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St. Angela Merici was born in Lombardy, Italy in the 15th century. She and her siblings were orphaned at a young age, and were raised by their uncle. When St. Angela's sister died, God visited her in visions offering comfort and peace. From that day, it is reported that St. Angela devoted her life to God. She became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. Today, the group is known as the Secular Franciscan Order.
In her 20s, St. Angela decided to visit the Holy Land. There, she temporarily lost her sight. St. Angela continued the trip, paying closer attention to her heart. Her vision was restored when she finished the pilgrimage.
On a visit to Rome, Pope Clement VII asked her to take charge of nursing sisters. St. Angela declined, feeling as if God had called her to do something else. She had always felt a deep concern for the young uneducated girls in the community. St. Angela decided to form a group of unmarried women and friends who went into town to teach them.
St. Angela's idea and teaching methods impressed many, including the pope. It was revolutionary for its time, as women were not allowed to be teachers, and unmarried women were not allowed to leave their homes alone. Angela's Company of St. Ursula never became an Order in her lifetime. Eventually, it became know as the first teaching order of women, where they worked outside the cloister.
