Our Ursuline Foundress
“During the religious conflicts of the 16th century, Angela Merici, a visionary and practical woman living in Brescia, Italy, founded a company of women to renew the church from within. In an age when women had only two options—marriage or the cloister—Angela showed women a new way to dedicate their lives to God in contemplation and service of others.
Angela lived in an era when women had no rights. She witnessed disease, starvation, ignorance, political and ecclesial corruption, and exploitation of the poor and of women—much as we do today. She had no illusions that she could solve all those problems, but she listened carefully to the Holy Spirit and decided to do what she could. On Nov. 25, 1535, this woman in her sixties gathered a company of two dozen young women to live the Gospel among the people and help all women recognize their importance and dignity.
The Holy Spirit was Angela’s life-long guide; listening to God, she became a pilgrim, peacemaker, reconciler and leader. Through her writings, her company, which she placed under the patronage of St. Ursula, was left a permanent and available legacy of her spirit.” - osucentral.org
Benedetto Pietrogrande, “Angèle Merici”;
Peter Kostner, sculptor, 1990.
Church of St. Angela, Desenzano
“So, persevere faithfully and joyfully in the work you have begun. And take care, take care I say, not to lose your fervour, for every promise that I make to you will be fulfilled for you beyond measure.
- St. Angela Merici
Ursuline Spirituality
Ursuline spirituality finds its first source in the Gospel and the following of Christ. It is enriched specifically by the spirituality of our foundress Saint Angela Merici. Angela’s spirituality was centered on her intimate relationship to Jesus Christ, who was her “only life and hope”. She tells her followers that they too are called together into this same relationship with Jesus.
Angela’s intimacy with Jesus came from her long hours of prayer, which led her to evangelize all those with whom she came into contact through her words and the witness of her life. Her prayer made of her a woman of courage, a woman of vision and daring, of optimism and joy, a peacemaker, a woman of reconciliation, a woman welcoming all who came to her. She encountered each person with deep respect, a quality she recommends constantly to her followers. - ursulines-roman-union.org
Our Ursuline Patroness
St. Ursula and her Companions, 1530, by Alessandro Bonvicio, Il Moretto, Brescia, Italy
Saint Ursula was chosen by Saint Angela to be the patroness of her company. She saw in Ursula a model and mentor. She lived in very similar times to Angela; similar times to our own. She witnessed wars, corruption, broken relationships, turbulence, and uncertainties. Angela recalled listening to her father read the lives of the saints and was attracted to many of them, especially Ursula. Angela would have seen many portraits of Ursula in churches, both on pilgrimages and possibly in her own home of Brescia. Angela perceived in Ursula a woman facing life with courage, ready to take a stand, faithful to a relationship with Jesus Christ, and in the end, ready to give her life.