Angelina di Marsciano

Angelina di Marsciano, also known as Angelina of Montegiove or Angelina of Corbara, was an Italian religious sister and foundress who lived from 1357 to 1435. She is recognized as a beata within the Roman Catholic Church for her significant role in establishing a congregation of women living under the Franciscan Third Order Regular rule. Her work laid the foundation for what is today known as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina.

Life and Historical Context

Born into nobility at the Castle of Montegiove in Umbria, Angelina was orphaned at a young age and later married. However, her marriage was short-lived, as her husband died within two years, leaving her a widow. This experience prompted her to dedicate her life to God. She embraced the life of a Franciscan tertiary and, with companions, began an apostolic mission, preaching repentance and service to the needy.

Her active ministry, which called for young women to embrace religious life, caused disturbances and led to accusations of sorcery and heresy. Though cleared of these charges by the King of Naples, she was expelled from the kingdom. Subsequently, Angelina experienced a vision instructing her to found a monastery in Foligno. She joined and revitalized an existing community of Franciscan tertiaries there, organizing their lives into a more regular structure.

Foundress of a Congregation

Angelina's leadership in Foligno led to the formal recognition of her monastery by Pope Boniface IX in 1403. The success of this community inspired similar groups throughout the region to affiliate with them. By 1428, these diverse communities were recognized as a congregation by Pope Martin V, and Angelina was elected their first minister general. She developed statutes for the congregation, aiming to establish a unified structure.

Despite initial resistance from the Friars Minor regarding the congregation's autonomy, the Holy See ultimately confirmed their independence. To manage potential future conflicts, the congregation placed itself under the obedience of local bishops, with spiritual direction from the friars of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance.

Legacy and Veneration

Angelina di Marsciano died on July 14, 1435, and was buried in the Church of St. Francis in Foligno, where her remains were later moved to a grander shrine. Her cultus was officially approved in 1825. Angelina's congregation, initially active in serving the poor, became an enclosed religious order in 1617 but regained its wider apostolate after a papal enclosure lift in 1903. The Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina continue to operate today, with communities in Italy, Brazil, Madagascar, and Switzerland.