St. Angela of Foligno
Born: c. 1248 CE
Died: January 4, 1309 CE
Feast day: January 7
Patron saint of: widows
St. Angela of Foligno was a well-off wife and mother in central Italy before she became one of the great medieval mystics of the late 13th century. In her early 40s, Angela had a spiritual awakening; shortly after, her mother, husband, and children died, which pushed her further in service of others and the church. She joined the Franciscan Third Order and experienced deep spiritual visions while in prayer. Angela offers advice in her Book of Visions and Instructions that remains relevant to Catholics today, wherever they are on their spiritual journey: “No one can be saved without divine light. Divine light causes us to begin and to make progress, and it leads us to the summit of perfection. Therefore, if you want to begin and to receive this divine light, pray. If you have begun to make progress, pray. And if you have reached the summit of perfection, and want to be super-illumined so as to remain in that state, pray.”
Image: Wikimedia Commons
