Women can act and live in their
 world on their own authority

It was November 25th, 1535 when Angela Merici and her 28 companions formed the Company of St. Ursula in Brescia, Italy.  Political and moral corruption was rampant in Europe at this time.  In a society ruled and defined by men, where women were permanently governed by fathers, husbands or pastors, Angela and her Company offered an alternative approach.

Unlike other nuns of that time, the first Ursulines did not live isolated from the rest of the world.  Instead, they remained integrated in their families and stayed in their workplaces involved in a variety of works that raised the dignity of women, children and the marginalized of society.

Key Points of Original Rule

The Rule which Angela developed for her Community combined open-mindedness and religious commitment in a way which had hardly been possible for women up that time.  This Rule, which reflected an entirely new way of life, developed gradually after many conversations with experienced people.  It was the first Rule written by a woman for a community of women.  Although Angela included traditional characteristics of religious life, she interpreted them anew and thus created a freer, more independent, yet committed way of life for women.