St Angela’s holiness is evident in her many gifts. Among other things, she was a woman of unity and reconciliation. How does Angela exemplify Reconciliation?
It is interesting to note that verses 4-5 of the Prologue to the Rule are inspired by a passage of the Letter to the Colossians (1.12-13) immediately preceding Paul’s affirmation on Reconciliation. Let us compare Rule, Prol. 4-5 and Col 1.12-13.
This parallel tells us that Angela was familiar with Scripture and influenced by it. At the “Nazari Trial”, Girolamo Patengola bore witness to this fact.
In an attempt to understand how this woman, nourished by God’s Word, entered into the movement of Reconciliation, let us open her Writings. Certain passages tell us that Angela had to first be reconciled with herself. This can be verified by looking at the passage of the prayer she proposes to her daughters, Rule 5.16ff.
From the outset, we note that she considers herself as a person of limitations:
* with a heart of darkness (v. 16)
* often incapable of discernment (v. 39)
* vulnerable (v. 18)
She also acknowledges that she is a sinner:
* capable of offending God this very day (v. 17)
* aware of her tendencies towards evil (v. 20-21)
* aware of her weaknesses and lack of generosity (v. 27)
* her lack of docility to God’s grace (v. 29)
* her difficulty to accept hardship (v. 30)
* and her failure to love God as she should (v. 28)
However, after this enumeration, Angela reacts and begs for forgiveness (v. 23).
In the light of God’s mercy, she is reconciled with the evil she sees in herself, because she knows that God alone can change her. Therefore, she does not remain closed in on herself but opens her heart to all sinners like herself, asking God’s forgiveness on all (v. 24-25). She is filled with gratefulness for the love of Christ who gave his life for her, and she is willing to shed her own blood so that He may be known and received by all (v 31-34). She then offers herself totally to God in a loving response (v. 35-44).
Thus, reconciliation is achieved in Angela’s loving trust of the One she loves and on whom she can count to live God’s will. In order to enter further into the movement of reconciliation, Angela will have to accept once more, that is, be reconciled with a mission which seems to overwhelm her, that of becoming the Mother and Foundress of the Company of St. Ursula. How will she accomplish this?
It is in the Counsels that this can be verified. Written five years after her Rule, the Counsels reveal of woman who is fully aware of her responsibilities and duties towards God whom she loves and who has called her to found and direct the Company. From the Prologue (9-10) to the Last Counsel (27), one can feel the spirit of decision in every sentence, whether imperative (2nd Counsel, 8th Counsel 9), exhorting (1st Counsel 2-6; 7th Counsel 29), affirmative (7th Counsel 24), requesting (Last Counsel 1-2, 10-14).
All the while, respecting her daughters’ freedom (3rd Counsel, 4th Counsel).
After reconciling with herself and with her mission, Angela leaves us today a message of reconciliation in word and act. Examples are numerous and imprinted in our memories. Angela exercised reconciliation especially with regard to the Lady-Governors of the Company among whom were found great differences in age, social status, etc. In her Testament addressed to them, she reaches them on a common ground, their sincere attachment to Our Lord, their desire to please Him, and their will to serve others.
But it is in her Writings as a whole, that Angela shows a constant concern for reconciliation in the young foundation, and this as a witness that reconciliation is possible and the sign of God’s presence and His work of Reconciliation with the world (Rule 8-9, 11; 5th Counsel; Last Counsel; Testament 3, 10).
Angela Merici, reconciled with herself and her mission as Mother of the Company of St. Ursula, received the grace of Reconciliation throughout her lifetime. She received this grace and became its minister in her everyday life, in both word and deed. As our leader, she invites us to receive this grace in every aspect of our life as mentioned in Scripture: “When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. Christ changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the task of making others His friends also” (2 Cor 5.17-18).
From an Ursuline nun, Sr. Suzanne Julien
We have received the great gift of the call; however, we are continually inadequate in our response to such a great love, to so many predilections. God is always faithful. He awards with His grace, but we fail in fidelity.
Being conscious of our inadequacy and infidelity, these move us to ask the “good Lord” for mercy and time and mode to repent.
“Therefore I am compelled day and night, moving, staying still, acting, thinking, to call out and to cry to heaven, and to beg for mercy and time for penance. Deign, 0 most loving Lord, to forgive me (my) so many offenses, and every fault that I have ever committed from the day of my holy Baptism to this hour.” (Rule 5, 22-23)
“I want mercy not sacrifice. In fact, I have not come to call the just but the sinners.” (Matthew 9, 13)
“I deeply regret that I have been so slow to begin to serve your divine Majesty.” (Rule 5, 27)
“We also exhort each one to go frequently to confession, necessary medicine for the wounds our souls.” (Rule 7, 1)
“Each one will at least once a month confess herself.” (Rule 7, 1)
When our life is far away from the Gospel prospects, it attracts in itself in poor selfish closeness which contradict the plan for life that Christ proposes to us. The return to the evangelical ideal cannot be realized according to the modes of our own making, and the efforts of our products, but it will be a courageous and a humble trust to a merciful action that Jesus fulfils through the community which is exactly the Sacrament of Reconciliation*” (Cardinal M. Martini)
Regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation the Constitutions propose to us, as much as possible to be frequent and regular.
