Liturgical Calendar

Saint of the day

Saint Angela Merici (1470-1540)

As a young woman, Saint Angela Merici felt called to life in a religious order and became a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. In the order, she lived a very simple life, owning nothing. It greatly troubled her how uneducated poor children were. She began giving lessons to the poor girls in her neighborhood, and others soon joined her in her ministry. Angela established the first teaching order of women in the Church, called the Ursulines. The order was created with the goal of more prominently bringing Christianity into family life, beginning with a good Christian education for girls who would one day become wives and mothers. Saint Angela Merici was canonized in 1807, and she is the patron saint of disabled people, sick people, and against illness.

Reflection

Saint Angela Merici used her talent of teaching to give poor girls a good Christian education. How are you using your gifts and talents to glorify God and spread his message? Spend some quiet time with God. Ask him to help reveal how you can use your gifts and talents to add to your ministry.

Prayer

Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, give me the insight to realize how my talents can be used for your greater glory and the strength to use them in that way. (Taken from “Take Ten: Daily Bible Reflections for Teens.”)