Today's saint, Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero, was born on January 30, 1846 as Maria of the Angels Guerrero Gonzalez in Seville, Spain. She was one of 14 children to a poor family; only 5 of her siblings survived into adulthood. Her father was a cook and her mother was a laundress. Angela had to quit school at 12 years old to work in a shoe factory to help support her family. She received her first Communion at age 8 and confirmation at 9. She prayed the rosary daily and had a great devotion to the crucified Christ. At age 16 she had a spiritual director, Father José Torres Padilla and he helped Angela discern if she had a call to religious life.
She first tried to join the Carmelites, but was refused, but at age 19 when she was accepted she became sick that she was forced to return to her family. When she recovered, she cared for cholera victims, and those poorer than herself. In 1868 she entered the convent of the Daughters of Charity of Seville, but her health failed again and went back to her parents. In 1871 with Father Padilla's blessed she lived at home under a particular Rule and yearly renewed her vows. In 1873 while in prayer, Angela received a vision and she understood it has a calling to mission work with the poor. She began keeping a diary to understand what God was calling her to. Others were attracted to her life, and on August 2, 1875 Congregation of the Cross was born. They work with the sick, poor, orphans, and homeless. Work started with Mother Angela and 3 other sisters, but in her lifetime they grew to 23 convents, and today continue their good works. Mother Angela died on March 2, 1923 in Seville. She was canonized on May 4, 2003 in Madrid, Spain.
"The nothing keeps silent, the nothing does not want to be, the nothing suffers all. The nothing does not impose itself, the nothing does not command with authority, and finally, the nothing in the creature is practical humility."
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