Saint Angela of Foligno

Saint Angela of Foligno was a wife, a mother, and a wealthy woman. She lived in Italy in the 13th century. She was not always close to God. For many years, she lived only for herself. But later in life, she had a big change. She turned to God with her whole life.

Angela is known mostly by the name Saint Angela of Foligno. Foligno is the town in Italy where she lived. She is also sometimes called the “Mistress of Theologians” because of her deep spiritual writings. But she never went to school. She learned everything from prayer and experience.

People remember her because she gave up everything. She gave away her money. She chose a simple life. She served the sick and poor. She also had many spiritual experiences, which she shared with others.

Angela became part of the Third Order of Saint Francis. This means she followed the way of Saint Francis while living outside a convent. She lived a holy life in the world. She also became a guide for other people who wanted to follow God.

Even though she was not a nun, she lived a very serious life. She prayed often. She fasted. She helped those who were in need. She became known as a holy woman while she was still alive.

Angela died in the year 1309. People soon started to think of her as a saint. But her official recognition took many years. Her life still teaches people today that it is never too late to change.

Angela was born around the year 1248 in Foligno, Italy. Her family was rich. We do not know their names. She grew up in comfort. When she was older, she got married. She had several children.

Angela lived a normal life for a rich woman of her time. She liked fine clothes and good food. She cared about how she looked. She did not think much about God. She was focused on the world.

For many years, she did not feel sorry for her sins. She even said she laughed at people who tried to live holy lives. She did not pray. She did not go to confession. She did not love the poor.

One day, when she was around 40 years old, she began to feel empty inside. She started to feel guilt. She thought about her sins. She became afraid for her soul. She tried to change.

She went to confession. It was hard for her. She was ashamed. But after she confessed, she felt peace. This was the beginning of her new life.

Soon after, her mother, husband, and children all died. This left her alone. But it also helped her focus only on God. She saw these losses as a call to follow Jesus more closely.

After her family died, Angela gave away her wealth. She sold her home and her belongings. She gave the money to the poor. She chose to live in a small home and wear simple clothes.

Angela joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. She was not a nun, but she made promises to live like one. She promised to live simply, to pray, and to serve others. She wanted to be close to God.

She spent many hours in prayer. Sometimes she prayed through the night. She also fasted often. She wanted to let go of all selfish desires. She wanted nothing but to follow Jesus.

People began to notice her change. They saw that she was serious about her faith. They came to her for advice. She became a spiritual teacher for many.

Angela said she had many visions. She believed God was speaking to her. These visions helped her understand how to live in a better way. She wanted to love Jesus more every day.

Her confessor, Brother Arnold, helped her write down her experiences. She could not read or write, so he wrote what she told him. These writings became known later as her book.

Angela said that God showed her many things during prayer. She had strong feelings when she prayed. She would weep or fall down. Sometimes she could not speak. She felt close to Jesus, especially in His suffering.

She said she saw the suffering of Jesus on the cross. She felt deep sorrow when she thought about it. She wanted to share in His pain. This helped her grow in love and mercy.

Angela said she also had visions of heaven. She saw the joy of being with God. These visions made her want to live a holy life even more. But she said the greatest lesson she learned was love.

Her book, written by Brother Arnold, was called The Book of Visions and Instructions. It was not meant to be a formal book. It was just a way to help others understand what she had lived through.

Angela said that true love of God means loving others. She believed that no one could love God without caring for people in need. This was a main part of her teaching.

Her writings were later read by many people. Even though she had no education, her words had meaning. Many theologians respected her and studied her words.

Angela spent the rest of her life helping others. She took care of the sick. She visited people who were alone or suffering. She did this without looking for praise or thanks.

She also taught others how to live a holy life. People came to her for spiritual advice. Some of them began to follow her way of life. She formed a small group of followers. They prayed, served, and lived simply.

Angela was not proud or bossy. She called herself a sinner. But people still trusted her. They felt that she truly cared about them. Her group of followers stayed close to her until she died.

She showed people how to care for the poor. She believed that every poor person should be treated with love. She saw the face of Jesus in each person she served.

She did not hide from the world. She lived in the middle of a busy town. But she still lived a holy life. This showed others that they could do the same.

Even though she had visions, she never tried to draw attention to herself. She only wanted to love and serve. That is what made her life so special.

Angela died in 1309. After her death, people kept reading her writings. They remembered her kindness. They told stories about her life. For many, she was already a saint.

In 1693, Pope Innocent XII declared her “Blessed.” This is the first step toward sainthood. But it took many more years before she was officially called a saint.

On October 9, 2013, Pope Francis declared her a saint. He did this through a process called “equivalent canonization.” This means she had been loved and honored as a saint for many years, even without a formal canonization before.

Saint Angela of Foligno is the patron saint of people with grief, widows, and those in spiritual suffering. She is also a guide for people who come to faith later in life.

Today, her writings are still read. Her simple love for Jesus still speaks to people. She shows that it is never too late to change, and that real love is shown through service.

Her feast day is January 4. On this day, the Church remembers her life, her love for the poor, and her deep prayer. Her story continues to inspire people around the world.