Feast of BLESSED ARCHANGELA GIRLANI

Although no longer observed by the Discalced Carmelites, an optional memorial in honor of Blessed Archangela Girlani is inscribed on the current O.Carm. calendar on January 29th. The current edition of the Roman Martyrology lists her feast day on January 25th, the day of her death.

PRAYER.

O GOD ! 
who hast prevented the Virgin, Blessed Archangela, 
with the blessings of Thy sweetness, 
and hast endowed her with heroic virtues ; 
grant, through her intercession, 
that we, having been protected 
by the gift of Thy grace upon earth, 
may deserve to join the choirs of the Blessed in Heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

LESSON IV.

Archangela, who was called Eleonora in the world, came of a noble family. Her father was John Girlani, and she was born at Trino, on Monte Ferrato. While still a little girl she was given to the nuns of Saint Benedict to be educated, and she there showed, by her unusual piety towards God, as well as by her charity towards her neighbor, the heights of holiness which she was later to reach. Her mind dwelt not upon childish thoughts, but she pondered serious and high subjects, caring for naught but the things above. When her father had taken her home, he urged her to marry, but she stood firm in her determination to consecrate her virginity to God; and not content with this, she won over to her views her two sisters on the father’s side, Mary and Scolastica. Thus she gained for herself companions in the religious life and in the practice of virtue. At length by the manifest will of God she hastened to Parma, and entered the monastery of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. Exact in obedience to the Rule, she rejoiced to run in the paths of perfection, and she soon outstripped those even who had been before her in the race for virtue. A few years later it became necessary to elect a Superior, and the unanimous choice of the nuns fell upon Archangela.

LESSON V.

Like unto the candle set upon the candlestick, her extraordinary holiness shone yet more brightly in this position; and with an exquisite perfection far beyond that of her companions, she set forth in her own person the words of the Apostle: “The unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord; that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.” Shortly afterwards she was intrusted with the government of a new monastery which was built at Mantua by the distinguished piety of the Princes Gonzaga. Thither she removed, and there she so fostered her little flock that it shortly grew to be a large family of the Blessed Virgin. She led the way for her Sisters with so much humility, gentleness, and patience, that they honored her, not as their mother merely, but as an angel sent from Heaven. Full of zeal for the practice of the Rule, and of devotion towards the scapular of the Blessed Virgin, she taught her novices to despise the outward cleanliness of garb which is not accompanied by inward purity of heart. The title of the monastery was “Saint Mary of Paradise,” and she spared no efforts in order that she and her Sisters, while dwelling upon earth, should have their conversation in Heaven.

LESSON VI.

Archangela was more than once seen rapt in ecstasy while she meditated on the mysteries of the faith. We learn that God often showed forth by wondrous miracles the holiness of His spouse, and He called her to her reward while she was still in the flower of youth, though ripe for Heaven. Worn out by her labors, fasts, and the severe bodily austerities which she practised, she was seized with a fatal illness before she had completed her third year at Mantua. Seeing that her last day was at hand, she called the Sisters round her, and urged them, with wise words of advice, to go onward cheerfully in the career of perfection upon which they had entered. Strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, and with her eyes fixed upon the image of Christ Crucified, she repeated her accustomed words, “Jesus, my Love,” and peacefully gave up her soul. This took place on the eighth of the Kalends of February, in the year of salvation one thousand four hundred and ninety-four. The religious honors which had from time immemorial been publicly rendered to the Blessed Archangela were examined by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and approved by the Supreme Pontiff, Pius the Ninth, who graciously granted that an Office should be recited in her honor.

Taken from the book “Saints of Carmel” (BOSTON: JOHN CASHMAN & CO., 1896).