⛪ Saint Angela of Foligno - Widow and Religious

Saint Angela of Foligno,
Pray for us!

⛪ Saint of the Day: January 4

⛪ Born: • 1248 at Foligno, Umbria, Italy

⛪ Died: • 4 January 1309 at Foligno, Italy of natural causes • Buried in the Church of Saint Francis in Foligno, Italy

⛪ Major Shrine: Chiesa di San Francesco Foligno, Perugia, Italy

⛪ Patronage:
• Against sexual temptation •  Against temptations •  Against the death of children •  People ridiculed for their piety, Widows

Saint Angela of Foligno, born in 1248 into a wealthy family in Foligno, Umbria, Italy, lived a life initially centered on worldly pleasures. Married at a young age, she bore several children and reveled in the luxuries of her social status. However, around the age of 40, Angela experienced a profound spiritual awakening after reportedly receiving a vision of St. Francis of Assisi. This encounter led her to recognize the emptiness of her previous pursuits and to embark on a journey of spiritual transformation.

Tragically, within a span of three years, Angela endured the loss of her mother, husband, and children. Devastated by grief, she sought solace in a life of penance and devotion, divesting herself of her worldly possessions. Accompanied by a trusted companion, Masazuola, Angela embraced a life of humility and prayer.

Angela's spiritual journey led her to join the Third Order of Saint Francis, likely around 1291, under the guidance of a Franciscan friar named Arnoldo, who became her confessor. Under his direction, Angela delved deeper into her mystical experiences and received divine revelations, which she recorded with the assistance of a scribe in the late 1200s.

Her spiritual writings, compiled into two works known as "Il Libro della Beata Angela da Foligno," chronicle her profound encounters with the divine and her journey toward spiritual enlightenment. One of her notable works, the "Memoriale," recounts her spiritual progress and mystical experiences, dictated in her native Umbrian dialect and transcribed into Latin by Friar Arnoldo.

While Brother Arnoldo struggled to fully comprehend Angela's higher mystical experiences, he condensed them into seven supplementary stages within the "Memoriale." This text, completed by 1298, was submitted for approval to Cardinal James of Colonna and a council of Franciscans, receiving their endorsement.

Saint Angela's teachings and spiritual insights continue to inspire believers, earning her the title of "Mistress of Theologians." Pope Clement XI beatified her on July 11, 1701, and Pope Francis extended her veneration to the entire Church on October 9, 2013, canonizing her as a saint. Her feast day is celebrated on January 4th (January 7th in the United States) by the Third Order of Saint Francis, both Secular and Regular.

During the period between 1296 and her passing in 1309, Saint Angela of Foligno's reputation for sanctity attracted a community of tertiaries, both men and women, who sought her guidance in their pursuit of holiness. Under her direction, they endeavored to progress spiritually and deepen their commitment to a life of devotion.

In later years, Angela founded a community of Sisters in Foligno. These Sisters embraced a commitment to a communal life, inspired by the Rule of the Third Order, but without binding themselves to enclosure. This allowed them the freedom to dedicate their time to charitable works, reflecting Angela's vision of caring for those in need.

The final version of Angela's spiritual work, the Book, includes a series of 36 Instructions appended to the Memorial. These teachings, imparted by Angela during her later years, emphasize the importance of divine light in the journey of salvation and spiritual growth. They underscore the necessity of prayer as a means to receive divine illumination and to cultivate virtues such as faith, hope, charity, poverty, obedience, chastity, humility, meekness, and fortitude.

Angela's teachings also emphasize the significance of meditating on the life of Jesus Christ as a source of spiritual nourishment and guidance. She encourages her followers to immerse themselves in the "Book of Life," contemplating Christ's poverty, suffering, humility, and obedience as models for their own lives.

On Christmas Day in 1308, Angela foretold her imminent death to her companions. A few days later, Christ appeared to her, promising to personally escort her to heaven. Angela peacefully passed away in her sleep on January 3, 1309, surrounded by her community of disciples. Her remains were interred in the Church of St. Francis in Foligno, where many attributed miracles to her intercession at her tomb.

On October 9, 2013, Pope Francis canonized Saint Angela of Foligno, recognizing her as a saint of the Catholic Church. Her authority as a spiritual teacher is underscored by testimonials such as that of Maximilian van der Sandt, who referred to her as the "Mistress of Theologians," attributing her doctrine to the teachings derived from the Book of Life, Jesus Christ.