Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Writers
Saint Angela of Foligno
Widow († 1309)Feast: January 4
Angela married a wealthy man, had several sons, and enjoyed a comfortable, worldly life. But one day she experienced a profound vision of what she later called the True Light. This light showed her a way of love, joy, and peace which was far greater than anything promised by this world. This light also revealed to her the sinfulness of her previous life and made her hunger to live a life of renunciation.
After this experience, Angela quietly tried to practice her faith more diligently. But then her closest family members died, one by one. Her mother, then her husband, and finally her sons all died over a short period. Though these deaths caused her incredible pain, she continued to trust that God was purifying her through her losses. As she began to recognize suffering as a path to draw closer to him, she became a Franciscan tertiary and gave up all her possessions.
Angela received many mystical visions, particularly about the Passion of Christ, which were written down by her confessor. She also wrote letters to her spiritual disciples and compiled notes about the spiritual doctrine she developed through her mystical experiences. These visions, which were compiled into a book, emphasized the suffering of Christ, trust in God, and God’s personal love for her—and for each of us.
Jesus, True Light, reveal to us both our sinfulness
and your great love.
