Angelina di Marsciano
Encyclopedia
Blessed Angelina di Marsciano, T.O.R., (1377 – 1435) was an Italian
religious Sister and foundress, and is a beata
of the Roman Catholic Church
. She founded a congregation of Third Order Regular Sisters, known today as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina. Some credit her with the founding of the Franciscan
Third Order Regular
, as her religious congregation marked the establishment of the first Franciscan
community of women living under the Rule of the Third Order Regular, authorized by Pope Nicholas V
. Unlike the Second Order of the Franciscan movement, the Poor Clare nun
s, they were not an enclosed religious order, but have been active in serving the poor around them throughout their history.
. She was the daughter of Jacopo, Count of Marsciano
, and Anna, the daughter of the count of Corbara
. This is why sometimes she is referred to as Angelina of Corbara.
Angelina got married, at the age of 15, to the count of Civitella, Giovanni da Terni. However, he died only two years later, leaving Angelina in charge of the estate of Civitella del Tronto
.
It was then that Angelina made the decision to dedicate her life to God (it would appear that she had considered being a nun before she was married). She was clothed as a Franciscan tertiary
and, with several companions, began an apostolic mission around the country, preaching the values of repentance
and virginity
, as well as service to those in need.
Her progress was arrested by the disturbance she caused in the communities where she called for young women to adopt religious life. She was doubly charged with sorcery, the imagined origin of her sway over women, and heresy, because of her allegedly Manichean
opposition to marriage. Angelina defended herself before Ladislas, the king of Naples
, who dismissed the charges, but exiled her and her companions to avoid further complaints.
She continued on to Assisi
, and stopped to rest at Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
. There, she experienced a vision
, wherein God instructed her to found a cloister
ed monastery under the Rule of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Foligno
. The local bishop approved the plans with little hesitation, as they meant an end to her troublesome active ministry.
It was 1397 when the convent was opened, whereupon it was dedicated to Saint Anne
. Angelina was Superior of the twelve founding members. This endeavor was so successful, monasteries soon opened in Florence
, Spoleto
, Assisi, and Viterbo, along with eleven others before Blessed Angelina's death in 1436.
was finally approved in 1825.
Her communities gained greatest popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1428, Pope Martin V
had put them under the jurisdiction of the Friars Minor, with a specific mandate for the education and instruction of young girls. Even so, their work was fairly apostolic until it became an enclosed religious order in 1617, having taken solemn vows with a strict separation from the affairs of the external world.. With a 1903 lift of papal enclosure, a wider apostolate was permitted, and the congregation became known again as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina. As of 1750, they consisted of 11 houses and 80 members.
As of the year A.D. 2000, they have houses in Brazil
, Madagascar
and Switzerland
, as well as in Italy.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
religious Sister and foundress, and is a beata
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. She founded a congregation of Third Order Regular Sisters, known today as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina. Some credit her with the founding of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Third Order Regular
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
, as her religious congregation marked the establishment of the first Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
community of women living under the Rule of the Third Order Regular, authorized by Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
. Unlike the Second Order of the Franciscan movement, the Poor Clare nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s, they were not an enclosed religious order, but have been active in serving the poor around them throughout their history.
Biography
In 1377, Angelina was born into a noble family in Montegiove, near OrvietoOrvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
. She was the daughter of Jacopo, Count of Marsciano
Marsciano
Marsciano is a comune in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 25 km south of Perugia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 17,148 and an area of 161.6 km²....
, and Anna, the daughter of the count of Corbara
Corbara
Corbara is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....
. This is why sometimes she is referred to as Angelina of Corbara.
Angelina got married, at the age of 15, to the count of Civitella, Giovanni da Terni. However, he died only two years later, leaving Angelina in charge of the estate of Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto is a town and comune in the province of Teramo, within the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.-History:...
.
It was then that Angelina made the decision to dedicate her life to God (it would appear that she had considered being a nun before she was married). She was clothed as a Franciscan tertiary
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
and, with several companions, began an apostolic mission around the country, preaching the values of repentance
Repentance
Repentance is a change of thought to correct a wrong and gain forgiveness from a person who is wronged. In religious contexts it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against God, and resolving to live according to religious law...
and virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
, as well as service to those in need.
Her progress was arrested by the disturbance she caused in the communities where she called for young women to adopt religious life. She was doubly charged with sorcery, the imagined origin of her sway over women, and heresy, because of her allegedly Manichean
Manichaeism
Manichaeism in Modern Persian Āyin e Māni; ) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia.Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived...
opposition to marriage. Angelina defended herself before Ladislas, the king of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, who dismissed the charges, but exiled her and her companions to avoid further complaints.
She continued on to Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
, and stopped to rest at Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is a church situated in the plain at the foot of the hill of Assisi, Italy, in the frazione of Santa Maria degli Angeli....
. There, she experienced a vision
Vision (religion)
In spirituality, a vision is something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy, especially a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation.Visions generally have more clarity than dreams, but traditionally fewer psychological connotations...
, wherein God instructed her to found a cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
ed monastery under the Rule of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Foligno
Foligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
. The local bishop approved the plans with little hesitation, as they meant an end to her troublesome active ministry.
It was 1397 when the convent was opened, whereupon it was dedicated to Saint Anne
Saint Anne
Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...
. Angelina was Superior of the twelve founding members. This endeavor was so successful, monasteries soon opened in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
, Assisi, and Viterbo, along with eleven others before Blessed Angelina's death in 1436.
Veneration and cultus
Blessed Angelina was interred in a Franciscan church in Foligno upon her death. Her remains were removed to a grander shrine in 1492. Her cultusCult (religious practice)
In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings , its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult in this primary sense is...
was finally approved in 1825.
Her communities gained greatest popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1428, Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
had put them under the jurisdiction of the Friars Minor, with a specific mandate for the education and instruction of young girls. Even so, their work was fairly apostolic until it became an enclosed religious order in 1617, having taken solemn vows with a strict separation from the affairs of the external world.. With a 1903 lift of papal enclosure, a wider apostolate was permitted, and the congregation became known again as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina. As of 1750, they consisted of 11 houses and 80 members.
As of the year A.D. 2000, they have houses in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, as well as in Italy.
External links
- Patron Saints Index entry http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintaio.htm
- Vita della beata Angelina Corbara contessa di Civitella dell'Abruzzo
- Official web site of Suore terziarie francescane della Beata Angelina di Marsciano