Blessed Angela of Foligno, "Mistress of Theologians"

Angela was born at Foligno, Umbria, Italy in 1248. A wealthy non-Christian, she married young and had several children. She lived a "mortally sinful" life before having a conversion experience around the age of 40. After her mother, her husband and all her children had died, she gave herself up completely to God. Angela has recorded the history of her conversion in her "Book of Visions and Instructions", which contains seventy chapters, and which was dictated to her Franciscan Confessor. This book contains her visions and ecstasies, which reveal that she is a great mystic. Her writings are also found in "The Book of Divine Consolations of the Blessed Angela of Foligno".

Some time after her conversion, Angela became a Third Order Fransciscan. She gave away her possessions and started a community of tertiaries devoted to the care of the needy. Angela is noted for her charity, patience, and humility. She is called "the Mistress of Theologians" due to her many recorded writings and visions.

Blessed Angela is the patron for those ridiculed for their piety, those who struggle with sexual temptation and temptation in general, widows, and those who have lost children. She is represented being invited by Our Lord to receive Holy Commumion; and chaining the devil.

Quotes:

"Humility exists only in those who are poor enough to see that they possess nothing of their own."

"O my soul, how can you refrain from plunging yourself ever deeper and deeper into the love of Christ, who did not forget you in life or in death, but who willed to give Himself wholly to you, and to unite you to Himself forever?"

"It is the Sacrament of Love that excites the soul to ardent prayer. It stirs up the virtue of impetration and, as it were, forces God to grant our petition. It deepens the abyss of humility, above all it enkindles the flame of love in the heart; hence the Sacrament is the Gift of gifts, and the Grace of graces."

~ Blessed Angela of Foligno
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Comments

  1. Adrienne1/8/09, 9:43 PM

    Angela was Angela Messenger's patron saint last year...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joyful Catholics2/2/10, 6:02 AM

    How beautiful. Her name's been coming to me in various books/blogs/places...as has the thought of Third Order Franciscans. I must pray and find out more about both. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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