Order of Ursulines

The term Ursulines refers to a number of religious institutes of the Catholic Church. The best known group was founded in 1535 at Brescia, Italy, by St. Angela Merici (1474–1540), for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula. They are divided into two branches, the monastic Order of St. Ursula (post-nominals O.S.U.), among whom the largest organization are the Ursulines of the Roman Union, described in this article. The other branch is the Company of St. Ursula, who follow the original form of life established by their foundress. They are commonly called the "Angelines."

Merici, a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, was a woman of deep mystical gifts, which she combined with the service of the poor and needy. She believed that she experienced a call from God to found a community to share this work. Among the group of men and women who formed around her, she soon selected 28 women who wished to commit their lives in this endeavor.

These women, along with Merici, made a commitment of their lives to the service of the Church and of the poor on 25 November 1535, the feast day of St. Catherine of Alexandria, a major female spiritual figure in the Middle Ages. The women called themselves the Company of St. Ursula, taking as their patroness the medieval patron saint of education. Continuing to live in their family homes, they would meet regularly for conferences and prayer in common. Merici drew up a Rule of Life for them. In 1538 the Company held its first General Chapter, at which Angela was elected "Mother" for life.

In 1539 she added her Testament and a book of Counsels to regulate the life of the group. Merici's vision was that they were to live among the people they served without any distinguishing feature, such as a religious habit.

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