Saint Angela Merici (1470-1540)
Image: Catholic Online
(Franciscan Media) Angela has the double distinction of founding the first teaching congregation of Women in the Church and what is now called the Secular Institutes of Religious Women.
As a young Woman, Angela became a member of the ‘Third Order of St. Francis’ (now known as the Secular Franciscan Order) and lived a life of great austerity, wishing like St. Francis, to own nothing, not even a bed.
Early in Angela’s life she was appalled at the ignorance among poorer children, whose parents could not or would not teach them the scriptures and Christianity. Angela’s charming manner complemented her natural qualities of leadership–others joined her in giving regular instruction to the little girls of their neighborhood.
Invited to live with a family in Italy, Brescia (where Angela had been told in a vision, she would one day found a religious community) she continued her work, became well known and the center of a group of people with similar ideals.
Angela eagerly took the opportunity for a trip to the Holy Land, when she got as far as Crete, she was stuck with blindness, her friends wanted her to return home but she insisted on going through with the pilgrimage, visiting the scared shrines with as much devotion and enthusiasm as if she had her vision.
On her way back home while praying before a Crucifix, Angela’s sight was restored at the same place where it had been lost.
Angela at the age of 57 organized a group of 12 girls to help her in catechetical work, 4 yrs later the group had more than doubled in size to 28 and she formed them into the ‘Company of St. Ursula’ (Patroness of medieval universities and venerated as a leader of Women) for the purpose of re-Christianizing family through solid Christian education of future wives and mothers.
The members continued to live at home, had no special habit and took no vows, though the early Rule prescribed the practice of chastely, poverty and obedience. The idea of a teaching congregation of Women was new and took time to develop. The community thus existed as a ‘Secular Institute’ until some years following Angela’s death.
More here from EWTN
Related: Company of St. Ursula — Group of the United States