Our Story
Angela Merici
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Her Birth
Angela was born in 1472 in the small town of Desenzano between Milan and Venice in Northern Italy.
Her Place
Angela lived as a child in the town of Desenzano, and later in the city of Brescia, on the shores of Lake Garda.
Her Time: 1472 -1540
Angela Merici lived in the time of the Renaissance in Italy. This was a time of unparalleled explosion of artistic expression, moral degradation, popular piety, preaching of new religious ideas and pastoral neglect by clergy.
Her World
- Columbus discovered America
- Savonarola (the apocalyptic reformer) was burned at the stake in Florence
- Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa
- Henry VIII was King of England, and had already rid himself of three of his six wives.
Her Contemporaries
Within Italy
Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Raphael, Lucretia Borgia.
Outside of Italy
Copernicus, Erasmus, Luther, Thomas More, Ignatius of Loyola.
Her Childhood
Angela Merici was born in 1472 in the small town of Desenzano in Northern Italy. Hers was an uneventful, private childhood.
Her Early Life
Angela Merici’s early life was lived in a loving family atmosphere. However, she was orphaned at a young age and went to live with her uncle at Salo, a small village near Desenzano across Lake Garda. A deep spiritual experience of a visionary nature shaped and gave direction to her life.
Her Society
Angela’s society was characterised by collapse and transition. Bitter power struggles led to frequent wars, devastation, disease and social misery. A time of moral bankruptcy, popular piety, preaching of new religious ideas with rejection of older models by multiple itinerant preachers, in a sea of religious indifference and pastoral neglect by the formal clergy.
Her Personal Characteristics
Angela was known as Madre (mother) throughout northern Italy. She was peacemaker, compassionate consoler, wise and practical adviser, prayerful, faithful, advocate for those in need. She engaged herself in furthering charitable works, advocating for church and societal reform and regeneration.
She was known for intervening in personal and minor political disputes. Having a magnetic personality, Angela naturally gathered supporters and friends who were inspired and empowered by her. She demonstrated wisdom in politics and business.
Angela was in tune with herself, with human nature, and with the faithful graciousness of God.
Angela was a holy person in the holistic sense – prayerful, faithful to the Church, despite its very evident human frailities, seeking out opportunities such as pilgrimages to further her growing intimacy with her God.
Her Insight
Angela was concerned for the moral and personal well-being of the young women of her time who were particularly vulnerable in the tumultuous society. She showed a profound respect for each person. She nourished and encouraged people to grow into their full humanity.
Angela was fully engaged in the social aspects of life around her. She integrated the reality of daily life with an intimate relationship with God. She was an independent woman at a time where choices for women tended to be limited to marriage or life in an enclosed convent.
Her Life’s Work
In 1535, at about 65 years of age, Angela founded the Company of St Ursula. Vocational choices for women at this time were marriage or life in an enclosed convent. The Company of St Ursula, offered women a choice to respond to God’s call to live a life of total dedication to God while still living in their own homes.
Her Spirit
To Ursulines now, Angela is Mother, Sister and Faithful Friend. We experience her as with us. To us today she is not only an initiating foundress but an inspiring and sustaining spirit amongst us.
Her Death
Angela died in Brescia on 27th January, 1540
Her Legacy
Angela showed a new focussed energy in later life leaving a lasting legacy of a Company of Women dedicated to a life of holiness, lifelong fidelity, consecrated virginity and virtuous lives while maintaining an active life within society, and living in their own homes and communities.