Life of Saint Angela Merici, of Brescia: foundress of the Order of Saint Ursula

Front matter

HFE

OF

OF

Book I. — Chapter I

Birth of Saint Angela — Her precocious love of retirement— Her austere life — ^Parents' death. 9

CHAPTER n.

Angela and her sister at their uncle's — They retire to a hermitage — Their taste for solitude — Death of her Sister — Miraculous apparition-Angela makes her first communion. 11

CHAPTER in.

Saint Angela enters the Third Order of Saint Francis — Her austerities — Her temptations — Death of her uncle, Biancozi — She forms a community of Sisters of the Third Order, at Desenzano — Resolves to devote herself to the education of youth. - - - - 25 CHAPTER rv.

Apparition of the mysterious ladder — God reveals his design in her regard — Efforts of Angela's zeal at Desenzano — Her trials — The Pentegoli family — Her projected house. 36

BOOK IL— CHAPTER I.

Angela arrives at Brescia — Her efforts to establish a Congregation — Her life at Brescia —Supernatural favors and lights — Her skill in directing minds — She reconciles inveterate enemies. -------45

CHAPTER n.

Saint Angela makes a pilgrimage to Mantua — Prince Alloysius Gonzaga — Her pilgrimage to the Holy Land — Loses her sight — Her courage in continuing her pilgrimage — She visits the holy places^ — Recovers her sight — Fearful tempest, etc. - - - 55

CHAPTER in.

Angela's stay at Venice — She repairs to Rome 1* (i>)

I

6 CONTENTS.

— Jubilee of 1525 — Clement YII. welcomes her — Return to Brescia — Yisit of the Duke of Milan — She retires to Cremona during the war — A mortal malady brought on by her austerities — Her extraordinary recovery. - 6T

CHAPTER IV.

Saint Angela returns to Brescia^ — Her extacies — She is endowed with the spirit of prophecy — She consults Dom Serafino di Bologna as to her Institute — She assembles twelve companions — Visits Milan — Founds her first house at Brescia — Apparition of Our Lord. 80

Book Iii.— Chapter I

Foundation of the order of St. Ursula — Its objects and labors — Vocations of the new order — Its form — They are called the Divine Company — First Chapter of the order — Virtues of the first Ursulines — Rules and Formulas — Directors and protectresses of the order — St. Angela wishes to resign the position as Superior — She seeks the approbation

of the Holy See. 91

CHAPTER n.

Counsels of Mother Angela to the Governesses and officers of the Order. - - - - lOY

Chapter III

Hopes of St. Angela^s recovery — She makes her will — Appoints the Countess Lucre tia Lodronne her successor — Her last words — Her holy death — General veneration for her

sanctity. 119

Book IV. — Chapter I

Consternation of the Ursulines after the death of Saint Angela — The Countess of Lodronne second superior of the order, reads publicly the will of Saint Angela — The provisions of this Testament. ----- 130

CONTENTS. 7

CHAPTER II.

The address of tne Countess Lueretia--Her election as Superior of the Society — Her piety and ability — Confirmation of the order by Pope Paul III. in 1544 — The TJrsulines assume a particular habit — Spread of the order — They acquire the Church of St. Bridget — Death of the Countess. - - - - 144 CHAPTER ni.

Saint Charles Borromeo and the Society of Saint Ursula — Establishment of the Congregation of Milan — They become cloistered — Saint Charles, Visitor General of the order — Acquires the church and priory of Saint Benedict for the order — Regulations introduced by him — Establishments in his diocese — His death — Congregation of the order at Parma, Foligny, Venice, Cremona, Verona, Veltri, Genoa and Rome. - - 151

Chapter IV

Extension of the order of Saint Ursula in France — Mother Frances de Bermond — Congregation of Avignon — Devotion to Saint, Angela — Her beatification by Pope Pius VI. — She is canonized by Pope Pius VII. - rtO

Book V. — Chapter I

Mother de Bermond — Foundress of the French Ursulines — Her labors — Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, and Madame de Sainte Beuve — The Ursulines of Paris — Pope Paul V. erects the community into a religious order — Mother Cecilia the first Ursuline Nun — Spread of the order in France. - 16T

CHAPTER n.

Mother de Bermond, foundress of the first French Congregation of Ursulines, founds

8 CONTFNTS.

the XJrsuline Nuns of Lyons — The Ursulines of Toulouse and Bordeaux result from this foundation — Extension of these branches of the order — Other branches of the order in France — The French Revolution — XJrsuline Martyrs. ------- I'jg

CHAPTER m.

Ursuline Convents in Canada and Louisiana — Mother Mary of the Incarnation — The Convent of Quebec- — The Ursulines of Three Rivers and their Hospital — The Ursulines of New Orleans. - - - - -189

CHAPTER IV.

The Ursuline Convent of New Orleans — Mother Mary Tranchepain de Saint Augustin — Their hospital and asylums — Filiation of this house — Convents of Havana — Convents of Galveston and San Antonio. - - - 200

Book Vi.— Chapter I

The Irish Ursulines — Miss Nano Nagle — Convent of Black Rock, Cork — Filiations in Ire-

' land — In the United States — The Convent in New York — The Convent in Charleston- Its removals. - - - - - - 221

CHAPTER n.

The Ursuline Convent at Boston and Charlestown — Its founder, the Rev. John Thayer— The Ryan family — The foundation of the house — Death of the two Misses Ryan— Difficulties of the house — The riot and destruction of the Convent. ... - 232 CHAPTER in.

Other Ursuline Convents in the United States, and their origin — The Convent of Brown County, Ohio— The Convent in Cleveland — The Convent in St. Louis— The Convent in Morrissania — Convent at Sault St. Mary's. 243

LIFE

OP

SAINT ANGELA MERICL

Book I. Chapter L

Birth of Saint Angela — Her precocious love of retirement — Her austere life — Death of her parents,

Angela was born on the 21st of March, in the year 1474, as seems most probable, at Dezanzano, a little town in Italy, situated on Lake Garda, in Bressano, diocese of Verona, six leagues from Brescia. Her father^s name was John Merici, and her mother was of the family of the Brancozis of Salo.

It is generally believed that this family was not favored with worldly wealth; yet grave authors have supposed the parents of Saint Angela to have been of noble extraction. They cultivated their patrimony ; but in the republic of Venice it was not deemed derogatory to an illustrious birth to till the heritage of their fathers. The name of Merici subsisted in honor as late as the last century, in some cities of the empire.

Whatever be the fact as to this conjecture, which matters little to the merit of the illustrious Saint whose virtues we are about to recount ; all authors agree that her parents were at least distinguished by their piety and enjoyed the favor of all good men. God vouchsafed to bless the union of these virtuous spouses by giving them several children, among the rest two daughters, the younger of whom received in baptism the name of Angela. Happy name, inspired by Providence, who foresaw that she was to lead an angelic life on earth.

These two sisters were brought up under the paternal roof, which was a real sanctuary of piety. When describing the care which God takes of his elect, the holy King David compares them to the eagles that the mother bears under her wings, to accustom them to take their jflight, and strengthen to bear the rays of the sun ; so, these two daughters of Merici received in the boeom of their family, those sound lessons which strengthen faith and are never more efficacious than in tender youth. An angel seemed ever to watch over their innocence. Angela especially displayed her virtue as soon as reason began to be developed. Grace seemed stamped in every line of her countenance ; an amiable purity adorned her brow, and the innocence that lit up her eyes

SAINT ANGELA MEKICI. 11 led all to virtue. At the age of seven she had learned that modesty should be the inseparable quality of her sex. Her timid looks showed the candor of her soul, and her actions were directed by a reason above her age. When spoken to of God, she felt her heart inflamed and ravished with love. Her sister followed her in all exercises of piety; both animated with the same spirit, spent their time in acts of virtue ; this was the subject of their ordinary conversation. The amusements of their early childhood consisted in raising little oratories, and arranging little altars. There they prayed and chanted, imitating the ceremonies of the Church. The frivolous amusements and pastimes which other children seek so eagerly, had no charm for these two amiable sisters.

Their parents remarked with inexpressible joy this precocious inclination for holy things. Astonished at such an extraordinary childhood, they felt assured that Angela especially was destined by Providence to become the instrument of some great design ; but they carefully dissembled their predilection for her. Still they thought that this child required particular attention to second the views of heaven, and they omited nothing that could contribute to her spiritual progress. Such was the proof of the election which God had made of Saint Angela. For according to the expression of the wise man, ** No one knoweth the care of his infinite wisdom nor the artifices which divine love can employ to win hearts."

Often amid the family they conversed on the. greatness of God, his infinite goodness, his love for men. Every evening they read something, sometimes on the mystery of the day, sometimes in the lives of the Saints, or of the Father of the Desert. Thus did these religious parents edify each other amid their children, but they remarked with wonder the constant attention which little Angela gave these practices of piety. During the reading she seemed rapt and out of herself, and came forth from this exstacy only to express ingenuously her feelings towards Our Lord.

What especially struck her in the lives of the ancient patriarchs, was their courage, in forsaking all to tread in our Saviour's footsteps. She often spoke of it, envying their lot. In consequence of these holy impressions, she one day conceived the idea of forming a kind of retreat in her room. Having communicated her project to her sister, the proposition was immediately accepted ; and from that moment they retired daily at certain hours, into the little oratory. There prostrate before the altar they chanted the praises of the Lord. There they prayed with admirable outpourings of the heart; and to hear them speak of God, they might have been taken for most consummate masters of the spiritual life. Astonishing at so tender an age ! To these exterior acts of piety, Angela added the rigors of penance. She most frequently slept on the ground, and always continued to deprive herself of something at her meals. Her delicate constitution would soon have sunk under the austerity of such penances, if her father had not compelled her to relax them, so completely had the love of God inflamed the heart of that young virgin ! When they perceived that her health was afl'ected, she was questioned to elicit the cause, she would have blushed even to excuse herself by an untruth, and without concealment declared the whole truth. Her father praised her sincerity, but he forbid these austerities which he deemed impracticable at so tender an age. She yielded for some time to this injunction, but gradually gave way to the irresistible inclination that led her to return to the kind of life which she had practiced at first. While her sister who was charged with observing her, yielded to sleep, Angela adroitly left

her bed and spent a part of the night in prayer.

Then it was that she spoke to God heart to heart, and in this solitude too he communicated his graces to her. She soon understood what the Divine Master required of her ; and consulting only the holy ardor of pure love that consumed her, she pronounced the vow of virginity in the firm conviction that this sacrifice would be pleasing to the Almighty.

Her zeal in inspiring the heart of her neighbor with the spirit which animated her, did not permit her to hide in silence the holy engagement which she had contracted. She disclosed it to her sister to gain her to Christ, and she succeeded. How indeed could that tender companion resist such a solicitation ? "We are " said Angela, **the children of the Saints, can we seek elsewhere than in heaven our true country ? Let us turn our affections to Him who resides there. In order to follow Jesus Christ, we must indeed die wholly to self; but by self-denial and suffering, we shall attain the bliss of eternity ? Was it not thus that Our Lord entered into the possession of his glory ? Remember, too, sister, what we have been told of the tribulations and hardships endured by virgins and solitaries to merit the crown of immortality ? The holy books that we have heard, made me make up my mind to complete the sacrifice. Can you sister, be unmoved by them ? Ah 1 1 perceive that you too, yield to the grace which calls us." She could not in fact resist such pressing solicitations ; and Angela's first companion was the first conquest that grace enabled her to obtain.

God had prompted the daughters of Merici to make this sacrifice in order to prepare them to offer Him one still more painful to nature. Their loving father, though scarcely forty years of age, was atacked by a violent disease which carried him off in a few years. The whole family bitterly deplored this loss ; Angela especially seemed inconsolable. Yet her mother was left to her, and she flattered herself that Providence would preserve her to her, so as not to deprive her of all consolation on earth. *'Let us weep no longer, mother" she said, *'God has doubtless wished to become your only spouse : he will be too the father of your little ones. We should be unworthy of his goodness if our submission to his holy will did not induce us to calm our grief Yet the good widow was not long to survive her husband. She first fell into a state of languor, which gave rise to serious fears. Remedies were resorted to, but proved unavailing. Angela's mother expired in the most heart'felt sentiments of piety, commending her children to God.

Her daughters received with her last blessing the expression of these sentiments ; in the first burst of her grief she felt tempted to murmur against Providence. '^But what was I going to say, my God/' she cried, " pardon my unbounded grief; pardon the youthful wandering of my mind. I adore without comprehending thy designs on me, whatever they may be. Has not this chastisement overtaken me for having loved my parents to the prejudice of the love which is due to thee above all? Thou deprivest me of them now to teach me henceforward to turn to thee alone."

Thus spoke this model of young virgins, in the presence of a number of friends who took a lively interest in the bereaved family. A heart less perfect than Angela's would have been discouraged at so overwhelming a position : but God gave her strength to bear it, by inspiring her with a perfect resignation.

SAIKT ANGELA MERICI. 17

CHAPTER 11.

Jlngela and her sister at their uncleh — They retire to a hermitage — Their taste for solitude — Death of her Sister — Miraculous apparition — Angela makes her first communion.

The two orphans had at Salo (a town in the district of Bressano) an uncle named Biancozi, a rich and highly esteemed man, but still more worthy of respect for his religious sentiments. Touched with the condition of his nieces, he resolved to be a father to them and took them to his house, after arranging their temporal affairs. With him Angela continued to follow the plan of life which she had formed in her father^s house. Every hour was allotted either to work or to spiritual exercises. The virtuous Biancozi, who watched over her with a special care, soon perceived that she practiced abstinences and austerities extraordinary for a child of her years. Happily she had inspired him with a kind of veneration that made him fearful of opposing by remonstrance God^s will in her regard.

Pious as was her uncle's house, her heart was not yet fully satisfied. She found it little adapted to her inclination for solitude. What are we doing here," she would often say to her sister, ** exposed as all are in the world? Has not God created us for himself alone ? Will he suffer our hearts to be shared between Him and creatures ? Ah I sister, let us fly the society of men, which can at any moment ruin us, and let us seek a retreat, where we can please only Jesus, whom we have chosen as our spouse.''

Such was the conversation of these young sisters, more united by the happy sympathy of religious sentiments even than by the bonds of nature. The love of God which animated them, soon increased in their hearts to such a degree, that the world became insupportable. Angela moreover received no impulse from heaven to which she did not endeavor to correspond. One day, they went out early under the pretext of hearing mass, at a church outside of the town. As soon as the holy sacrifice was ended, they hastened with no guide but the inspiration of heaven to conceal themselves in a hermitage. Having thus withdrawn from the vanities of the world, they wished to pass their life in the most intimate union with God. But they had in his eyes only the merit of their goodwill, as it was impossible that the knowledge of their flight could long escape their uncle's wise vigilance. He sought them and had search made for them in the houses and churches where he thought they might be found. The first steps were unavailing, and Biancozi whose anxiety was extreme, formed a thousand conjectures. He dwelt on the thought, that the two girls had several times in his presence conversed on the charms of a solitary life. Then he left the town, explored the country around ; at last after a thousand inquiries finds traces of them and reaches the spot of their retreat.

It would be difficult to express the impression produced on the two solitaries by the sight of an uncle whom they loved and respected as a father. How should they justify such a flight ? For the supernatural inclination that impelled them to seek a retreat, must appear blamable in the eyes of men. They had therefore to hear many reproaches on the want of confidence which they had shown in their second father; the imprudence of their conduct ; on the dangers to which they had so unreflectingly exposed them- Belves. Still Biancozi tempered by mildness, observations, which he then deemed most just ; he added marks of interest and affection, and thus brought back to Salo the two runaway maidens.

The evasion had been noised about the town ; some regarded it as a childish freak, others as the result of a passing fervor ; but wiser heads conjectured that there might be something extraordinary in their determination. Biancozi who better than any other knew the solid piety of his nieces, had ere long no doubt but that heaven had a considerable part in that relation.

In this persuasion he in future refrained from offering any obstacle to their decided taste for solitude. He permitted them to form in the most retired part of his house a narrow cell, as well to satisfy the inclination for retirement which thev continued to show, as to assure the preservation of the two children, whom he regarded as a blessing for his family. Angela and her sister accordingly began to lead in that house a purely angelical life. Their time was divided between meditation^ prayer, pious reading and work ; they went out only through obedience, or to visit the church.

So perfect a life led by two children, the eldest of whom was scarcely fourteen, could come only from extraordinary movements of grace. We can indeed conceive that when God has fixed his choice on a soul ; when it enters into his ineffable designs to raise it to a state of sanctity, he appropriates it to himself in an especial manner, to communicate his admirable and divine inspirations. In this way the saints participate in some sort even in this life in the sanctity of

God himself, as the crystal does in the rays of the sun. Public opinion conformed to this sentiment, for it was the general impression in the town, that the hand of the Lord was over these two maidens.

Meanwhile it had been decreed in the adorable designs of Providence that this pure and delightful union should be broken. Angela lost her sister at the moment when she would seem least to expect it. A premature death severed her from that tender companion with whom she truly formed but one heart and one soul. As the happiness which she had tasted in her society was great, 80 the bitterness of the separation was painful to be borne. Perfect as virtue may be, it cannot extinguish natural sensibility. Her heart was tossed by a thousand feelings in the deplorable isolation in which this death had plunged her. Her sister had in fact been her guardian angel ever since she lost the authors of her days. Yet her grief was not of such a character as to diminish the merit of her resignation. She felt to her heart's core the blow with which the hand of th^ Lord had visited her; but her patience was greater than her grief was deep. ''What am I ?" she would say to the persons who came to console her : ''what am I to oppose the will of my God ? My sister belonged to him, he could then call her to him and deprive me of her. Blessed be his holy name now and forever. '' The holy will of God is then her whole support and sole consolation in this sad moment : and this one thought, God wills it, is enough to bring a calm to her soul, and repress all the thoughts that agitate it. Yet memory came from time to time to trouble the calm which her resignation brought. Her sister died so suddenly, that it was impossible to administer the sacrament. Angela would fain have been appeased as to the eternal lot of her soul. This disquieting desire often recurred to her, absorbing her whole mind. She began to pray more fervently than ever, to obtain of God the signal grace of some assurance on this point. She formed her petition with such simplicity of heart and so ardent a faith, that she became persuaded that God would grant her tlie favor.

It belongs only to the saints to be animated with such faith, and we are permitted to believe that God inspired his hand-maid with this thought, to favor her with an extraordinary grace. A fortnight had elapsed since Angela lost her sister ; and heaven had not yet spoken. Her uncle having conceived the idea of sending her into the country, as well to distract her mind as to superintend the labors of the reapers;

Q scarcely had she reached a road called the narrow one, when she perceived above her a luminous cloud, and having stopped to regard the phenomenon. '' Suddenly !^^ says the bull of her canonization, *'the Virgin Mother of God appeared to her with her sister, who, all radiant with light and attended by a host of angels, urged her to pursue with constancy the path of perfection, promising her one day a share in her glory. ^' The cloud vanished but the young servant of God was left in an astonishment that threw her into an exstacy. Returning to her natural state, she was seized with a new 'flame of love that filled her heart with the liveliest joy.

She had not yet made her first communion though now thirteen. It seems strange that instructed as she was, she had not sooner received that bread of life that would have been indeed for her angelical nourishment. But she lived; in an age, when Christians, criminally lax, approached but rarely the august sacrament of our altars. God, doubtless, had chosen Saint Angela to serve as an example, and to revive in this respect the piety of the faithful ; for, he planted in her heart a peculiar devotion to the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist.

It needed many entreaties on her part, before her uncle, pious as he was, would permit her to prepare for her first communion. Respectfully and yet firmly she told him how she feared lest she too, like her sister, might die without receiving the holy Eucharist, adding that in her earnest desire to receive her Saviour; she felt inspired to despise the vain reasoning of men. Biancozi could not withstand such pressing solicitations. He took his niece to the parish priest ; when she was questioned, amid the children of her age, all present wondered at the wisdom and modesty of her answers.

God had given her from her tenderest years an ardent desire of holy communion. No sooner had she been admitted to partake of this great mystery, than she resolved to taste as frequently as possible of the heavenly banquet. She ran to it like the panting hart to the waters of the limpid fountain. Urged by her extraordinary love, that she had conceived for this adorable sacrament, she clung to it with such zeal that it became her almost daily nourishment. Her example revived the declining piety of the whole town of Salo. It was indeed an edifying spectacle for the people to behold her communicate so frequently, and with a fervor that never belied itself. Her modesty in the holy place, her profound recoUectedness in the presence of God, were as striking as they were extraordinary, and unfortunately too rare, even in Italy the centre of Catholicity. This manner of loving won her immense treasures of merits ; for who can doubt that our Lord uses the Eucharist to purify our souls from all earthly affections ; and to inflame our hearts with the fire of purest love ! Thus did he confirm Angela in virtue, and lay the foundation of the virtue to which he wished to exalt her.

CHAPTER III.

Saint Angela enters the Third Order of Saint Francis — Her austerities — her temptations — Death of her uncle, Biancozi — She forms a community of Sisters of the Third Order ^ at Desenzano— Resolves to devote herself to the education of youth.

Yet Angela felt that her fervor was not entirely free amid the world, especially on account of the unhappy times in which she lived. Fearful lest her exalted piety should cause the weak to murmur, she resolved to deprive them of the slightest pretext by connecting herself with some religious congregation. There was then at Salo a confraternity of the third order of

Saint Francis,^ the members of which were united in a special profession of piety. Having one day attended the exercises practised at their meetings, Angela felt so edified that she was persuaded that God called her to join it. On presenting herself to the superior, she obtained permission to enter on her noviceship, and assume the habit. Pqstulants, were usually subjected to a yearns probation before their profession; but Angela displayed such fervor in all the exercises ; she was moreover so well known for the purity of her life, and the reputation of her virtues, that they deemed proper to except her from the ordinary rule ; she pronounced her vows after six month's novitiate, and took the name of Sister Angela.

From that moment she gave no limit to her zeal for frequent communion. Her director permitted her to receive it daily, aid she was re-

* Saint Francis of Assissium had founded the Order of Friars Minor in 1221, and soon after that of Saint Clare. To these first creations he added another, which like it, produced most precious fruits of salvation. It was instituted for the sake of the people, to whom he announced the word of God, and took the name of the third order. The object of the holy founder was to afford the faithful the means of leading a life like that of his religious, without practising its austerities. Saint Louis, King of France, and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, were members of this congregation.

SAINT ANGELA MERICI. JSJ lieved from all fear of appearing singular. She was seen endeavoring to render herself worthy by her extreme application to advance in perfection. She was truly dead to the world, and her life was hidden with Christ in God. In all things she tried to subject her senses, to overcome her inclinations, and to abandon her soul to the guidance and movements of grace. In one word, she thought solely now of establishing in her heart the kingdom of God, and there it was that she expected to reap the effects of her frequent communion. Grace in fact spreads a great light in the souls which it illumines, as it is easy to remark in the lives of the Saints. It is at first, if you will, a stream fed by the purest fountain ; but soon other waters come to swell its tide, and form a river, that flows majestically on, spreading fertility on all around it.