her parents, was sent to Salo, to her maternal uncle, with one of her sisters. This sister, older than herself, partook of her religious tastes. Their uncle, a pious and wealthy man, never interfered with their holy occupations, but, on the contrary, approved highly of their designs and acts. The two girls longed for a perfect state of life; and they therefore resolved to quit the busy city, and spend the remainder of their lives in solitude. At the time appointed for carrying out their designs, they withdrew, without telling any one, to a secluded cavern, some distance from Salo.

 

Their uncle, alarmed at not finding them returning at the accustomed hour, was greatly disheartened, and he then set out in search of them. He at last found them in the solitude they had selected. After making some observations on what he deemed an imprudent step at such an early moment of their lives, he brought them home to his house, where they enjoyed the amplest liberty to follow the impulses of their devotion.

 

Taking advantage of this kind concession, they converted their home into a sort of hermitage, where they held unbroken communion with God. The fame of their austere life and fervor was soon diffused abroad through the city, where they became objects of the greatest admiration.

 

But God, who takes delight in testing virtue, was pleased, in his inscrutable designs, to strew thorns in the path of the two sisters. Jealous of the possession of our hearts, He wishes to have them entirely His own, and even at the risk of causing them to suffer. He insensibly breaks all the bonds that would alienate them from Him.

 

Angela had lost her father and mother, and this privation filled her with deep and sincerest grief. Now, only one sister was left to partake of her pious sentiments, and this dear one was taken from her by implacable death.

 

This second stroke was far more terrible for Angela than the first, or rather it revived all the grief consequent on the first, in sending an additional affliction on her. The poor young girl now found herself bereft of all her family joys. Nevertheless, although but fifteen years of age, she simply said to those who came to console her, "After all, who am I, or why should I murmur at the decree of God? My sister belongs to Him, why therefore should He not take her to Himself? Ah! may His name be blessed for evermore."

 

Meanwhile Angela’s grief was soon assuaged by the assurances she received of her sister’s eternal salvation. One day while meditating on the felicity of the saints, she besought God to reveal to her if He had taken her sister into His everlasting tabernacles. Her prayer was heard. Suddenly a dazzling light shone round about her; and she beheld the Virgin Mary, surrounded by hosts of angels, and at her side that dear sister for whom she had been weeping. "Continue," said the sister to her, "to walk perseveringly in the ways of perfection, and thou shalt one day share with me the delights of eternal beatitude."

 

This apparition and revelation from Heaven, redoubled the zeal and. ardor of Angela. There was no sacrifice that she was not prepared to make, in order to reach the exalted glory that had been promised to her.

 

The Third Order of Saint Francis had been established at Salo, and our young saint, desiring tp have another additional mean of sanctification, gladly embraced it. Along with the habit, she put on the spirit of its holy and humble founder. Angela’s apparel, chamber, and furniture were poor: she lived on bread, water, and lettuces. On Christmas and Easter-day, she added a little wine; but she abstained from all food every Monday in Lent. Her garments were made of the coarsest sack cloth. Her bed was the hard floor, and taking but scanty rest, she devoted the greater part of night to prayer. Desiring in every particular to imitate Jesus Christ, she wished to live on alms, and all her uncle’s remonstrances on this subject could not turn her from her determination.

 

The virtues of our Saint excited the envy of the devil, who, to deceive her, manifested himself to her under the appearance of an angel; but the humble servant of the Lord recognized the malice of the tempter. She bowed her forehead to the ground, and exclaimed that her numerous sins rendered her unworthy of being visited by the angels of God. This act of humility put the devil to flight; but although victorious, Angela believed it to be absolutely necessary to arm herself still more strongly against this adversary, by redoubling the mortifications of her body and the number of her pious practices.

 

God never suffers himself to be excelled in liberality. Angela was generous, and so was God to His servant by the abundance of spiritual treasures which He poured into her soul. Her daily communions now became to her a source of ineffable delights, her devotion to the august Sacrament of the Altar was so ardent, that she spent entire hours on her knees before the tabernacles of the adorable Eucharist; and often after having passed whole days thus, she would get up at night to return to the same devout practice. Then while her hands were crossed on her bossom, and whilst the fire of divine charity burned in her soul, she would ever and anon give utterance to such tender sentiments as these, "Sacrament of my God, Jesus, my life and my love, oh how I love to be near thee! How sweet and tender are the sentiments thou kindlest in my soul! How kindly hast thou visited me in my sorrows, changing them into transports of joy! When in thy presence, oh how insignificant is the whole outward world! Thou, my Jesus, art all sufficient for me! Ah, chase from my memory the grand productions of art, the sumptuous dwellings of the great - I desire no other object for my love or admiration than this great work of my God. Oh, my Jesus! thou containest all good, thou art all good. Great God, hear my prayers. Let me die before thy tabernacle, drowned in my tears." And the flying hours that bring the day-dawn in their train, found her still before the Adorable Object so dear to her heart.

 

The death of her uncle determined Angela to return to Dezensano, her native town, but the change of locality nowise altered her pursuits, and in this new asylum she was as edifying as at Salo.

 

At Dezensano there was a sisterhood of the Third Order of Saint Francis, and Angela now united herself to them. Her companions soon learned to admire her virtues, her humility, her spirit of mortification, her charity and her zeal for the salvation of her neighbor. Often would she converse with them on the desire that she entertained to consecrate herself to the Christian instruction of young girls. A mysterious vision with which God favored her, served in great measure to augment this desire, and finally determined her to undertake this good work. One day while at prayer she saw before her a mysterious ladder based on the earth and reaching into heaven; a choir of angels sending forth harmonious strains from divers instruments, floated around and over her, while a countless crowd of young maidens, their heads crowned with diamond crowns, alternately ascended and descended the ladder. Absorbed in the contemplation of this wonder, she heard a voice saying to her; "Thou knowest, Angela, that God hath sent thee this vision that you mayst learn to establish a community of chosen virgins: such is the will of God."

 

The humble servant of God after many hesitations, and conferences with her spiritual guide, made her companions aware of the vision that she had had, and at last induced them to agree with her in her design. They therefore collected together in their house the little children of Dezensano, and began to teach them the Christian doctrine. The results of this experiment were marvellous. The scholars became singularly remarkable for their modesty; and even public morality began to ameliorate sensibly. Angela’s reputation was soon widely diffused, and she had to visit Brescia, the capital of the province, where her virtues were regarded with the greatest respect.

 

Angela had been for a long time projecting some holy pilgrimages; and now she hastened to Mantua in order to have a conference with sister Hossana d’ Andreasie, a religious of the Order of Penance of Saint Dominic, and already celebrated for the lustre of her virtues. Thence our Saint set out for Venice where she courageously embarked on the long and perilous voyage to Palestine in order to visit the holy places where Jesus Christ suffered for the salvation of the human race. They disembarked in the is1and of Candia, where Angela became totalIy deprived of the faculty of sight. Thus bereft of the consolation which she thought was in reserve for her, our saint did not lose courage, but persevered in the voyage. Though she could not see with bodily eyes the spots sanctified by the Redeemer’s footmarks, she would fain tread that holy soil, and cause herself to be led by the hand through all the localities identified with the history of our Savior. Oh! who could describe the throbbings of her heart when she descended into the Lord’s sepulchre, or visited the place where He expired on the cross! What great memories crowd over that land - the land of the Manger and of Calvary!

 

"Between the valley of the Jordan and the plains of Idumea," says Chateaubriand, "stretches out a chain of mountains which commences in the fertile fields of Galilee and loses itself in the sands of the Yemen. In the centre of these mountains there is an arid basin locked in on all sides by yellow rocky peaks; these peaks open only on the east, and give glimpses of the Dead Sea and the distant mountains of Arabia. In the midst of these stony landscapes, on a broken and inclining site, within the circuit of a wall ages ago battered by military engines, and strengthened by tottering towers, the eye rests on vast ruins. Straggling cypresses, and some masses of Arabic masonry like whitened sepulchres, are scattered over this heap of ruins: such is sad Jerusalem.

 

"At first sight of these desolate regions a great sadness seizes the heart. But passing from solitude to solitude, while the horizon expands before you, this sadness vanishes by degrees. The traveller experiences a secret terror, which far from casting down the soul, gives it courage, and elevates it. Wonderful sights meet the eye on this soil, sanctified by miracles. The burning sky, the impetuous eagle, the bumble hyssop, the proud cedars, the sterile fig tree, all the poetry, all the pictures of the Scripture are there. Every name reveals a mystery, every grotto speaks of the future, every mountain-peak echoes the accents of prophets. The dried-up torrents, the rent rocks, the gaping tombs attest this prodigy; the desert seems dumb from terror, and one is inclined to think that it has not dared to break the silence since the time when it heard the voice of the Eternal."

 

Angela did not tarry long in Jerusalem. She soon afterwards set sail for Italy, and in Candia where she lost her sight, she recovered it while kneeling before an image of Jesus Christ crucified. From Candia she proceeded to Italy. During this voyage they encountered a terrible tempest, and two vessels of the convoy were entirely wrecked. The ship in which Angela sailed reached Venice in safety after having struggled against the storm for fully nine days.

 

Our Saint remained in Venice with the sisterhood of the Holy Sepulchre, till she retrieved her shattered health. The fame of her sanctity attracted the most distinguished of the citizens to her, and many of them urged her to place herself at the head of the religious establishments then flourishing in the city of the Doges.

 

The humble maiden declined this flattering proposal, and in order to escape the honors the people intended to confer on her, she left the city secretly, and arrived in Brescia, November 24, 1524.

 

The Jubilee of 1525 had commenced, and Angela proceeded to Rome, to partake of the great spiritual favors granted on such a grand occasion. Pope Clement VII then occupied the chair of Saint Peter, and he not only admitted Angela to an audience, but gave her a most cordial reception. Intimately convinced of the eminent merits of our Saint, his Holiness deemed it his duty to persuade her to fix her abode at Rome, and thus take charge of the various houses devoted to works of mercy. But Angela never forgot the vision which intimated that she was to be foundress of an Order, and she therefore respectfully excused herself to the Pontiff. After receiving his benediction and sanction, she returned to Brescia.

 

In the meanwhile, Italy was desolated by wars, which forced our Saint to leave Brescia; but as soon as peace returned, she laid the foundations of her celebrated Order. She did nothing without weighing well every circumstance that might advance or retard her project; and, indeed, her great humility caused her to entertain doubts of its success.

 

It was on the 25th November, 1535, that Angela formed her little community of twenty-seven virgins. She drew up for them a short rule, divided into twelve chapters. She did not require any dowry with her postulants, in order that they might have no difficulty in joining her institute. The duties she imposed on them did not oblige them to live in common, but they were, nevertheless, admirably suited to carrying out her holy intentions.

 

Motived by the holiest spirit of humility, and despising all earthly fame, our Saint, to conceal her own name, called her new Institute "Saint Ursula’s." But although she satisfied her innate modesty by excluding her own name, she was greatly mortified nevertheless when she heard the people, all of whom were edified by the young community, styling it the "Holy Company", and the "Divine Order." Angela herself foretold that her Institute should continue to flourish for ever, as it had for its patroness and protectress, that illustrious Saint who led so many virgins to martyrdom.

 

As the number of the sisters increased daily, it became necessary to elect a superioress to govern the rising community, and for this purpose Angela assembled all its members. Their choice was soon fixed, and they all with one accord selected her to govern them. It was with great repugnance that she accepted this dignity; but she soon proved how worthy she was of her position. Her sweetness, her goodness, her evertness of temper, won her the hearts of all her children, and they deemed themselves blessed under her guidance. As soon as her Institute had been sanctioned by the Bishop of Brescia, Angela would gladly have retired from the position of superior; and so desirous was she of this that she alleged her age and infirmities, hoping that the bishop would release her from this grave responsibility. The instances and tears of her community, however, compelled her to continue in her place. The bishop commanded her to retain her authority, and it was in obedience to him that she continued to hold the appointment. Were it not for this, all the instances of her community must have been of no avail.

 

Her submission was soon followed by infirm health, for she fell sick about the beginning of January, 1540; and from that very moment she predicted that the time of her decease was not far off. Her first care, now that she found herself in danger, was to assemble the community, and give the sisterhood salutary instructions, replete with wisdom. Thenceforth, her only occupation was to testify to her Divine Master her burning desire of being united to Him. Feeling her strength beginning to fail, she received the Sacraments of the Church with admirable fervor. Even to her latest gasp she did not cease to make acts of faith and hope.

 

At length, rich in every sort of Christian merits, aged about seventy years, consumed by the most ardent charity, and consoled with all the comforts that the Church provides for its children, Angela peacefully breathed her last sigh, and presented to the Divine Spouse her unsullied baptismal garment, January 27, 1540.