St. Catherine of Siena was
born during the outbreak of the plague in Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347. She
was the 25th child born to her mother, although half of her brothers and
sisters did not survive childhood. Catherine herself was a twin, but her twin sister did not survive infancy. Her mother
was 40 when Catherine was born. As a child,
prayer was her delight. When only seven years old, she made a vow of virginity
and afterwards endured bitter persecution for refusing to marry. At the age of
fifteen, she entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic, but continued to reside
in her father’s shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer
of a contemplative saint. From this obscure home, the seraphic virgin was
summoned to defend the Church’s cause. Armed with papal authority, and
accompanied by three confessors, she travelled through Italy, reducing
rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See and winning hardened souls
to God. She sought out Pope Gregory XI at Avignon, brought him back to Rome, while she wrote profusely to
the kings and queens of Europe encouraging allegiance to the Pope. She
was the counselor of Pope Urban VI, and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals
who had a part in electing an anti-pope. Day and night she wept and prayed for
unity and peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope so
that some sought the life of Christ’s Vicar. Her prayers helped bring some
semblance of peace. She also established a monastery for women in 1377 outside
of Siena. She is credited with composing over 400 letters, her Dialogue, which
is her definitive work, and her prayers. These works are so influential that
St. Catherine would later be declared a Doctor of the Church. By 1380, the
33-year-old mystic had become ill, possibly because of her habit of extreme
fasting. In January of 1380, her illness accelerated her inability to eat and
drink. Within weeks, she was unable to use her legs. She died on April 29, aged
33, following a stroke just a week before. St.
Catherine is the patroness against fire, illness, Italy, miscarriages, and
people ridiculed for their faith.
Thursday, 29 April 2021
St. Catherine of Siena
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