Angela was born at Desenzano near Lake Garda in Italy about 21 March 1474. She was brought up with a great love of God and often spoke to Him in prayer, and came to call Christ “her only treasure.” From an early age Angela also knew great sorrow as both her parents and her sister died. She was sent to live with an uncle in Salo, but later returned to Desenzano where she had a vision of her sister going up to heaven. This consoled her very much. Angela became well-known as a peace-maker and reconciler. She was very human, loving and gracious, and had a profound respect for persons. Her charity was said to be over-flowing, winning all hearts through her devoted and far-reaching service of others. Angela felt that God was calling her to spend her life in his service and she spent many years praying fervently to know God’s will for her. She made pilgrimages to the Holy Land, to Rome to see the Pope, and to Varallo - Northern Italy - in this search. She also became a Franciscan tertiary in order to be able to receive Our Lord in communion frequently. Many found in Angela an inspiring leader, faithful to the Church, but led by the Spirit to “read the signs of the times.” It was only in 1535 and five years before her death, that Angela founded the Company of St Ursula, a group of consecrated virgins living in their own families, who have blossomed through the centuries into the world-wide Ursuline Order. Angela’s rule was a totally original concept for her time - she simply transcribed for her rule the way and manner of life she was already living with her companions:   At a time when there were only two choices for women: marriage or the cloister, she decided that her followers would live out their consecration where they were already living. This was usually within the family setting. Also in society totally dominated by men, she stressed the importance and the role of women within the society she was in touch with in Northern Italy.