Today February 28

Today is the feast of St. Angela of Foligno (1248 - 1309), third-order Franciscan. She had been a laywoman -- and a worldly one at that. She was married and had a child, and enjoyed all that the world had to offer . . . until a profound conversion occurred and a personal tragedy: her mother, husband and child all died within a short time of each other. She joined the Third order community of Franciscans -- drawn to them perhaps because during her conversion, she had a vivid dream of St. Francis.

She was not only a fervent penitent, she was a marvelously sensitive soul. She often spoke (and wrote) of her "soul's eyes" through which she saw God's goodness in creation, Christ's passion in real time, and the Trinity "as clearly as possible in this life." But she was no "ivory tower" mystic; she took her place working among the sick and homeless of Foligno, and even among the most outcast: the lepers in a local hospital. Her mystical visions informed her whole piety, in fact, her whole life -- she was aware of speaking only of God and of seeing all in relation to God; she was, indeed, preoccupied by God.

She was not immune, however, to great spiritual dryness and bitter doubt. Could her supernatural visions be of the devil? But she hung on with humble stubbornness and endured many spiritual and physical privations. She even wished she were dead. But she persevered and went on to share her deepest thoughts which, in the end, were consolations to her. She said the soul experiences God entering it with totally unexpected "fire, love and sweetness," but that there is never full assurance. The soul is illuminated and embraced.

When she died, she had the profound mystical experience of being covered in the Precious Blood (really feeling and experiencing it) and of Our Lord gently leading her into the Father's marvelous presence. It was nice of her to share this vision. Naturally eloquent, she wrote straightforwardly and well, even though she often stated that what she experienced was "beyond words." St. Angela of Foligno, pray for us.