ANGELA MERICI

We visited St. Angela's birthplace and resting place in Northern Italy on May 10, 2004.

Also known as Angela of Merici, Angela de Marici

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

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.