Saint Ursula – Patroness of the Ursuline Sisters
October 21 is the Feast of St.
Ursula. It is a day celebrated by Ursulines throughout the world. Who is
Ursula? Where did she come from? Why are we Ursulines? Why do we celebrate
Ursula's Feast day? Read on to find the answer to these questions.
Legend has it that St Ursula was the
daughter of a 5th Century Christian King in Britain. She was a beautiful,
intelligent, outgoing and friendly girl. Ursula lived a holy life and at an
early age had dedicated herself to God. She committed her life solely to the
love of Christ.
At that time young girls did not choose their own husbands,
their parents decided whom they would marry. A powerful pagan king requested of
Ursula's father that she marry his son Ethereus. The pagan king sent
ambassadors to Ursula's father offering large sums of money and other promises
if the marriage took place. However, they added terrible threats of what would
happen if the marriage were not to take place. Ursula's father was very afraid
for three reasons: he was afraid of the violent reaction of the other king; he
didn't think Ursula would agree to marry and; both he and Ursula would prefer a
Christian marriage.
Much to her father's surprise
Ursula, inspired by God agreed to the marriage but only on certain conditions.
- Each king should put at her disposal ten girls.
- Each girl was to be accompanied by another thousand girls.
- The kings were to provide ships for a journey.
- Ursula was to be granted three years to dedicate herself to God.
- The young prince was to receive Christian instruction for baptism.

During the journey Ursula converted
all the girls to Christianity and soon they arrived in Cologne, Germany. Here
an angel appeared to Ursula and told her that she and all her companions would
return to this place and win the crown of martyrdom.
Ursula and her companions set out to return to
Cologne.
The Huns were afraid that
Christianity would become popular and that many people would become Christians.
They gathered an army and plotted to kill Ursula and all her companions on
their arrival back in Cologne.
Back in Britain, Etherius who had
now become king received a message from an angel that Ursula was on her way
back to Cologne with and her companions
and that he should go quickly and join them. He too would become a martyr.
Etherius set off for Germany and met Ursula and her companions in Cologne.

Angela Merici founded the Ursulines
in 1535 in Italy. At that time the story of Ursula was very popular and people
would have heard it and prayed to Ursula. Angela was calling young women to
live a life of virginity and to be of service to others. She saw in Ursula
great courage and love of God. She chose Ursula as a role model for herself and
her companions and so still today we are known as Ursulines. Just as God called
Angela and her companions he still invites women of today to say yes to the
call to dedicate their lives to Him in the spirit of St. Angela Merici.
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