Hello and welcome to St. Stories for Kids! A weekly podcast full of fun stories and facts

about the holy men and women that have come before us. I'm your host, Shondhal Bios.

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Today we'll be telling the story of St. Angela Marici, whose feast is celebrated on January

27th. Angela was born on March 21st, 1474, on a farm in the province of Brestia, Italy.

After the passing of her parents, Angela went to live with her uncle in the town of Salo.

Angela received a lot of attention for her beauty and kindness from an early age, which

made her kind of uncomfortable. When she was 20 years old, she returned to her family farm

and remained there until she received a vision that God wanted her to found an order of women

that would educate young girls. She started with one school, which was a success, and

soon Angela was invited to the city of Brestia to start another school.

On November 25th, 1535, Angela and 12 other women gathered together and formed the first

order of the company of St. Ursula, which was the first teaching order of women religious.

Within a few years, the group more than doubled in size. Even though the women took vows

of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, they didn't wear special habits or live together

in a convent, but instead remained living in their own homes in the community. The role

for the community, which was written by Angela, was approved by Pope Paul III in 1544.

At the time of her death in 1540, there were 24 communities of erst lines around Italy.

St. Angela is the patron saint of sickness, the handicapped, loss of parents, courage, strength,

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