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The Company of Saint Ursula (2)
Angela Merici (1474-1540) founded the Company of Saint Ursula in Brescia, Italy, on November 25, 1535.
She chose Saint Ursula as patron saint, for Saint Ursula was a model, giving herself to Christ until death, and a guide for young girls.

Quite rapidly, the Company of Saint Ursula devoted itself to educating young girls.
Angela Merici was beatified in 1768 and canonized on May 24, 1807, by Pope Pius VII. The Company of Saint Ursula spread first in Italy.
The foundation of Ursulines in France was an event of the Catholic Restauration in the 17th century, signalizing a belated practice of the decrees of the Council of Trent (1545-1563).
The Council had caused an astonishing rebirth of Catholicism in France. First, through the establishment in the South of France of the Pontifical States (Comtat Venaissin), whose Bishops were Italian prelates, and later on in Aix-en-Provence, Dijon, Bordeaux, Lyons, Liège and Mons.

![]() Ikon of Saint Angela and the Martyrs of Valenciennes
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![]() In detail : the 11 Ursuline
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On February 27, the General Assembly of the Friends of the Museum launched a 60 day Campaign of shared sponsorship with the Society DARTAGNAN; for restoring the painting, “Martyr of Saint Ursula”.
Link to the web site.