In the Concluding Prayer for Vespers today we pray:
Defend us Lord, against every distress
so that unencumbered in body and soul,
we may devote ourselves to your service in
FREEDOM and JOY.
These qualities of freedom and joy are very characteristic of Angela's approach to life and underline much of what she writes. In the first chapter of her Rule on receiving a candidate she says:
"she must enter joyfully and of her own will."
Once a woman has joined the Company of St Ursula Angela expects this spirit of freedom to be maintained .She tells the leaders of the Company:
"be on your guard not to want to get anything done by force,
because God has given free will to everyone,
and wants to force no one,
but only proposes, invites and counsels."
3rd Legacy
And Angela expects this freedom to find expression in a spirit of joy. She encourages us to
"Rejoice together."
8th Legacy
