The Basics: Born in 1347 in Italy; died July 14, 1435, in Italy; beatified March 8, 1825, by Leo XII; feast day, July 13. Woman religious.
The Story: Angelina may hold a place in religious community history; some credit her as the founder of the Third Order Regular Franciscans for religious women. How she got there is a story full of twists and turns.
Angelina was born into a family of nobility, but like so many others, noble and otherwise, of that era, tragedy struck repeatedly. By the time 
Angelina was six, both her parents and three older brothers had fallen victim to the plague and other causes. The child then was raised by her grandparents until she married at fifteen. Two years later, her husband died as well.
Earlier, Angelina had considered becoming a woman religious, but this loss solidified her decision. But at that point, she planned to remain in the world rather than in a cloistered community. She must have been a powerful evangelizer–her success in convincing young women in the area to join her or other communities rather than marry was so great that some considered her to be a witch and accused her of denigrating marriage as a vocation. While she was cleared of the charges, she and her companions were exiled from the area.
Angelina’s next stop was Assisi, where she felt called to establish a cloistered monastery, something more structured than existed at the time. Her journey took her to Foligno, where her first convent opened in 1397 with twelve women. During her life, a dozen or so similar small communities were established in Italy.
What We Can Learn from Angelina: People aren’t always going to be comfortable with our message, or the way we deliver it. When we’ve discerned we are doing what the Lord desires, may we find comfort in His friendship even when others try to hurt us.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
