Bl. Angela of Foligno 1248 - 1309

Aside: 

There are 10 occurrences of the word 'Uncreated' in this short Reading, in

Bl Angela of Foligno -
She is often depicted receiving Holy Communion
from the Lord, or in the case of the image here, from
an angel of the Lord (given her name, "Angela").

Angela of Foligno: Complete Works (Classics of Western Spirituality Series) [Paperback]

Romana Guarnier (Editor), Paul A. Lachance (Translator) 

It is a pressing invite inquiry into this mystic.Part Two,  See further reading, 'The Instructions, Instruction II: pp. 227-229, "The love that is perfect ...".'

Franciscan tertiary and mystic. Born in Foligno, Italy, in 1248, Angela married and had several children. Wealthy, she took part in the social events of the city until 1285, when she had a vision. Following that mystical experience, Angela became a member of the Franciscan Third Order. When her husband died, she gave away her possessions and started a community of tertiaries devoted to the care of the needy. Her visions, which were recorded by her confessor, demonstrated a mature mystical union with Christ and the gift of revelation. She is sometimes called "the Mistress of Theologians." Her tomb is in the church of St. Francis in Foligno. Many miracles have been recorded there.

• Complete Works - Angela of Foligno, Paul LaChance, O.F.M. – pp.228-9

MAGNIFICAT (com)  Friday 1^st March 20133

Mt. 21:33-46 Parable of the Vine-Dressers

MEDITATION OF THE DAY

Bl. Angela of Foligno

People Who Produce Fruit

The soul is also given a vision of the Uncreated. This vision deposits an uncreated love in the soul. In this uncreated love the soul cannot act; it is without works, but love itself acts. When the soul possesses this vision of the Uncreated, it can do nothing, because it is completely absorbed in this vision; it can contribute nothing to uncreated love. It is to be noted, however, that when the soul is given this vision, it has been actively working, in that with its whole being it desired to be united with the Uncreated, and with its whole being sought how to be better united with him. Indeed, it is the Uncreated himself who operates in the soul and inspires it to with­draw from all created things to be better united to him. It is the uncreated love, then, which is at work and the one producing the works of love. 

At the source of this work is an illumination which sets ablaze a new desire and a powerful love to which the soul both contributes and does not contribute, for it is the uncreated love that does all the work. It is responsible for all the good and none of the evil that we do. True annihilation consists in becoming aware that we are truly not the authors of any good .... For the love of God is never idle, even when it follows the way of the cross through bodily penance. The sign that true love is at work is this: The soul takes up its cross, that is, penance as long as one lives, penance as great and harsh as possible.

When love is done with the works of the cross and penance in me, that is, after it has pushed these to their final limits, as long as I live and as harsh as possible, then I will become aware that in truth I am an unprofitable servant. And if I wish to ask God for something, I will do it in the name of the penance he did in me and for me.