The Congregation of the Ursuline Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus is one of the numerous branches of the Ursuline family and it roots go back to 1535, when Angela Merici established the Company of St. Ursula.

St. Angela Merici was born circa 1474 in Desenzano on the shore of Lake Garda in Northern Italy. She was raised in religious atmosphere set in her house and therefore, Angela early began to lead a life filled with prayer and penance. However, she did not enjoy the family happiness for long as at the age of 15 she lost her sister and soon after, her parents passed away. The orphan was taken in by her uncle from Salo where she was responsible for the household chores. Meanwhile, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis. Furthermore, as a teenager Angela experienced a mystical vision that had a big impact on her spiritual growth as she had heard an inner call to establish an association of virgins devoted to God...

St. Angela chose St. Ursula for the patroness of the Company as a model of complete and radical (to the point of martyrdom) submission to Christ. St. Ursula as a teacher of the Christian doctrines of faith is to be an exemplar of an educator and teacher...