MERICI, ANGELA, ST.

Foundress, b. Desenzano, Republic of Venice, probably on March 21, 1474; d. Brescia, Jan. 27, 1540. Except for some years when she lived with an uncle's family in Salo, Angela remained in Desenzano until she was about 40. Around 1506, she was favored with a vision in which she was told, "Before your death, you will found a society of virgins at Brescia." She awaited a providential action that might lead her to Brescia, and in 1516 received such a sign in the invitation from the Patengoli family to live with them in order to console them because of the recent death of their two sons.

It was not until 1531 that she organized a small group of 12 girls to help her with the catechetical work she had already begun. By 1535 the group had increased to 28, and with characteristic simplicity Angela formed them (25 Nov. 1535) into the Company of St. Ursula by the simple inscription of their names in a book. Aware of the need for reform in both the Church and society, Angela thus founded the first religious order for the teaching of young girls. Her goal was the re-Christianization of family life and thus of society, through the solid Christian education of future wives and mothers. Each one in the Company was to continue living in her own home, exercising her apostolate among the members of her own family, her social acquaintances, and the children of her neighborhood. No formal vows were taken, but the primitive rule drawn up by Angela prescribed the practice of virginity, poverty, and obedience.

Thus, the original company was in reality a "secular institute" and it was only after St. Angela's death that the administrative organization was changed by St. Charles borromeo, bishop of Milan, in order to bring it into harmony with the decisions of the Council of trent. Later changes and adaptations have brought into being different forms of life for the members of the institute; both Angelines and Ursulines claim St. Angela as their foun-dress. The divergencies have resulted from fidelity to her counsel: "… if according to times and needs you should be obliged to make fresh rules and change certain things, do it with prudence and good advice."

Immediately after her death Angela was honored as a saint by the people of Brescia. The municipal council collected the necessary documents for beatification, but it was not until 1768 that the actual decree of beatification was approved by clement xiii. Angela was canonized on May 24, 1807, and in 1861 her cult was extended to the universal Church by pius ix.

Feast: Jan. 27 (formerly June 1).

Bibliography: Angela Merici: vita della Chiesa e spiritualità nella prima metà del Cinquecento: convegno di studi storici, ed. c. naro, p. prodi, et al. (Caltanisetta-Roma 1998). g. b. barbieri, Lettera viva (Brescia 1972). m. benigni, Angela Merici a Bergamo (Villa di Serio, Bergamo 1994). m. buser, Also in your midst: Reflections on the spirituality of St. Angela Merici (Green Bay, Wis.1990). g. garioni bertolotti, S. Angela Merici, vergine bresciana, 1474–1540 (Brescia 1950, rep. Milan 1971). p. caraman, Saint Angela; the life of Angela Merici (New York 1964). a. conrad, Mit Klugheit, Mut und Zuversicht: Angela Merici und die Ursulinen (Mainz 1994). m.-p. desaing, Angela Merici: Persönlichkeit und Auftrag (Stein am Rhein 1976). t. ledÓchowska, Angèle Merici et la Compagnie de Ste-Ursule à la lumière des documents (Rome 1968). f. m. salvatori, Angela, tr. m. di mercurio of Vita della Santa Madre Angela Merici (Saint Martin, Ohio 1970). s. undset, Sant'Angela Merici (Brescia 1965). p. m. waters, The Ursuline achievement: A philosophy of education for women (North Carlton, Vic., Australia 1994).

[m. a. gallin]