Pope on Angela of Foligno

Pope Benedict XVI is praying for the safe rescue of Chile’s 33 miners. Speaking in Spanish to pilgrims present in St Peters Square for the Wednesday audience, the Holy Father commended the miners to the intercession of Blessed Angela of Foligno, to whom he had dedicated his weekly catechesis. The delicate rescue mission of the 33 miners trapped in a collapsed mine in Chile’s Atacama desert since August last, began in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Also during his greetings to pilgrims from Hungary, the Pope prayed for the victims and families affected by the spill of toxic waste from an industrial reservoir last week. He said he remembered the people of Kolontár village, especially those who lost their lives, in his prayers. Residents were forced to leave their home when a river of toxic sludge from a nearby plant submerged their hamlet.

Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI returned to his series of lessons on female figures who helped shape the Church of the Middle Ages, this week focusing on an Italian woman, wife and mother, from the 13^th century, blessed Angela of Foligno:

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today recalls the medieval mystic Blessed Angela of Foligno, born in 1248. A carefree wife and mother, Angela at one time looked down on the mendicants and observers of strict poverty in religious life. However, tragic events and suffering in her personal life gave her cause to become aware of her own sins, leading her to a decisive moment of conversion in the year 1285. Invoking the aid of Saint Francis, who appeared to her in a vision, she made her confession at San Feliciano. Upon the death of her mother, husband and children, she sold all she had and joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. She died in 1309.
The Book of Blessed Angela of Foligno recounts her conversion, and indicates for us the necessary means of our own turning to the Lord: penance, humility and tribulations. This same book describes the numerous mystical experiences of Blessed Angela, ecstasies which she had great difficulty putting into words because of the intensity of her spiritual union with God. Her fear of sin and punishment was overcome by her growth in love for God, drawing her along the “way of the Cross” to “the way of love”. My dear brothers and sisters, may we share her prayer to the Father: “My God, make me worthy to know the most high Mystery, which is your strong and ineffable love… the greatest love possible!”.
I am pleased to welcome the delegates of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes. I also extend greetings to all the English speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States. May God bless you all!” Listen: