Angela Merici, Saint

Angela Merici, Saint

▪ Roman Catholic saint
born March 21, 1470/74, Desenzano, republic of Venice [Italy]
died Jan. 27, 1540, Brescia; canonized May 24, 1807; feast day January 27

      founder of the Ursuline (q.v.) order, the oldest order of women in the Roman Catholic church dedicated to teaching.

      Orphaned young, she went to Salo to live in the home of an uncle. Later she joined the Third Order of St. Francis. At the age of 20 she returned to Desenzano, where she gathered about her a group of girls who taught the catechism to the children of the village.

      In 1506, while praying in the fields of Brudazzo, Angela had a vision in which she was told that she would found a society of virgins at Brescia. The citizens of Brescia came to regard her as a prophet and a saint.

      On Nov. 25, 1535, at Brescia, Angela and 28 companions consecrated themselves to God by a vow of virginity, and the Company of St. Ursula was born. Angela drew up her rule in 1536, which provided for the Christian education of girls in order to restore the family and, through the family, the whole of Christian society. She was unanimously elected superior of the company in 1537. Before her death she dictated her Testament and Souvenirs, which contain her counsels to her nuns; they insist on interest in the individual, gentleness, and the efficacy of persuasion over force.

      Angela is often celebrated as a woman of foresight and courage who enjoined her successors to make changes according to the needs of the time.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Angela Merici, Saint — • Biography of the founder of the Ursulines, who died in 1540 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Angela Merici,Saint — An·gel·a Me·ri·ci (ăn jə lə mə rēʹchē), Saint. 1474 1540. Italian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Ursuline order (1535). * * * …   Universalium

  • Angela Merici — Saint Angela De Merici Saint Angela Merici as a teacher. 19th century devotional painting, by P. Calzavacca Virgin; Founder of the Order of Ursulines Born 21 March 1474( …   Wikipedia

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  • Merici, Saint Angela — • Biography of the founder of the Ursulines, who died in 1540 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Angela Merici — (1474–1540)    Saint and Order Founder.    Angela was born in Desenzano, Italy. In her youth she joined a Franciscan Tertiary Order and devoted herself to a life of nursing and education. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1524, she suddenly …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • Angèla Mérici — Angèle Mérici Pour les articles homonymes, voir Angèle. Statue d Angèle Merici à Desenzano Sainte Angèle Mérici, née à Desenzano (Italie) c.1470 et décédé …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Angela Merici — biographical name Saint 1474? 1540 Italian religious & founder of Ursuline order …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Angela Merici — /ahn je lah me rddee chee/ Saint, 1474 1540, Italian ecclesiastic, founder of the Ursuline order. * * * …   Universalium

  • Angela Merici — /andʒələ məˈritʃi/ (say ahnjuhluh muh reechee) noun Saint, 1474?–1540, Italian Roman Catholic nun; founded the Ursuline order in 1535 …  

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