Disrupting Sacred Time: Angela of Foligno's Encounter with St. Bartholomew's Demonic Imposter

The Franciscan tertiary Angela of Foligno (ca. 1248-1309) reports that a demon tempted her with pride and desolation, falsely claiming to be the apostle Bartholomew and that it was his feast day. Other women (Christina of Stommeln, Gertrude of Helfta, and Catherine of Genoa) likewise received ominous visitations connected with Bartholomew. Angela's experience reflects the influence of legends that associated Bartholomew with trickster demons. Her confusion about the date of Bartholomew's festival may derive from a liturgical calendar error or disputes about the proper day for observing Bartholomew's feast. The desolation caused by the Bartholomew impersonator foreshadows the intense interior struggles that occur later in Angela's spiritual journey. This episode illustrates the importance of liturgical time. Disruption of Angela's observance of a saint's day brings about emotional suffering, while proper liturgical observance and attendance at mass have the power to restore her from demonic affliction and inspire profound spiritual experiences.