BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Thursday, January 27

Middle photos: Painting by Bozzoli, and statue in St. Peter's Basilica.
ST. ANGELA MERICI (Italy, 1470-1740)
Third-Order Franciscan, Founder, Company of St. Ursula
Born in Desenzano by Lake Garda, Angela spent most of her life in nearby Brescia. Early on,
she became interested in educating poor children and joined the Third Order of St. Francis
for laywomen. In 1524, she was on her way to visit the Holy Land and was said to have gone
suddenly blind in Cyprus. She proceeded with the pilgrimage anyway, and on her way back to
Italy, is said to have regained her sight in the same place in Cyprus where she went blind.
At the age of 62, she founded the Company of St. Ursula, named after the patron saint of
medieval universities, dedicated to 're-Christianising family life' through educating girls to be
Christian wives and mothers. The Ursulines were the first teaching congregation of sisters, but
they remained 'secular' - not living in communities - for 17 years before seeking recognition
as an order. Their sisters have since then had the choice to be 'religious' enclosed nuns, or
'congregated' who follow the original plan. Ursulines were the first missionary nuns to Canada
and what is now the United States. Today, Ursuline educational institutions are found worldwide.
Mother Angela was canonized in 1807.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/readings/012711.shtml


OR today.

'Jehanne' is the medieval form of Jeanne.
At the General Audience, the Pope speaks about the 'Maid of Orleans':
'Jeanne d'Arc and the Name of Jesus'

This issue also contains the Pope's homily at the Vespers on Tuesday that ended the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Other Page 1 news: A report on President Obama's second State of teh Union address and his call for a new 'Sputnki moment'; Violent disorders in Egypt call for an end to Preident Mubarak's 30-year rule; the French Senate rejects a proposed euthanasia lw; and the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, sees international government and business leaders seeking to instill confidence in Europe's economic recovery.


No papal announcements from the Vatican today.