Memorial of Bl Archangela Girlani

"Archangela was born at Trino in Monferrato in an undetermined year of the second half of the XV century, and in Baptism received the name of Eleanor. She soon manifested her intention of becoming a religious, and for that purpose was placed on trial in a monastery near her own city. But here the nearness of her family was not to her liking. In 1477, after having overcome parental objections, she was clothed in the Carmelite habit at Parma, in the recently erected monastery of the Mantuan Congregation; and shortly after her profession she was elected prioress of this monastery. When a new foundation was to be made in the city of Mantua, Archangela was transferred there, and on Feb. 18, 1492; the monastery of St. Mary of Paradise was inaugurated under her direction. But her direction lasted only about three years, for she died on Jan. 25, 1495.

Buried at first in the common grave, a little later her body was exhumed and placed in a casket in the choir. At the suppression of the monastery in 1782 at the command of Joseph II, the body was transferred to Trino, to the convent of the Carmelite nuns, where it remained, however, for only twenty years. For in 1802, when this monastery was also suppressed, the body was brought into the church of the Hospital of St. Lawrence, where it still rests. Her cult from time immemorial was approved on Oct. 1, 1864. Her feast is celebrated in the Carmelite Order on Jan. 29."
 
-- Biography by Fr Louis Saggi, OCarm