Saint Angela of Foligno

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The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, celebrated forty days after Easter, commemorates Christ’s bodily ascent into heaven and the completion of His earthly ministry. Far from representing an absence, the Ascension reveals the glorification of Christ and the opening of heaven to humanity. Having conquered death through the Resurrection, Christ returns to the Father, inaugurating His eternal reign and promising the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Christian tradition has long understood the Ascension not only as a historical event, but also as an invitation to elevate the heart toward divine things. “Where the Head has gone before in glory,” the liturgy proclaims, “the Body is called to follow in hope.” The feast therefore becomes a reminder that the Christian life is a pilgrimage toward union with God. Continue reading after advertisement

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This spiritual longing is beautifully reflected in the life of Saint Angela of Foligno (1248–1309), the Franciscan mystic represented in this image. Born into a wealthy family in Umbria, Angela spent much of her early life attached to worldly pleasures before experiencing a profound conversion after a vision of Saint Francis of Assisi. 

Following the deaths of her husband, mother, and children, she embraced a life of poverty, prayer, and charity within the Franciscan Third Order.

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Angela became renowned for her mystical experiences and spiritual writings, which earned her the title Magistra Theologorum—“Teacher of Theologians.” Her reflections centered on the soul’s transformation through divine love and the necessity of prayer as the path to holiness. One of her best-known teachings expresses this beautifully:

“If you want faith, pray. If you want hope, pray. If you want charity, pray.” 

The image associated with this feast depicts Angela contemplating the glorified Christ ascending into heavenly light, surrounded by angels. The scene captures the essence of the Ascension: Christ drawing humanity upward toward eternal life. Through contemplation and prayer, the saints remind us that the Ascension is not merely about Christ departing from the world, but about humanity being invited into the life of heaven.

Saint Angela of Foligno died in 1309 and was canonized by Pope Francis in 2013 through equipollent canonization, recognizing the centuries-long devotion to her holiness. Her life remains a powerful witness to the transforming grace of God and to the Christian hope of sharing one day in the glory of the risen and ascended Christ.

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.