Angela Merici was born in Desenzano del Garda (Province of Brescia) between 1470 and 1475. She grew up in a family of deeply rooted Christian principles and of humble social condition, even though some relatives were quite influential. Her father Giovanni, who used to live in Brescia, was a farmer. Her mother, Caterina, was the sister of Ser Biancoso de Bianchi of Salò, a member of the municipal council for many years. Angela had three brothers and a sister. She lived on a farm called “Le Grezze” until her adolescence.

SShe grew up in a simple and religious family and was influenced by the example of her parents. She had a solid spiritual training.
When she was eighteen years old, orphaned and amid troubled times, she had to face problems alone. Her mother’s prosperous brother hosted her in his house in Salò, where she encountered wealthy and educated people and learned to read. (She would always use secretaries to write.) To offset the influences of Salò’s high society, she lived a life of mortification, became a tertiary of St. Francis, and frequented the sacraments, especially Confession and Communion. At 26, she moved back to Desenzano, seeking the opportunity to make decisions about her own life. Here she could rely on some inherited property, living a quiet life in her home and fields. She divided her time between prayer and acts of charity, while slowly discovering what God wanted of her.

In this period, she had a vision in a place called Brudazzo (1506) : while she prayed, it seemed that the sky opened, and angels and virgins came down to earth. The sight seemed to anticipate the Company.

In 1516 Angela moved to Brescia, living first with Caterina Patengola, helping this widow who had recently lost her husband and children. Then she moved into two small rooms provided by the wealthy merchant Antonio Romano. She became the most sought-after advisor of the whole town. In this period, she also made the following pilgrimages:
     - Mantua (1520) to pray at the tomb
       of the Blessed Osanna Andreasi, a Dominican tertiary;
     - The Holy Land (1524);
     - Rome (1525) to gain the indulgences in the jubilee year;
     - The Holy Mount of Varallo (1529)
       to meditate on the passion and death of Christ.

When the Franco-German troops were expected to occupy Brescia, she was forced to stay in Mantua, where she became so ill that she seemed close to death. However, she recovered and returned to Brescia as a guest of the rich merchant and man of letters Agostino Gallo.

At about 60, rich in experience and virtue, she thought it time to put forth her style of life, built upon prayer and meditation, for other women. In 1531 she gathered a group of twelve friends, from all social classes, and they committed themselves to consecrated virginity: they ssought to «sanctify themselves, to sanctify their families and society, living in an unbelieving and sensual world, but countering it and preserving Christian values»! In 1532, Angela and twelve companions made a pilgrimage to the Holy Mount of Varallo, to learn from the sufferings of Christ Crucified. Just after their return, Angela moved to a small room near the Church of St. Afra, where she would live for the rest of her life.

On November 25, 1535, St. Catherine's Day, Angela Merici officially founded the Company of St. Ursula: 28 virgins gathered in the Church of St. Afra, received Communion and consecrated themselves to God, signing the “general book” of the Company. To clarify this new spiritual journey, Angela dictated the Rule to her faithful secretary Gabriele Cozzano. The Rule was judged to be worthy and inspired by God and was approved on August 8, 1536, by Lorenzo Muzio, vicar general of the diocesan bishop, Cardinal Francesco Cornaro. On March 18, 1537, Angela was elected “Mother General” for life. At the end of 1539, she dictated the Legacies and Counsels, her spiritual testament to the mothers and leaders of the Company.

Angela died on January 27, 1540. She left 150 spiritual daughters. After the solemn funeral, her body remained exposed in the Church of St. Afra for a whole month, without any sign of deterioration. The priests of the cathedral, the priests of St. Afra Church, and the Franciscans were competing for the honour of her burial. In the end, she would be buried near the graves of the martyr saints of Brescia, in the crypt of St. Afra Church.

On June 9, 1544, Pope Paul III approved the new institute with the Bull “Regimini Universalis Ecclesiae”. Angela Merici was beatified on April 30, 1768, by Clement XIII. Finally, she was canonised on May 24, 1807, by Pius VII. In 1861, Pius IX extended her veneration to the universal Church.

Other biographical information can be found in the Museum Guide.