B. ANGELA. OF FOLIGNI.
(a.d. 1309.)
[B. Angela was beatified by Pope Innocent XII. in 1693. Her life and revelations were written by her confessor, Arnald, friar of the order of S. Francis, in her lifetime, and the revelations were submitted to her for correction.]
The Blessed Angela, of Foligni, belonged to a rich and honourable family in Umbria. She was married, and had children. Upon the death of her mother, husband, and children, her heart turned in an agony of love to God alone, and appeared filled to overflowing with that divine charity of which an earthly affection is but a reflection. She was frequent in prayer, and made a discreet use of the Sacrament of penance. "Once she confessed her sins to me," says Friar Arnald, "preserving the most perfect knowledge of her sins, and was filled with so much contrition and tears, from the beginning of her confession to the end, and with so great humility, that I wept in my heart, believing most surely, that if the whole world was deceived, God would not permit her, who was full of so much truth and integrity, to be deceived. The following night she was sick, well nigh to death, and next morning she drew herself, with great effort, to the Franciscan Church, and I was then saying mass, and I communicated her, and I know that she never communicated without God giving her some great favour, and that a new one continually. But so great were the consolations and illuminations which she received in her soul, that frequently they seemed to overflow into her body. Thus, when she was standing with me, and her soul was lifted up, her face and body were transformed, through joy, at the divine words of address, and devotion, and delight at the consolations, that her eyes shone as candles, and her face flushed like a rose, and became radiant and angelical, as was beyond nature."
The inner life and meditations of the Blessed Angela were written down from her lips, and were read over to her by the confessor. They are full of instruction and beauty, and are of considerable length. She died on the 4th January, 1309.
Her body reposes in a shrine in the Franciscan Church at Foligni.
FOOTNOTES:
[18] Peter de Nat.
[19] 2 Cor. xii. 16.
[20] 2 Cor. vii. 6.
[21] 2 Cor. xi. 13.
[22] Zenas and Peter de Nat. The latter does not say that S. Paul visited Crete, but that he sent Titus there. S. Paul says, "I left thee in Crete," Tit. i. 4, showing that he did visit that island with Titus.
[23] Homil. i. in Tit.
[24] Tit. iii. 12.
[25] Tit. iv. 13.
[26] Isa. xli. 1.
[27] Isa. xli. 9, 10, 17.
[28] John xii. 21.
[29] 2 Tim. iv. 10.
[January 5.]
The Vigil of the Epiphany.
S. Telesphorus, P. M., a.d. 139.
The Holy Martyrs in the Thebaid, a.d. 302.
S. Syncletica, V., in Egypt, 4th cent.
S. Apollinaris Syncletica, V., 5th cent.
S. Simeon Stylites, H., a.d. 460.
S. Emiliana, V., 6th cent.
S. Edward the Confessor, K. of England, a.d. 1066.
S. Gerlach, H., near Maestrecht, a.d. 1170.