The Ursuline Sisters
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Saint Ursula by Mary Justin McKiernan, OSU

In Britain there lived a Christian King who had a daughter, named Ursula, who her loved very much. In fact, the entire country was enamored with her -- for she was filled with dignity, respect, wisdom, and beauty. People from far away lands heard of the King's remarkable daughter and before long the King of Anglia asked for her to be wed to his only son. The prince, too, very much wanted this marriage to occur yet Ursula and her father, devout Christians, were loathe at the idea of marrying an idolater. In fact, messengers from Anglia delivered heinous threats of what would happen if they had to return without a confirmation of Ursula's hand for the Prince, who was named Ethereus.

Ursula, prayed long and hard and asked for God’s guidance in making a decision and protecting her father's throne. Inspired by God, Ursula advised her father to accept the proposal but only on certain conditions. Both kings should put at Ursula's disposal ten chosen girls who would each be accompanied by another thousand girls and the kings should provide ships for a journey for the girls.

Surely, they would withdraw their proposal, thought Ursula and her father.

Surprisingly, the Prince and his father accepted these conditions unquestioningly. Thus, men and girls from all around volunteered to accompany Ursula on her travels and she immediately converted them all to Christianity.

While in transit at Cologne, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Ursula in a vision and instructed her to alter her course and go to Rome. Additionally, he prophesied that Ursula and her followers would return to Cologne and achieve martyrdom.

An Angel of the Lord also appeared to Ethereus, now the King after his father’s death, and encouraged him to convert his mother to Christianity and meet Ursula in Rome so he, too, could achieve martyrdom. Thus, with his newly baptized mother, his little sister, Florentina, and the Bishop Clement, they embarked on their journey. Also, as Ursula and her followers entered Rome, Pope Cyricus had a vision of what was to occur and absconded his thrown to Ametos to join Ursula.

As Ursula returned to Cologne with her followers she found the city occupied by the Huns, who had been spying on Ursula in fear of the mass spread of Christianity. The Huns massacred all of the young girls, the Pope, and Ethereus and his family. The leader of the Huns intended to take Ursula as his wife. When she firmly refused, he thrust an arrow through her heart, completing the martyrdom of 11,000 young Christian women.

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