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Angela called her Company after St. Ursula whose story she would have heard read to her by her father.
Legend tells us that in Breton in ancient times a beautiful baby girl was born to a king and queen. They called her Ursula (Ursus in Latin means bear) believing that one day she would strangle the devil, as David had done once with the bear. The barbarian, pagan King of England, asked Ursula, a Breton princess, daughter of Deonotus, in marriage for his son, Etherius. Deeply longing for spiritual marriage to Christ she accepted the proposal only on certain conditions. She wished that the wedding be postponed for three years, during which she could go on pilgrimage to Rome. Etherius's father as to provide an escort of ten maidens and each of these as well as herself were to be given another thousand virgins as companions! Eleven ships were to be built to take them safely to the continent and while they were on their travels the future bridegroom was to be instructed in the Christian faith and to be baptised. The King was willing to accept these conditions. The names that have been ascribed to the maidens are: Martha, Saula, Brictola, Gregoria, Saturna, Sabatia, Pinnosa, Ursula, Sentia, Palladia, and Saturia. Together the journeyed through Cologne and Basle from where they continued over the Alps on foot to Rome. There they received the blessing of Pope Cyriacus. He was enchanted by the strange group of solemn maidens and decided give them his protection and to accompany them on their way back. Just outside Cologne on the return journey the Huns attacked the travellers. Armed with arrows, spears and swords the soldiers harassed the retinue. Attila remarked Ursula's extreme beauty and offered to spare her life if she became his wife. She repulsed his advances and was then executed savagely with her companions in a horrific massacre.
Angela's close friend GABRIELE COZZANO writes about the influence of Ursula on Angela's chocie of name and patron for her Company:
'And so believe, let every one of you believe - and she will believe the truth- that she (Angela) did not give this name to the Company by chance... I repeat, this Company has not be named for ... frivolous reasons. But this name has come from heaven, introduced through the force and power of the Holy Spirit. In this name a new grace from the most high is promised to everyone who perseveres faithfully in this obedience. Promised also is that virtue of sanctity which was given to those eleven thousand virgins who obeyed Ursula's will, or rather God's voice through her, that virtue through which they overcame themselves and conquered death.'
Home St. Angela Merici St.
Ursula St.Catherine of Alexandria
Ursulines of the Irish Union
11/18/04 aharte@esatclear.ie
