Francesco degli Angeli

Francesco Degli Angeli (or Angelis) (Sorrento, 1567 – Colela, Ethiopia, 21 October 1628) was an Italian Jesuit missionary to Ethiopia.

Life

He entered the Society of Jesus in 1583. After two years (1602–04) spent in the mission of the Indies, he travelled to Ethiopia, where they called him "the man who was always cheerful".

Angeli stood high in the favour of two successive Kings of Ethiopia. He made converts, among them the brother of the King and lords of the court, but did not succeed in bringing about the reunion of the Abyssinian Church with the Roman Catholic Church, because of opposition from Ethiopian monks.

For five years Angeli preached the Gospel among the Agazi where he founded a church and school.

Works

He translated many religious works into the language of the Agazi. The most important of them was the commentary of Maldonatus on the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke.

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Francesco degli Angeli (or Angelis), Francesco degli, missionary to Ethiopia, b. at Sorrento, Italy, 1567; d. at Colela in Ethiopia, 21 October, 1628. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1583. After two years (1602–04) spent in the mission of the Indies, he went to Ethiopia, the field of his future evangelical labours. Of a gentle and cheerful disposition, the Abyssinians called him "the man who was always cheerful". Angeli stood high in the favour of two successive Kings of Ethiopia. Although, owing chiefly to the opposition of the schismatical monks, he was unsuccessful in converting the people and bringing about the reunion of the Abyssinian Church with that of Rome, he converted a large number of the schismatics, among them the brother of the King and many lords of the court. For five years Angeli preached the Gospel among the Agazi, a half-schismatic and half-idolatrous people tributary to Ethiopia. Conversions were numerous, and he founded a church and school. He translated many religious works into the language of these people. The most important of them was the commentary of Maldonatus on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke.

Cordara, Hist. Soc. Jes., par. VI^a, lib. IV, no. 106, 164; lib. IV, no. 126, 207; lib. VII, no. 165, 390; Santaoata, Istor. delta Provincia di Napoli, III, 66, 190, 216, 477; IV, 95, 277; Sotwel, Bibl., 212; Sommervogel, I, 386.

Bibliography

Attribution

Giulio Cesare Cordara, History of the Society of Jesus, par. VIa, lib. IV, no. 106, 164; lib IV, no. 126, 207, lib. VII, no. 165, 390;
Saverio Santagata, Istor. della Provincia di Napoli, III, 66, 190, 216, 477; IV, 95, 277;
Nathanael Southwell, Bibl., 212;
Sommervogel, I, 386.