Christian Women of the Medieval Era – Part 43

Introduction

For the last few months, we have been looking at the stories of the women that God called and gifted to serve Him during the Middle Ages. What we call the “Middle Ages” or the Medieval period lasted from around 500 AD to 1500 AD. So far, our journey has taken us from Genovefa (423 – 502) through Clare of Assisi (1194-1253). There were queens, abbesses, nuns, Beguines, Franciscan sisters, writers, godly wives, mothers, empresses, social reformers, and many other women who served Christ. 

In the late thirteenth century and first half of the fourteenth century all of society including the Church had been undergoing tremendous changes, often not for the better. There were tremendous conflicts between Church and state which affected everybody since European culture was basically Christian. There was actually war between popes and kings, something we find odd in our day, but should not be surprised at since the desire for power is strong in men since the Fall. There was a “widening credibility gap between the institutional church and the conscience of the ordinary faithful.”^[1] Many devout believers including Francis of Assisi and Saint Benedict sought to restore the Church to her original calling to follow Christ, Who was poor and humble in service to others. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be relating the stories of women who also sought to reform the Church. Many of the saintly women in the thirteenth century and beyond were influenced by the Franciscans. One woman who followed the Franciscan way, though not in a cloister was Angela of Foligno.

Angela of Foligno (1248-1309)

Before we begin Angela’s story let us look at a little historical background. During this time period people grew tired of the conflicts in the Church and wanted to turn back to the basic teachings of Christ. Of course, much of this was due to the influence of the Franciscans and the Dominicans. Francis and Dominic led by example and cultivated a holy and penitent life. Renunciation of power and of worldly possessions was at the heart of their teaching. 

This new way of expressing faith was especially popular among women. In spite of the fact that women were seen as inferior and should be relegated only to domestic chores, many went out into the community to help others. Women began to seek education. Some, as we have seen in this series, were very intelligent and dedicated and left us some great writing. Angela of Foligno, mostly self-taught, left several great works that are still appreciated today.

We do not have very many details of Angela’s life outside of her writings. We know that she was born to a prominent family in Foligno, a few miles from Assisi. Foligno, situated in a fertile plain between two rivers was a powerful commercial center. It was at a popular crossroads for tradesmen. Angela’s father died when she was young. She was rich, proud, beautiful, and educated. She lived for worldly pleasures until her conversion in 1285 when she was thirty-seven years old. 

In 1288 her mother died and then her husband and soon after that all of her children. Angela mourned for her family but decided to take the opportunity to live among the poor, following in the footsteps of Christ. Angela says in her writings that she was convicted of her sins and feared going to hell. She wept and prayed constantly. One day she confessed her sins to a Franciscan chaplain, Brother Arnaldo who would become her confessor and the writer of her revelations. Angela felt great relief at the promise of God’s forgiveness for her sins and began a new life of penance and contemplation. She gave away her fine clothes and vowed to live a life of poverty.

In 1291 the Franciscans of San Francesco’s in Foligno permitted her to take the habit and make her profession in the Third Order of St. Francis. After a pilgrimage to Assisi, Angela returned home to begin her spiritual journey. This was described in Angela’s book. The first part of her book is the Memorial, Angela’s inner spiritual journey. The second part of her book, Instructions, gives us glimpses of her life as a spiritual mother.^[2]

In 1307 Angela visited the Poor Clares at the monastery of Valle Gloria in Spello. She established a community of sisters in Foligno. We do not know many more details of her life, but the events surrounding her death are recorded in detail in the Instructions. She was reluctant to talk about herself, but in Instruction 36 we have recorded for us some portions of her final teachings to her disciples as well as details of her death.

Her sickness began a few days before Christmas, 1308 and lasted until January 4, 1309. She gave her followers a final blessing and then slipped away peacefully into the arms of her Beloved Lord. Her last words were, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the crucified Nazarean, may his name be blessed forever and ever. Amen.”^[3]  

Angela’s body was laid to rest in the church in San Francesco in Foligno. Many people came from Spello and the surrounding areas to revere her body. Today you can go to the Church of St. Francis in Foligno and see her body in a glass reliquary.

Angela was given the title of “Blessed’ by Clement XI on July 11, 1701. She was canonized in 2013 by Pope Francis. Her feast day is celebrated by the Third Order on January 5, but in the U.S., it is celebrated on January 7^th. 

Angela shared in the common characteristic of all of the women in our recent posts —  their love for the poor. Most of these women such as Isabel, Elizabeth, and Clare were born into wealth but gave it all away. They were all touched by the life of St. Francis and desired to follow in the footsteps of Jesus as Francis did. Truly they obeyed Jesus when He said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

^[1] Paul Lachance, O.F.M., Translator. Angela of Foligno: Complete Works (New York: Paulist Press, 1993). P. 28.

^[2] Lachance’s book written in 1993, is a fine translation with a good introduction but does not record her canonization which didn’t occur until 2013. 

^[3] Ibid. p. 312