ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY
Saints celebrated on the 4th of January
SAINT ANGELA OF FOLIGNO, VIRGIN
Saint Angela of Foligno was born around the year 1248 and she is a model for people who want to simplify their lifestyle, something which we are called to think about at this time of financial difficulty and overuse of the world’s resources.
A MODEL FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SIMPLIFY THEIR LIFESTYLE
As a young adult St Angela revelled in luxury and sensuality. She married a rich young man in Foligno, Italy, and used his wealth to indulge herself in possessions. And her impetuous temperament nudged her into sinful behaviour. In 1285, St Angela went to confession and this experience made her realise how wrong she had been and decided to change her life for the better.
A LIFE OF PRAYER AND PENANCE
She embarked on a life of prayer and penance, taking six years to divest herself of her attachment to people and things. In 1288 her mother, husband and sons died of the plague and, overcoming her grief St Angela started to model herself on St Francis of Assisi, eventually joining his Third Order in 1291. Like St Francis, she expected to meet Christ in the poor and she undertook showing compassion to those in need.
"NO ONE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT DIVINE LIGHT"
A small group of others gathered round St Angela and she instructed them in the spiritual life.
In her ‘Instructions’ she wrote, ‘No one can be saved without divine light. Divine light causes us to begin and make progress, and it leads us to the summit of perfection. Therefore, if you want to begin and receive this divine light, pray… If you want faith, pray. If you want hope, pray. If you want charity, pray. If you want poverty, pray. If you want obedience, pray. If you want chastity, pray. If you want humility, pray. If you want meekness, pray. If you want fortitude, pray. If you want any virtue, pray.’
At Christmas 1308 St Angela told her companions that she would die shortly. A few days later it was said that Jesus appeared to her and promised to come personally to take her to heaven. St Angela died on January 3, 1309.
"FREE TO GIVE MY HEART TO CHRIST"
St Angela wrote, ‘I was inspired with the thought that if I want to go to the cross, I would need to strip myself in order to be lighter and go naked to it. This would entail forgiving all who had offended me, stripping myself of everything worldly, of all attachments to people, and likewise, of my possessions and of my very self. Then I would be free to give my heart to Christ from whom I had received so many graces, and go to walk along the thorny path, that is, the path of tribulation.’ There are many thoughts in these words on which we can meditate.
Source: Spiritual Thought From Father Chris
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Angela may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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