Saint Catherine of Siena
Also known as
- Caterina Benincasa
- Catharine of Siena
- Katharine of Siena
Profile
Youngest of 24 children; her father was a wool-dyer. At the age of seven she had a vision in which Jesus appeared with Peter, Paul, and John; Jesus blessed her, and she consecrated herself to Him. Her parents began making arranged marriages for her when she turned 12, but she refused to co-operate, became a Dominican tertiary at age 15, and spent her time working with the poor and sick, attracting others to work with her. Received a vision in which she was in a mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. Some of her visions drove her to become more involved in public life. Counselor to and correspondent with Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI. Stigmatist in 1375. Lived in Avignon, France in 1376, and then in Rome, Italy from 1378 until her death. Friend of Blessed Raymond of Capua who was also her confessor. Proclaimed Doctor of the Church on 4 October 1970.
Born
- 29 April 1380 in Rome, Italy of a mysterious and painful illness that came on without notice, and was never properly diagnosed
- buried in the Dominican church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome
- first funerary monument erected in 1380 by Blessed Raymond of Capua
- relics re-enshrined in 1430
- relics re-enshrined at the high altar of the church in 1466
- against bodily ills
- against fire
- against illness
- against miscarriages
- against sexual temptation
- against sickness
- against temptations
- fire prevention
- firefighters
- nurses
- nursing homes
- nursing services
- people ridiculed for their piety
- sick people
- Theta Phi Alpha sorority
- —
- Europe (proclaimed on 1 October 1999 by Pope John Paul II)
- Italy (traditional, and proclaimed on 18 June 1939 by Pope Pius XII)
- Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, diocese of
- Gamboma, Congo, diocese of
- Macau, China, diocese of
- in Italy
Readings
Enrich your soul in the great goodness of God: The Father is your table, the Son is your food, and the Holy Spirit waits on you and then makes His dwelling in you. – Saint Catherine of Siena
Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God. – Saint Catherine of Siena
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light, and causes me to know your truth. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love. – from On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind. – Saint Catherine of Siena
MLA Citation
- “Saint Catherine of Siena“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 April 2024. Web. 1 May 2024. <>