Saint Angela Merici
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The Fifteenth Century is here; the Church needs a Saint! We are in the north of Italy, in a little village called Desenzano, east of "Brescia". The quiet little town lies peacefully on picturesque Lake Garda, on the outskirts of the "Lombardy" region. If your eye travels northward on the map, you will see the village of Trent where the Council of "Council of Trent" was held in the Sixteenth Century, in 1545, five years after our Saint died. We never know what our actions are going to bring about; but one thing we can be sure, they will either be life-giving or life-ending. This is the story of a woman who will contribute to the life of her Church, the Church which Jesus founded, our beloved Roman Catholic Church. "I want to become a Saint because I love Jesus!" One chilly damp Spring morning, March 21, 1474, to be exact, a child was born, a girl to a farmer named Giovanni, and his wife Signora Merici, who was of the noble family - the Biancosi of Salo. From the very beginning, the child Angela was wrapped in a robe of piety and holiness, her parents having one focus, to bring her up to love and serve Jesus. And they did, first by who they were, then by word and deed. Angela asked her father to read to her, so that she could learn about the Saints and Virgin Martyrs of the past. Together they delved into the Bible, and other spiritual books pouring over stories of those who shaped the Church. Each evening after chores were over, they would sit by the fire and travel with those who lived and died for Mother Church. Soon this child, all of five years old, began living a contemplative life, fasting and performing acts of mortification. She was not, however a sad, somber girl; everyone in the village loved her and looked forward to this little bundle of energy and joy stopping to say hello to them. They would always send a little something home with her which she would share with her family. When the bells would toll from the parish church nearby, summoning them to pray the Angelus, and her family was in the middle of feeding the chickens, her parents would instruct their children to kneel down and tell the Lord they were heartily sorry they could not come to His altar at that time, but that they were offering all their work, feeding His little creatures, to Him; then they should end by pleading with the Lord to accept this labor as their prayer. Her parents were honest, pious people who, although poor in the eyes of the world, were rich with super abundant graces from Heaven. Angela's childhood comes to an end! Angela grew up a happy child, following her parents wherever they went. Like her father, she told her siblings and other children stories of Our Lady. A favorite was the story of Our Lady of Siracusa. She loved to tell stories of such Saints as St. Tarcisius, the little acolyte who died defending the Eucharist.[1] Life was so good; Angela was so happy! But that was soon to end. One day her father was robust and virile, a strong man who rarely had a sick day in his life, and then one day he was gravely ill! All at once he was helpless to withstand whatever was robbing him of life on earth. After days of doing everything of a scientific as well as spiritual nature to save him, he was dying. Angela held her father's hand, consoling him, speaking to him of the Jesus, Mary and Joseph he so often spoke of, how They would all be there to take him Home. Angela saw her father die a peaceful, resigned death, his lips and eyes nailed to the Crucified Lord on the Cross. Her spirit was at rest because she knew the Lord would not wait long till her father was with Him; but she would miss him; their time together went too fast. Life became almost bearable, time healing somewhat the wounds of her father's passing, when Angela was to suffer another loss, the death of her older sister! She had been more than a physical sister - she was her spiritual sister, sharing in her spiritual walk, understanding and affirming her. Her inconsolable grief, at losing the one closest to her, this sister who was so like her in mind and heart, was further compounded by the knowledge her sister had died without having received the Last Sacraments. Not even the parish priest's confidence that since her sister had lived a most holy, angelic life, Angela could be assured she was with the Lord, was enough to convince Angela that her sister went to Heaven. None of the efforts made by her mother to reassure her, consoled her; nothing eased the heartache Angela felt, her young heart bleeding out of fear, wondering where her sister was. She could neither eat nor sleep. She prayed throughout the night, "Please Lord, tell me if my sister is united with You in Heaven." Then one day at twelve o'clock, the noon hour, the church bell began tolling, it was time for the "Angelus". As Angela was praying, sharing her pain with Jesus, a luminous light suddenly filled the sky and before her, was a company of Angels surrounding her sister, escorting her to Heaven. As she beheld her, she could see her loving sister tranquil and peaceful, her eyes fixed on things Above, ascending, no, gliding along with her Heavenly "Heavenly Guides" toward her Lord and Savior. The Lord, in His mercy had granted Angela her first vision! She would have many in her lifetime, but none would surpass this vision which reassured her beyond any doubt that her dear sister was in Heaven with her Lord Jesus. Till the day she died she could vividly paint (with words) the picture she had seen! As the noble families of the village considered Angela well-bred, her mother being of noble birth, and considering her family was impoverished as a result of falling into hard times, and what with Angela's fine breeding and deep spirituality, they began to take notice of Angela. Angela was growing in beauty, and the young men of these fine families soon became very attracted to her. They began to ask her mother for Angela's hand in marriage. It was time for Angela to tell her mother that the day she had had a vision of her sister ascending to Heaven, she pledged her troth to Jesus to be His bride then and forever. Having done so, she could not consider any earthly spouse. Her mother, remembering how this child of hers was spiritual from her earliest years, did not pursue the question of Angela considering the proposals of marriage tendered by the fairest sons of the fairest families. She recognized she was not fighting Angela but the One Who had chosen her for His own. Soon after, her mother passed out on the kitchen floor; thank God there had been a farmer's wife with her; she called for help and they placed Angela's mother in bed. Angela was eighteen years old. Knowing her time was growing short, her mother called Angela into her bedroom. She blessed her and thanked her for all the consolation and strength she had always given her. She told her that now Jesus, Angela's Spouse, would have to be her sole consolation, as she was leaving Angela to join her husband and daughter in Heaven. She told her to give a message to her brother, Angela's uncle, that she had died in peace and he must promise to take Angela into his family as his very own. That evening, after receiving the Last Rites of the Church, her mother closed her eyes forever. Angela was alone! Angela said nothing; it was as if she were walking in her sleep. Her Uncle Biancosi came and buried his sister next to her husband and daughter. Angela, her eyes filled with tears, said goodby to Father, Mother and Sister. It was that terrible time after a funeral when all there is, is goodby, goodby to all you have known, and a painful hello to the frightful unknown. But for Biancosi, to fulfill his sister's dying wishes would not be difficult; Angela was lovable. Angela was given a second family! Life would never be the same! Angela began life with her uncle in the village of Salo. Whereas life in Desenzano with its poverty was joyful, with its providential but sparse gifts from God, life in Salo with all its sumptuous surroundings and luxury, was painful; for she had long ago decided her life was to be one of austerity like that of St. Francis.[2] Through no fault of her own, Angela again gained the attention of the fine families and their sons, now of Salo. But Angela, her heart already owned by the Lord, asked her uncle if she could visit the Carmelite Convent, which her mother had spoken of with so much love and fond memories. There, in the chapel, while praying before the statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, she saw a sweet image of the Virgin Mother who told her to prostrate herself before her Son and begin a new life with Him. Mother "Mother Mary" shared how from the moment she said yes to the Angel "Angel Gabriel", to the moment her beloved Son breathed His last on the Cross, she lived for Him, and then thereafter. She asked Angela, "Can you do likewise?" Mother Mary told Angela, as she had lost her earthly mother, She, Mary would be her Heavenly Mother; She would guide her in her walk toward Jesus and eternal life with Him. But she warned her to be the bride of Jesus is to be the bride of the Crucified Lord, to willingly suffer with Him, beside her at the foot of the Cross. Angela's uncle continued to introduce her to the finest families, who all fell in love with her and her goodness. Although she was civil and kind, her heart had been given to the Supreme Lover of the Universe and she was eternally bonded to Him. She followed the same austere walk of life she had walked in Desenzano as a child; but now an adult, she was even stricter in her lessons and spiritual exercises. First thing in the morning she would go to the nearby church of St. Bernardino of the Friars Minor Observants and attend Mass, participating in every part of the Holy Sacrifice, to the degree she was allowed. As the Mass progressed, her heart would begin to swell. As the priest came closer and closer to that great moment when he would lift high the Host, her Jesus Present for all to see, who have eyes to see, she thought, "Oh, if only I could die right now and be with You, adoring You in Your Beatific Vision." Angela also found Jesus in the pots and pans.[3] Angela helped her aunt cook, kneed the bread, fetch water from the well, all and everything that was asked of her with joy and peaceful resignation.
But her life was not only
filled with peace and tranquility.
Although dedicated to an austere life,
she faced temptations like any girl her
age. One night, she heard a young man
serenading a
Suddenly, if that was not enough, who should appear, one of the most handsome young men she had ever seen. He looked like an Angel! He was perfect! But there was something about his eyes; they were not gentle like a celestial Angel; they were more like some of the men she had met; no, he was the fallen angel who had seduced Eve in the garden of Eden. Angela cried out, "Return to the inferno of hell, enemy of the Cross! I recognize you; you are not an Angel of God." The vision disappeared and she lay there prostrate, her face on the ground. Although relieved he had left, she was trembling, knowing she had faced the king of darkness, and too prudent to think that was the end of it.
[1]For
more about this brave altar boy,
read Bob and Penny's book:
This is My Body, This is My
Blood, Miracles of the Eucharist,
Book I
[2]St.
Francis of Assisi died almost
250 years before she was born
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