Blessed Angelina of Marsciano

Today we celebrate the feast day of Blessed Angelina. Blessed Angelina was the founder of the first community of Franciscan women besides the Poor Clares who were able to receive papal approval.

Blessed Angelina lived a very inspirational life, she was born during the year 1377 to the Duke of Marsciano.

When Blessed Angelina was 12 years old, her mother had died. Eventually, three years later, Blessed Angelina decided to make a vow of perpetual chastity. However, during that same year, Blessed Angelina yielded to her father’s decision and she married the Duke of Civitella. Her husband decided to respect her previous vow.

However, Blessed Angelina’s husband sadly died two years after their marriage. After the death of her husband, Blessed Angelina decided to join the Secular Franciscans and she with the help from several other women, dedicated themselves to caring for the sick, the vulnerable, the needy, the widows and orphans.

Over time many young women started to become attracted to Blessed Angelina’s community, due to the fact that many women were attracted to the community, some people decided to accuse her of condemning the married vocation.

It is believed that when Blessed Angelina came before the King of Naples to answer to the many charges that had been placed on her, she had burning coals hidden in the folds of her cloak.

When Blessed Angelina proclaimed her full innocence and showed the king that these coals had not harmed her, he decided to drop the case.

Blessed Angelina and her many companions later made their way to Foligno, where her community of Third Order sisters were located and had received papal approval during the year 1397. Blessed Angelina later established 15 similar communities of women in other Italian cities.

Blessed Angelina unfortunately died on July 14, 1435, and she was beatified during the year 1825. Blessed Angelina’s liturgical feast is celebrated on July 13.

Prayer to Blessed Angelina:

Blessed Angelina intercede that we may be able to strengthen and deepen our relationship with Christ so that we may be able to accomplish whatever he may be calling us to do. Blessed Angelina help us to fulfill the Lords will regardless of all the difficulties or pains we may encounter.

Amen

Blessed Angelina pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works Cited

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan Media. "Blessed Angelina of Marsciano. ”Blessed Angelina of Marsciano | Franciscan Media. Accessed 4, June 2021.

Images:

Blessed Angelina of Marsciano. June 4, 2021. Blessed Angelina of Marsciano - Google Search.