Angelines facts for kids
The Angelines, also known as the Company of Saint Ursula, are a special group of women in the Catholic Church. They are called a secular institute, which means they dedicate their lives to God but live and work in the world, not in a monastery. This group was started in 1535 by a woman named Angela Merici in Brescia, Italy.
The main goal of the Angelines is to help educate girls and women. They also care for people who are sick or in need. Their special helper, or patron saint, is Saint Ursula. The Angelines follow the original ideas of Angela Merici. They live on their own, often have regular jobs, and are responsible for themselves. But they formally promise their lives to serve the church and others. Later, in 1572, some members formed a separate group called the Ursulines, who live in monasteries.
The Story Begins
Angela Merici was a member of a religious group called the Third Order of St. Francis. She felt a special calling from God to create a community where women could share a similar way of life. Many people were drawn to her spiritual leadership. From this group, she chose 28 women who wanted to commit their lives to this new idea.
These women, along with Angela Merici, made their commitment on November 25, 1535. This day is the feast day of St. Catherine of Alexandria, an important female spiritual figure from the Middle Ages. They named themselves the Company of St. Ursula, choosing her as their patron saint because she was known for education.
These women continued to live in their own homes. They would meet regularly for discussions and prayer. Angela Merici wrote a special set of rules for them to follow. They were meant to live among the people they served without wearing special clothes or living in a closed-off area like a monastery. They would meet often and attend Holy Mass once a month. They also followed certain religious practices but did not take formal vows like nuns.
Growing and Spreading
The Company of St. Ursula grew very quickly. More and more women from all over the city joined. As the number of members increased, they organized themselves into smaller groups. Each group was based on the parish where they lived and was called a "company." Soon, the group spread throughout the Diocese of Brescia.
One of the first important things the new company did was to teach religious lessons to girls in the town. They did this at the parish church every Sunday. This was a new idea for that time, as teaching girls was usually left to the local parish priest. Soon, similar companies started in other areas.
In 1538, the company had grown so much that they held their first big meeting, called a General Chapter. At this meeting, Angela Merici was chosen as the "Mother" of the company for the rest of her life. The next year, as her health began to decline, she wrote down her Testament and a book of Counsels. These writings helped guide the group's life. Angela Merici passed away in 1540.
The company was officially recognized by Pope Paul III in 1546.
In 1572, in Milan, under the leadership of Charles Borromeo, who was the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, some members of the company decided to become an enclosed religious order. This meant they would live in a monastery and not go out into the world. Pope Gregory XIII placed them under the Rule of St. Augustine. Especially in France, groups of the company began to change into communities of cloistered nuns. These nuns took solemn vows and focused on educating girls within their monasteries.
Spreading Across the World
Even with these changes, communities of the original company continued to exist and thrive, especially in Italy. However, in 1810, like many other religious groups, they were stopped from operating after the Napoleonic Empire invaded Italy.
But the story didn't end there! Two sisters who had been part of the company, Elisabetta and Maddalena Girelli, restarted the company in Brescia in 1866. Once again, companies began to spread throughout Italy. Even though each company was legally independent, they started talking to each other. This led to the creation of a Federation of Companies, which helped them work together.
By the 20th century, Companies began to be established outside of Italy again. In 1947, the Catholic Church, led by Pope Pius XII, saw that more and more ordinary people were becoming deeply involved in their faith. So, the church created a new category in church law called "secular institute." This gave committed groups of lay people a formal status. The Angelines were officially recognized by the Holy See as the Secular Institute of Saint Angela Merici on May 25, 1958.
The company has continued to grow and expand. Today, Angelines are present in 23 countries around the world. Some of the newest groups include one started in the United States in 2000. Its members were guided by the Angelines in Canada and officially joined the Federation in 2006. Since 2010, a company has also been established in Australia. This group is guided by the company in France, which is also helping to mentor new companies in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Singapore.
