fttrsbeerwench
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Born 21 March, 1474, at Desenzano, a small town on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda in Lombardy; died 27 January, 1540, at Brescia.
She was left an orphan at the age of ten and together with her elder sister came to the home of her uncle at the neighbouring town of Salo where they led an angelic life. When her sister met with a sudden death, without being able to receive the last sacraments, young Angela was much distressed. She became a tertiary of St. Francis and greatly increased her prayers and mortifications for the repose of her sister's soul. In her anguish and pious simplicity she prayed God to receal to her the condition of her deceased sister. It is said that by a vision she was satisfied her sister was in the company of the saints in Heaven.</XDATE><XPROFILE>
<DT title="brief biography of Saint Angela Merici"></DT>At the age of 15, she received a vision telling her she would inspire devout women in their vocation.
In Crete, during a pilgrimage to Holy Land, she was struck blind. Her friends wanted to return home, but she insisted on going on, visiting the shrines with as much devotion and enthusiasm as if she had her sight. On the way home, while praying before a crucifix, her sight was restored at the same place where it had been lost.
In 1535 she gathered a group of girl students and began what would become the Institute of SaintUrsula(the Ursuline Sisters), founded to teach children, beginning with religion and later expanding into secular topics; her first schools were in Desenazno and Brescia. </XPROFILE><XBORN><DL><DT title="birth information for Saint Angela Merici"> Died January24th 1540 at Brescia, Italy relics in the church of Saint Afra, Brescia, Italy: body incorrupt <DT title="death information for Saint Angela Merici"></XDIED><XBEATIFIED><DT title="beatification information for Saint Angela Merici">Beatified 1768 by Pope Clement XIII<DT title="beatification information for Saint Angela Merici"> <DT title="canonization information for Saint Angela Merici">Canonized 1807 by Pope Pius VII<DT title="canonization information for Saint Angela Merici"></XCANONIZED><XNAMEMEANS><DT title="meaning of the name Angela">Name Meaning <DD>angel; messenger (=Angela) <DD></XNAMEMEANS><XPATRONAGE><DT title="areas of patronage for Saint Angela">Patron saint of Sickness, Illness, Challenged People, Loss of parents, Physically impaired people.</DT></DL>
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