ANGELINE. - This name commonly designates the Secular Ursulines, who live according to the primitive rule given by St Angela Merici to the Compagnia di s. Orsola (v.). The distinctive feature of this rule is that it imposes on the sisters neither common life, nor common dress, nor special works. Apart from the duties of family and profession, they are at the disposal of their superiors for every good work. The Compagnia is diocesan in its government, but the rule is of pontifical right. The A., in Italy alone, number about 16,000, distributed among 46 dioceses.
(photo Almar)
1907: E. Girelli, Della Vita di s. Angelo Merici, Vergine dresciana, e del suo Istituto, 4th ed., Brescia 1927; S. Angelo Merici e la Compagnia di s. Orsola nel IV Centenario della fondazione (1333-1933), Brescia 1936. Maria Vienney Bochet