The 15th century is here; the Church needs a saint!

We are in the north of Italy, in a little village called Desenzano, east of "Brescia". The quiet little town lies peacefully on picturesque Lake Garda, on the outskirts of the "Lombardy" region. If your eye travels northward on the map, you will see the village of Trent where the Council of "Council of Trent" was held in the 16th century, in 1545, five years after our Saint Angela Merici died.

We never know what our actions are going to bring about; but one thing we can be sure: They will either be life-giving or life-ending. This is the story of a woman who will contribute to the life of her Church - the Church which Jesus founded, our beloved Roman Catholic Church.

"I want to become a Saint because I love Jesus!" (Saint Angela Merici)

One chilly, damp spring morning on March 21, 1474 to be exact, a child was born - a girl to a farmer named Giovanni and his wife Signora Merici, who was of the noble family - the Biancosi of Salo.

From the very beginning, the child Saint Angela Merici was wrapped in a robe of piety and holiness, her parents having one focus: to bring her up to love and serve Jesus. And they did, first by who they were, then by word and deed. Angela asked her father to read to her so that she could learn about the saints and virgin martyrs of the past.

Together, they delved into the Bible, and other spiritual books, poring over stories of those who shaped the Church. Each evening, after chores were over, they would sit by the fire and travel with those who lived and died for Mother Church.

Soon, this child, all of five years old, began living a contemplative life, fasting and performing acts of mortification. She was not, however a sad, somber girl; everyone in the village loved her and looked forward to this little bundle of energy and joy stopping to say hello to them.

They would always send a little something home with her which she would share with her family. When the bells would toll from the parish church nearby, summoning them to pray the Angelus, and her family was in the middle of feeding the chickens, her parents would instruct their children to kneel down and tell the Lord they were heartily sorry they could not come to his altar at that time, but that they were offering all their work, feeding his little creatures, to him; then they should end by pleading with the Lord to accept this labor as their prayer.

The parents of Saint Angela Merici were honest, pious people who, although poor in the eyes of the world, were rich with super abundant graces from heaven. Find out more about Saint Angela Merici.