The words of Jesus to Blessed Angela of Foligno: “I did not love you as a joke!”

Today we want to tell you about the mystical experience lived by Saint Angela of Foligno, on the morning of August 2, 1300. The saint was canonized by Pope Francis in 2013.

Angela was born in Foligno in 1248, daughter of a wealthy family. She lived a worldly and unruly life until she was about the age of 30 years. In 1270, she married a rich man and by him she had several children. Her conversion took place around 1285, after being moved byapparition of Saint Francis of Assisi.

At that moment she clothed herself with humility and after the sudden death of her mother, husband and children, she sold all goods and distributed the proceeds to the poor, then living on elemosyne and dedicating himself to the care of the sick and in particular of lepers in the hospital of his city, following the example of the Poverello.

In 1291, he entered the Third Order Franciscan and entrusted his spiritual direction to Fra' Arnaldo from Foligno. Throughout the following years, Angela granted extraordinary graces.

The saint particularly distinguished herself in Franciscan world for her spiritual maternal work. In fact, he gathered many around him disciples, coming from various parts of Italy and abroad, ready to welcome his teachings and advice.

Angela he died in Foligno on 4 January 1309, where his remains are venerated in the convent church of San Francesco.

The mystical vision of Saint Angela of Foligno

The vision occurred at Portiuncula, the small church built on a small portion of land on 2 August 1300 during a pilgrimage. The previous day, the Saint had had others two visions.

In the mystical vision, little Porziuncola appears to her suddenly enlarged, which could be interpreted as a symbolic anticipation of the current basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, desired by the Pope Saint Pius V, designed by the architect Galeazzo Alessi and built between 1569 and 1679.

In her ecstasy Angela sees a church of wonderful grandeur and beauty, suddenly enlarged by divine work and nothing material appeared in it, but everything was absolutely ineffable. Perhaps the vision alludes to the Basilica as place of grace, as a place where God continues to bestow his intangible gifts on the countless Pilgrims who visit him with devotion from all over the world.