Saint of the Day: Angela Merici, Virgin

St. Angela's birth date is traditionally given as March 21, 1474. Today is the anniversary of her death in 1540. She is remembered mostly as the founder of the Ursulines, the first order of religious women devoted to teaching. Her body, clothed in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, reposed in the Church of St. Afra in Brescia, which was completely destroyed by Allied bombing during the Second World War. The statue pictured above is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

From the Roman Missal, 3rd edition:

May the Virgin Saint Angela never fail to commend us
to your compassion, O Lord, we pray,
that, following the lessons of her charity and prudence,
we may hold fast to your teaching
and express it in what we do.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.