FRANCESCANE ANGELINE. – Religious congregation founded by Sister Chiara Ottavia Ricci (1834–1900) and Father Innocenzo Gamalero O.F.M. (1837–1917) at Castespina (Alessandria). Since 1898, the mother house has been in Torino. It was approved by the Holy See in 1894, and the new constitutions were definitively confirmed in 1938. The sisters, currently numbering 299, devote themselves to teaching and to numerous charitable works (the education of young people, orphanages, etc.) in 30 houses.
BIBL.: Acta O. F. M., 38 (1919), p. 93; F. Maccono, L'Istituto delle suore F. A. e i suoi fondatori, Casale Monferrato 1941. Cesario van Hulst