Angela Merici facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Angela Merici
St. Angela Merici Teaching by Pietro Calzavacca (mid-19th century)
Virgin and foundress
Born	21 March 1474 Desenzano del Garda, Province of Brescia, Republic of Venice
Died	27 January 1540(1540-01-27) (aged 65) Brescia, Republic of Venice
Beatified	30 April 1768, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Clement XIII
Canonized	24 May 1807, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Pius VII
Major shrine	Sanctuary of St. Angela Merici, Brescia, Italy
Feast	27 January; 31 May (1861–1955); 1 June (1955–1969)
Attributes	Cloak, ladder
Patronage	Sickness, handicapped people, loss of parents, courage, strength, and determination

Angela Merici (born March 21, 1474 – died January 27, 1540) was an Italian Catholic woman who dedicated her life to teaching. She started a special group called the Company of St. Ursula in 1535 in Brescia, Italy. This group was for women who wanted to serve the church by educating girls.

Later, this group grew into the Order of Saint Ursula. Nuns from this order created schools and places of prayer all over Europe. Eventually, they spread worldwide, especially in North America.

After she passed away, many Catholics honored Angela Merici. She was later recognized as a saint by Pope Pius VII in 1807.

Her Early Life

Angela Merici was born in 1474 on a farm. It was near Desenzano del Garda, a small town by Lake Garda in Italy. When she was ten, both her parents died, making her and her older sister, Giana Maria, orphans. They went to live with their uncle in the town of Salò.

Angela was very sad when her sister died suddenly. Her sister passed away without receiving the church's final prayers. Angela prayed hard for her sister's soul to find peace. People say she had a vision where she learned her sister was in heaven with the saints. Around this time, she joined a religious group called the Third Order of St. Francis.

People often noticed Angela's beauty, especially her hair. But Angela had promised her life to God. To avoid worldly attention, she colored her hair with soot.

Starting Her Mission

When Angela was twenty, her uncle died. She went back to her home in Desenzano. She lived with her brothers on her own property. This land was given to her instead of a dowry, which she would have received if she had married.

Later, Angela had another vision. It showed her that she should start a group of women. These women would dedicate their lives to teaching young girls about faith. This idea became very successful. She was asked to start another school in the nearby city of Brescia.

St. Angela Merici (17th century)

In 1524, Angela was traveling to the Holy Land. While on the island of Crete, she suddenly became blind. Even so, she continued her journey. She was later cured of her blindness when she returned. This happened while she was praying in front of a crucifix in the same spot where she had lost her sight.

In 1525, she traveled to Rome. She wanted to take part in the special Jubilee Year celebrations. Pope Clement VII had heard about her good work and her successful school. He invited her to stay in Rome. However, Angela did not like being famous, so she soon returned to Brescia.

The Company of St. Ursula

On November 25, 1535, Angela gathered 12 young women. They had joined her in her work. They met in a small house in Brescia, near the Church of Saint Afra. Together, they officially started the Company of St. Ursula. They chose St. Ursula as their patroness because she was the patroness of medieval universities.

Angela's main goal was to improve family life. She wanted to do this by giving future wives and mothers a good Christian education. Her group was the first teaching order of women in the church.

Four years later, the group had grown to 28 members. Angela taught her companions to serve God. But she also taught them to stay in their own communities. They would teach girls in their own neighborhoods. They lived a religious life in their own homes. The members did not wear special uniforms. They also did not take formal religious vows at first.

Angela wrote a set of rules for the group. These rules included living simply, being poor, and obeying God, all while staying in their own homes. The Ursulines later opened orphanages and schools. On March 18, 1537, Angela was chosen as the "Mother and Mistress" of the group. The rules she wrote were approved by Pope Paul III in 1544.

When Angela Merici died in Brescia on January 27, 1540, there were 24 groups of the Company of St. Ursula. They were all serving the Catholic Church in the region. Her body was dressed in the clothes of a Franciscan tertiary. She was buried in the Church of Sant'Afra.

Angela Merici believed that girls and young women needed better Christian education. She spent her life working towards this goal.

Becoming a Saint

The incorrupt body of Saint Angela Merici in Brescia, Italy

During her life, Angela Merici often prayed at the tombs of martyrs in the Church of St. Afra in Brescia. She lived in small rooms next to a religious house. After she died, she was buried in the Church of St. Afra, as she wished. This was so she could be near the remains of the martyrs.

Her body stayed there until the church was destroyed. This happened during the Second World War on March 2, 1945. The church and nearby buildings were rebuilt later. They reopened on April 10, 1954. The church was rededicated to Saint Angela Merici on January 27, 1956.

Angela Merici was declared "blessed" (called beatified) in Rome on April 30, 1768, by Pope Clement XIII. She was later made a saint (called canonized) on May 24, 1807, by Pope Pius VII.

Feast Day

Angela Merici's special day, or feast day, is celebrated on January 27. This is the day she died. For a while, her feast day was on different dates. But in 1969, Pope Paul VI decided to move it back to January 27.

Places Named After Her

Many places around the world are named after St. Angela Merici. These include:

• Churches in places like Pacific Grove, California; Brea, California; and Metairie, Louisiana.
• Schools in Florissant, Missouri, The Bronx, New York; and Missouri City, Texas.
• St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford, Ontario, Canada.
• St. Angela Merici Academy in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States.
• St. Angela's College in Cork, Ireland.
• Merici College in Braddon, ACT, Australia.
• École St. Angela Merici in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

See Also

In Spanish: Ángela de Mérici para niños

• List of Catholic saints
• Incorruptibility
• Saint Angela Merici, patron saint archive