Saint of the day for January 8: the story of Sant'Angela da Foligno

(1248 - January 4, 1309)

The story of Sant'Angela da Foligno

Some saints show signs of holiness very early on. Not Angela! Born into an important family in Foligno, Italy, she immersed herself in the pursuit of wealth and social position. As a wife and mother, she continued this life of distraction.

Around the age of 40, she recognized the emptiness of her life and sought God's help in the Sacrament of Penance. Her Franciscan confessor helped Angela to ask God's forgiveness for her previous life and to dedicate herself to prayer and works of charity.

Shortly after her conversion, her husband and children died. By selling most of her assets, she entered the Secular Franciscan Order. She was absorbed alternately by meditating on the crucified Christ and by serving the poor of Foligno as a nurse and beggar for their needs. Other women joined her in a religious community.

On the advice of her confessor, Angela wrote her Book of Visions and Instructions. In it he recalls some of the temptations he suffered after his conversion; he also expresses his thanks to God for the incarnation of Jesus. This book and his life earned Angela the title of "Teacher of theologians". She was beatified in 1693 and canonized in 2013.

Reflection

People living in the United States today can understand Saint Angela's temptation to increase her sense of self-worth by amassing money, fame, or power. By striving to possess more and more, she became more and more self-centered. When she realized that she was priceless because she was created and loved by God, she became very penitential and very charitable to the poor. What had seemed silly early in his life now became very important. The path of self-emptying that he followed is the path that all saints men and women must follow. The liturgical feast of Sant'Angela da Foligno is January 7th.