Friday, January 8
BLESSED ANGELA OF FOLIGNO (Italy, 1248-1309)
Widow, Franciscan Tertiary, Mystic, Author
Born to a wealthy family in Foligno, near Assisi, she married early and had children
but lived a life described as 'wild, adulterous and sacrilegious'. She reportedly
converted after praying to St. Francis who came to her in a dream. Shortly afterwards,
her husband and children died and she joined the Franciscan Third Order for lay people.
She wrote an account of her conversion and the temptations she met with afterwards:
The Book of Visions and Instructions continues to be published in modern editions), and
for this, she has been called 'mistress of theologians'. She organized a community of
Third Order Franciscan sisters who worked for the poor. Her increasing fame for sanctity
attracted many women to the order. After she died, many miracles were attributed to her.
Her incorrupt body lies in the Church of St. Francis in Foligno.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/readings/010810.shtml
OR for 1/7-1/8/10:
At he Angelus, the Pope indicates the Magi as models for authentic searchers after truth:
'Intelligence open to faith is true wisdom'
This double issue also includes coverage of the Pope's Epiphany Mass, and his meetings yesterday with the new Turkish ambassador
and with the Italian state police assigned to Vatican security. Page 1 international news: Six Christians and 1 Muslim killed by armed
men who shot Copts leaving Midnight Mass Jan. 7 (Christmas Day in the Oriental Churches) in a village near Luxor; and new statistics
show China is now the world's leading exporter of manufactured goods. the inside pages feature an interview with the Bishop of
Compostela about the Holy Year of St. James; and two essays on the depictions of the Baby Jesus in art, and Leonardo's 'Giovanni
Bttista' (John the Baptist) - one of the masterpieces of Christian art in the ongoing 'Potere e Gloria' exhibit in Rome.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father met today with
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, emeritus Vicar General of His Holiness in the Diocese of Rome
- Mons. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
- Officials and agents of the Vatican's Public Security Inspectorate (traditional annual greeting)
Address in Italian.
The Vatican released the text of the letter of solidarity sent by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president
of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, to His Holiness Shenouda III, Coptic Pope
of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark (Cairo), for the Christmas night killing of 8 Copts in
northern Egypt.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/01/2010 20:47]