Unison
ISSUE 2 JANUARY 2025
The Legacy of St. Angela Merici GIA LECAP ‘29 AND CHLOE STELLA ‘28
As we always do near the feast day of St. Angela Merici, our school community must take time to reflect on the impact she has had on all connected to the Ursuline Order and its multitude of schools and churches. Born on March 21st, 1474 in Desenzano, Italy, Angela Merici was orphaned at a young age along with her sister. Angela always led a faithful life, originally joining the Third Order of Saint Francis as a young woman. In 1506, Angela had a vision that heralded the formation of a group of devout women in Brescia, Italy. In 1524, on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Angela became blind. Despite this, she continued her journey and soon regained her sight. Her dedication to her pilgrimage was also rewarded with the gift of spiritual visions, which inspired her to share the Word of God with all who would listen. This desire manifested in the fulfillment of her previous vision; in 1535, she founded the Ursuline order, named after St. Ursula, a 4th century martyr. Angela greatly admired St. Ursula and strived to ensure that the Catholic Church carried on her influence.
The Ursuline Order had humble beginnings, with only 28 members who lived in their own homes and met weekly. The original Ursulines defied the standards of their time by continuing to live with their families instead pursuing a cloistered life. Angela later chose to dedicate the Ursulines to female education. She believed that her followers would go on to guide their families in the Christian faith, leading to the restoration of a strong Catholic society in Western Europe. The Ursulines rose to the level of a monastic order in 1612. St. Angela is honored on January 27th for her acts of kindness towards others and her loyalty to God. She is the patron saint of sickness, the disabled, those who face physical challenges, those who grieve the loss of parents, the Italian city of Brescia, and, most importantly, the Ursuline Sisters. Angela Merici, by honoring the will of God and working through all hardships life brought to her, has created an order dedicated to education and a community that spans the globe. All those associated with St. Angela’s legacy remain steadfast in their commitment to bettering the world through women’s education.