Saint Catherine of Siena
Layperson, Mystic
Doctor of the Church
(1347 – 1380)

Saint’s Life Story

Her Early Life

Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa, who is also known as Catherine, was born on March 25, 1347, in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. She was the 23rd of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa’s 25 children. Her twin, Giovanna, who died at birth, as well as half of her twenty-four siblings, did not survive infancy. Her father was a prosperous wool-dyer, who had his sons working for him. From an early age, Catherine wanted to devote herself to God, against the will of her parents. When scarcely five years of age, Catherine was called “the little Saint” on account of her quietness and her love of prayer.

Vision at 6

When she was six years old, Catherine and her brother were on their way home turning onto the street now called the Cortone, Catherine’s steps were arrested by a vision of Paradise. Looking up to the sky, she saw, just above the church of Saint Dominic, a majestic throne, whence the Lord Jesus, in splendid robes, extended His hand towards her in blessing. Beside Him stood Saints Peter, Paul, and John, and around them were angels and glorified souls.

Her brother, seeing her in the middle of the road and looking upward, called Catherine and asked her what she was doing. However, Catherine did not seem to hear him. So, he took her by the hand leading her away. She looked down at him for a moment. When Catherine again turned her eyes heavenward, the vision was gone. Catherine wept disconsolately, and said, “Ah! if you could have seen what I saw, you would never have disturbed me.” This early divine encounter deeply influenced Catherine’s life and spiritual journey.

At age seven, Catherine vowed to give her whole life to God.

Cut Her Long Brown Hair

Catherine’s hair was very abundant and of a golden brown hue that has always been much admired in Italy. When Catherine was twelve years old, her parents began to busy themselves about a suitable marriage for her, following the cultural norms of the time.

However, Catherine replied: “I am already wedded to a most noble Spouse and shall never bestow my love on a human being” and cutting off her hair, she covered her head with a veil. Besides fasting, Catherine further disappointed her mother by cutting off her long hair in protest of being encouraged to improve her appearance to attract a husband.

To drive all thoughts of entering a Convent out of her mind, her parents burdened her with the entire care of the house, as well as the most difficult work, so that no leisure was left her, either for prayer, or devotional reading. This was at first a difficult trial to her, but she was told by Christ, to build a cell in her heart, where, in the midst of her employments, she might pray, namely, by offering her work to God and by pious ejaculations.

Dominican Tertiary

Catherine persuaded her mother to ask the Sisters of Penance (Third Order of St. Dominic), then commonly called “Mantellate” (cloaked sisters), the local association of devout women, to receive her into their number. Initially, they refused her, on the ground that they had never taken young girls, and had no cloister to keep them in. Later, Catherine fell seriously ill with a violent rash, fever and pain. Her mother, Lapa, fearing for Catherine’s life, accepted her second request to apply to join the “Mantellate”.

This time, at the age of 15, Catherine was accepted into this Dominican order of laypersons. The Mantellate taught Catherine how to read. It was customary for Catherine to give away clothing and food without asking anyone’s permission, which cost her family significantly. However, Catherine requested nothing for herself. She did not want their food, referring to the table laid for her in Heaven with her real family.

Helped Poor and Sick

The next three years, Catherine spent in the strictest solitude and silence, communing with God. At the end of those three years, Catherine was commanded by the Savior to go and sit at table with her family. He told her she could have a coll within her heart, where He would dwell. So that while she was ministering to others, Catherine would still be alone with Him. Catherine rejoined her family and began helping the ill and the poor, taking care of them in hospitals or homes. Her early pious activities in Siena attracted a group of followers, both women and men, who gathered around her.

Mystical Marriage with Jesus

Throughout her life, Catherine had numerous mystical experiences and visions. At the age of twenty-one, Catherine experienced what she described in her letters as a “Mystical Marriage” with Jesus. During this mystical experience, Catherine received a vision in which she was mystically married to Christ and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. These visions further propelled her into a life of deep spirituality and commitment to Christ.

She wrote in a letter (to encourage a nun who seems to have been undergoing a prolonged period of spiritual trial and torment): “Bathe in the blood of Christ crucified. See that you don’t look for or want anything but the crucified, as a true bride ransomed by the blood of Christ crucified – for that is my wish. You see very well that you are a bride and that he has espoused you – you and everyone else – and not with a ring of silver but with a ring of his own flesh.”

Conversion

Catherine was requested to try to convert Nanni di Ser Vanni, a very troublesome, worldly, and irreligious man. Finding all her exhortations fruitless, she ceased to speak, and began silently praying for him. He immediately repented of his sins, humbly made peace with his neighbors, and embraced a penitential life. He gave Catherine his castle of Belcaro, near Siena, which, in 1377, she converted into a convent.

Santa Donna

Between the years 1367 and 1374, Catherine devoted herself to helping the sick and incarcerated of Siena. With her help in the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala and within the neighborhood that she was living, Catherine’s acts of charity became well-known. This led to her being known as “santa donna”, or a holy woman. This reputation of holiness eventually led to her involvement in politics and a hearing with the pope.

Public Life

Her sanctity, charity, and discretion were now so well known as to procure for Catherine — a tradesman’s daughter, without health, wealth, beauty, or ambition — an influence in the ecclesiastical and political world, which has often been bought too deadly or sought in vain by queens and princesses.

In 1374, Catherine made her first journey to Florence, probably to be interviewed by the Dominican authorities at the General Chapter to be held in Florence in May 1374. At this time, she met Blessed Raymond of Capua as her confessor, spiritual director, who would later become her biographer.

During this time, the “black death” pestilence raged in Tuscany. Catherine devoted herself to the care of the bodies and souls of the victims in her native city. Among the patients whose lives she saved by exertions and prayers was her biographer Raymond of Capua.

In 1375, Catherine used what influence she had to sway Pisa, Italy away from alliance with the anti-papal league whose force was gaining momentum and strength. It was at Pisa, in the chapel of St. Christina, that Catherine received the stigmata while praying before the crucifix.

During a period of great turmoil in the Church, Catherine played a critical role in political and ecclesiastical affairs. In 1376, Catherine went to Avignon as ambassador of the Republic of Florence to make peace with the Papal States. She was unsuccessful. Catherine fervently advocated for its return to Rome. Through her letters and personal intervention, she convinced Pope Gregory XI to reestablish the papal seat in Rome in 1377.

Returned to Siena

After three months at Avignon, Catherine went back to Siena, resuming her life of charity and devotion. At the same time, the Pope made the long-deferred journey to Rome. Soon afterwards the Pope desired Catherine to go to Florence. Here, she lived for some time amid daily crimes, riots, and confiscations.

During this period around 1378, there occurred an insurrection of the people, chiefly directed against the Guelphs. The houses of some of Catherine’s friends were sacked and burnt. Suddenly, a mob took the fancy to blame Catherine as the author of all their misfortunes. They cried out, “Let us take Catherine and bum her ; let us cut that wicked woman in pieces.”

Those who had given her hospitality were afraid. Some of her friends tried to get her away secretly from the house where she was living. As she was praying in the garden, Catherine heard the cries of the rioters and went joyfully forward. The first man Catherine met was a furious ruffian, brandishing a sword and shouting, “Where is Catherine?”

She knelt down before him and said quietly, “I am Catherine. Do to me whatever God may permit.” The man was embarrassed, and could only ask her to fly.

She said, ” Why should I fly? Where would you have me go? I ask nothing better than to be sacrificed for God and the Church, so if you are going to kill me, I will not resist.”

The man and his followers withdrew in confusion. This happened in 1378.

On the death of Pope Gregory XI, in the same year, began the Great Schism. Catherine considered Pope Urban VI duly elected. She influenced the Florentines to come to terms with him and to reject the claims of the antipope Clement VIL However, Catherine wrote to Pope Urban. She exhorted him to restrain a temper that made him so many enemies and that tended to perpetuate the scandal of the schism. He took her advice in good part and sent for her to Rome. She stayed at Pope Urban VI’s court and tried to convince nobles and cardinals of his legitimacy, both meeting with individuals at court and writing letters to persuade others.

Friendship with Saint Catherine of Sweden

The Pope proposed to send her with Saint Catherine of Sweden, to bring over to his party Joan, queen of Sicily. Catherine was eager to go, but the project was set aside. However, after this initial meeting, Catherine developed a close friendship with Saint Catherine of Sweden.

3 Genres of Work

Catherine had 3 Genres of her work survive.

1) The Dialogue of Divine Providence (Libro della Divina Dottrina), a theological work detailing her conversations with God
2) Her 400 letters, including 382 to the Pope, whom she addressed affectionately simply as Babbo (‘Daddy’), instead of the formal form of address “Your Holiness”
3) 26 Prayers, mostly composed in the last 18 months of her life

Her Death

At Rome, Catherine became dangerously sick. During the next four months, she suffered excruciating pain, leaving her unable to eat or drink. However, Catherine never stopped praising and giving thanks to God. In the thirty-third year of her life, Catherine passed away on April 29, 1380, in Rome, Italy from this mysterious and painful illness that appeared suddenly and remained undiagnosed. Her last words were: “”Father, into Your Hands I commend my soul and my spirit.“

She was buried in the Dominican church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. Soon after her death, a funerary monument was erected in 1380 by her confessor, Blessed Raymond of Capua. In 1430, her relics were re-enshrined, and in 1466, they were placed at the high altar of the church.

Her mother, Lapa, who lived until 89, helped Raymond of Capua write his biography of Catherine.

Saint Catherine of Siena was declared a Doctor of the Church on October 4, 1970 by Pope Paul VI.

Born:                  March 25, 1347 in Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Died:                  April 29, 1380 age 33 in Rome, Italy

Beatified:          December 29, 1460 by Pope Pius II

Canonized:       June 29, 1461 by Pope Pius II

Feast Day:        April 29, formerly April 30

Patron Saint:    Against Bodily Ills; Against Fire; Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.; Europe; Italy; Nurses; People Ridiculed for their Piety; Rome, Italy; Sick People; Sienna, Italy

Source:

• • A Dictionary Of Saintly Women, Volume 1 : Dunbar, Agnes Baillie Cunninghame – St Catherine of Siena
  • Saint of the Day – 30 April – St Catherine of Siena OP (1347-1380) Virgin – AnaStpaul
  • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Catherine of Siena
  • Saint Catherine of Siena – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • Catherine of Siena – Wikipedia

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Saint of the Week: St. Catherine of Siena – YouTube (The True Enlightenment!)