Reflective Moments Moments Reflective May 2006
The Reflective Moments insert in the last issue looked at the early childhood and teenage years of Saint Angela Merici’s life. In this issue, we will reflect on her adult years.
Angela’s Inner Journey By Sister Ann McGrew, OSU, and Sister Marietta Wethington, OSU
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arlier we learned that even when she was very young, Angela had an intense love of God that led her to prayer, meditation, and contemplation. This led her parish priest to invite her to receive her First Communion at an early age. Because of her desire for receiving the Eucharist often, Angela joined the Third Order of St. Francis. In those days, lay persons were not permitted to receive the Eucharist regularly. As a Franciscan Tertiary, she could more easily go to Mass, receive Communion, and go to confession regularly. She was also assured of being able to continue her practices of fasting and penance that were so important to her inner life and relationship with God. Being a Franciscan Tertiary gave Angela the right to combine contemplation and action, a way of life unheard of for women in her day — but a way of life to which she felt certain God was calling her. The spiritual energy of the Franciscans flowed into apostolic work. It was Franciscans who asked Angela to go to Brescia and minister to Caterina Patengola, who was grieving the loss of her husband and children. Because of Angela’s early life experiences of losing her family and the strength God gave her through those experiences, she was able to comfort the grieving widow, help her distribute her alms, and answer her own call to ministry. Brescia was in a state of material ruin and religious decline. The Church in that city was suffering because priests and bishops were not interested in religious duties. The spiritual needs of the people were being neglected while clerics were pursuing life in a secular culture. Seminarians were not being trained to respond to the inner call of God and ministry to the people. Not all was in ruin, however. There were a few mystics in Brescia who, along with a number of disciples, worked to save the city and its people from complete
ruin. There were women in the city who were serious about their spiritual life and in whom Angela found friendship and support. While living in Brescia, Angela felt a call to respond to a variety of situations. Most of the time this happened because people would just show up at her house eager for advice and words of encouragement. She never turned them away. Angela had a great love for the Church and worked indirectly for its reform by counseling priests and other Church leaders. We can be sure she was following the direction of the Holy Spirit in doing this because in her Seventh Counsel she wrote, “You must pray and get others to pray that God may not abandon his Church but may reform it, as it shall please Him and as He sees best for us and for His own greater honor and glory.” Another ministry in which we see the touch of Angela’s hand is with the incurables — those with syphilis. The Company of Divine Amore had been founded in Genoa to restore the Christian life and to plant divine love in the hearts of the people. Three members of the Company living in Brescia established a hospital for incurables. Angela and the women in her group became involved with the Company of Divine Amore. During the many years that Angela lived in Brescia, she felt an interior call to experience the holy places of pilgrims, from which she would draw strength, light, and direction for her life and work. For many years she desired to visit the Holy Land to see with her own eyes and to walk in those places where Jesus had lived and walked. Finally, she was able to set Continued on back
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sail, and it seemed that her dream would be fulfilled. That happened in a way not anticipated. When the pilgrims stopped for a rest at Crete, Angela was suddenly struck blind. She insisted on staying on the pilgrimage and later told others she contemplated the holy places with the eyes of her soul. After leaving the Holy Land, and while still on the pilgrimage, Angela regained her sight just as mysteriously and suddenly as she had lost it. This experience is a great example for all of us in responding to the disappointments and hurts in our own life, showing us how we can use them to draw us more deeply into the heart of God. Angela must have been extremely disappointed and filled with pain at her loss of sight, even frightened in the moment. Instead of giving in to disappointment and despair, she struggled with the experience and came to realize that insight is even more important than physical sight. The rest of her life was lived in reference to that moment. A few months after her return from the Holy Land, Angela undertook another pilgrimage — this time to Rome. During this pilgrimage, Angela had a private audience with Pope Clement VII. The Pope had heard of
An Intentional Minute... We invite you to join together for an Intentional Minute of prayer for the needs of our world. We suggest that every day at noon, we pause momentarily, right where we are, to pray together for the intentions suggested in each issue of Update. We offer this suggestion because we realize the power of united prayer.
This issue’s intention is PATIENCE • PATIENCE when necessary changes do not happen fast enough • PATIENCE when we meet obstacles • PATIENCE as we approach old age and infirmity • PATIENCE with our families, friends and co-workers • PATIENCE with ourselves
Angela, her work with the incurables, and her connection with Divine Amore. He asked her to remain in Rome and work for the Center of Charities. Angela realized the favor of this request, but she knew her call was to Brescia. She said no to the Pope. Back in Brescia, she took up her former ministry. When war broke out, Angela and many others fled to Cremona for refuge. During her time there, Angela began to spend much of her time listening to and directing others in their inner journey. When Angela was able to return to Brescia, she found a small room near a church where she could be alone to pray, to reflect, and to consider her work. Through all these years the vision calling her to her life’s work had been a beacon leading her on. Now she set about preparing herself for this beginning. Feeling that the time was at hand, yet not trusting her own ability, Angela confided in her confessor, who encouraged her to move forward. The long awaited hour was here, the one for which she had been preparing. God dispelled all doubts and sent her clear directive to begin this work. Experiencing this moment of grace, Angela brought together the first of her daughters. Throughout her life Angela listened to the Holy Spirit, her real spiritual director, who inspired and led her own inner journey. Because of these graced moments, she was able to lead and inspire others on their journey.
For Your Reflection... Sit with Angela and allow her to lead you through the crosses of your life. How can they be a source of grace and strength for you? Angela answered the call of God by responding to the people and events of her everyday life. When have you met God in the people and events of your life?
Reach Out In Prayer... You can join the Associate E-Mail Prayer Network! Call us at 270-229-2006 or e-mail associates@maplemount.org. All we need is your e-mail address. If you don’t have e-mail, you can still send a prayer request. If you or a loved one needs prayer, let us know. Be assured that many people will be praying for your needs!