Angela Merici | |
|---|---|
 St. Angela Merici Teaching by Pietro Calzavacca (mid-19th century) | |
| Virgin and foundress | |
| Born | 21 March 1474 Desenzano del Garda, Province of Brescia, Republic of Venice |
| Died | 27 January 1540 (aged 65) Brescia, Republic of Venice |
| Beatified | 30 April 1768, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Clement XIII |
| Canonized | 24 May 1807, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Pius VII |
| Major shrine | Sanctuary of St. Angela Merici, Brescia, Italy |
| Feast | 27 January; 31 May (1861–1955); 1 June (1955–1969) |
| Attributes | Cloak, ladder |
| Patronage | Sickness, handicapped people, loss of parents, courage, strength, and determination |
Angela Merici (/məˈriːtʃi/ mə-REE-chee; Italian: [ˈandʒela (de) meˈriːtʃi]; 21 March 1474 – 27 January 1540) was an Italian Catholic religious educator who founded the Company of St. Ursula in 1535 in Brescia, in which women dedicated their lives to the service of the church through the education of girls.
From this organisation later sprang the Order of Saint Ursula, whose nuns established places of prayer and learning throughout Europe and, later, worldwide, most notably in North America.
After her death, Merici was venerated by Catholics around the world and a cause for sainthood was opened. She was canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807.