Saint Catherine of Siena
Stored in Cargo: Saint Catherine of Siena
| Saint Catherine of Siena | |
| Feast Day | April 29 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Italy, Europe, nurses, sick people, against fire, miscarriages |
| Birthplace | Siena, Republic of Siena |
| Death Place | Rome, Papal States |
| Cause of Death | Stroke |
| Primary Shrine | Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy |
Saint Catherine of Siena (March 25, 1347 – April 29, 1380) was an Italian Saint, mystic, and Doctor of the Church, renowned for her contributions to the Catholic Church during a period of political and ecclesiastical turmoil. Born in Siena, Republic of Siena, she was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic and dedicated her life to prayer, fasting, and service to the poor. Catherine's intense spiritual experiences, including visions and a mystical marriage to Christ, shaped her prolific writings, such as The Dialogue of Divine Providence. Her diplomatic efforts, particularly in persuading Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome, earned her recognition as a key figure in Church history. Canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461, she is venerated as a patron saint of Italy, Europe, nurses, and those suffering from illness.[1]
Catherine's influence extended beyond her spiritual writings, as she actively mediated conflicts, including peace negotiations in Florence and advocating for Church reform. Her ascetic lifestyle and commitment to the poor made her a beloved figure in Siena, where she ministered during the plague. Despite her lack of formal education, her theological insights, preserved in hundreds of letters and prayers, led to her designation as a Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.[2] Her feast day, celebrated on April 29, is observed in the Diocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino and the Diocese of Rome, where her relics are enshrined at Santa Maria sopra Minerva.[3]
Biography
Birth
Catherine of Siena was born on March 25, 1347, in Siena, Republic of Siena, to Giacomo di Benincasa, a dyer, and Lapa Piagenti.[1] As the 23rd or 24th of 25 children, she was born in a modest home during a time of plague and political instability in the Republic of Siena. Baptized in the Basilica of San Domenico, a prominent parish in the Diocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino, her early life was shaped by the vibrant Catholic culture of Siena.[4] The Republic of Siena, a city-state in what is now Italy, was a hub of commerce and faith, influencing her spiritual development.
From a young age, Catherine exhibited extraordinary piety, experiencing her first vision of Christ at age six. Her family's devout Catholicism, coupled with the influence of the Dominican Order in Siena, fostered her commitment to a life of prayer and service. Despite losing many siblings to illness, Catherine's resilience and faith grew, setting the stage for her remarkable vocation.[3]
Early Life
Catherine's early years in Siena were marked by intense spiritual experiences and a rejection of worldly pursuits. At age seven, she vowed chastity and began practicing severe asceticism, including fasting and sleeping on a board.[1] She resisted her family's attempts to arrange a marriage, cutting her hair to signify her dedication to God. By her teens, she joined the Mantellate, the Third Order of Saint Dominic, allowing her to live as a laywoman while following the Dominican rule of prayer and charity in Siena.[4]
Her mystical experiences intensified, including visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary, which she described in her later writings. Despite opposition from her family and societal expectations, Catherine's resolve strengthened, and she began ministering to the poor and sick in Siena, particularly during outbreaks of the plague. Her reputation for holiness spread, attracting followers known as the "Caterinati," who supported her spiritual and charitable work.[3]
Occupation
Catherine's primary occupation was as a mystic and writer, producing theological works and letters that influenced Church leaders and laypeople alike. Though she lacked formal education, her dictated writings, including The Dialogue of Divine Providence and over 300 letters, addressed spiritual, political, and social issues.[2] As a tertiary Dominican, she also served the poor and sick, tending to plague victims and prisoners in Siena. Her work extended to diplomacy, as she mediated disputes, such as the conflict between Florence and the Papal States in the 1370s.[5]
Her most notable diplomatic achievement was persuading Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome in 1377, ending decades of the Avignon Papacy. Traveling to Avignon, she met with the pope and urged Church reform, demonstrating her influence despite her lay status. Her writings and actions established her as a key figure in 14th-century Catholicism.[3]
Vocation
Catherine's vocation was rooted in her identity as a Dominican tertiary and mystic, dedicated to prayer, penance, and service. She joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic at age 16, embracing a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience without entering a convent.[4] Her mystical experiences, including a "mystical marriage" to Christ in 1367, shaped her calling to advocate for Church reform and unity. She saw her role as a bridge between God and humanity, often counseling clergy and laity through her letters.[1]
Her diplomatic missions, such as negotiating peace in Florence and urging the return of the papacy to Rome, reflected her vocation to serve the Catholic Church during the Great Schism. Catherine's tireless efforts to unify the Church and her theological writings earned her the title of Doctor of the Church, a rare honor for a woman of her time.[2]
Death
Catherine of Siena met her end on April 29, 1380, in Rome, Papal States, after suffering a stroke at age 33. Her intense ascetic practices, including prolonged fasting, likely contributed to her declining health.[3] She collapsed after a vision in which she bore the weight of the Church, dying eight days later in the house of her follower, Francesca Gori. Her final days were spent in prayer and dictating letters, urging Church unity amid the Great Schism.[5]
Her body was enshrined at Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, where it remains a site of veneration. Her death was mourned across Italy, and her legacy as a mystic and reformer continued to inspire the Catholic Church. Her writings, completed shortly before her death, solidified her reputation as a profound spiritual leader.[4]
Significant events
- Joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic in 1363, embracing a lay religious life.[1]
- Experienced a mystical marriage to Christ in 1367, deepening her spiritual mission.[3]
- Persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome in 1377.[2]
- Mediated peace between Florence and the Papal States in 1378.[5]
- Dictated The Dialogue of Divine Providence in 1378, a cornerstone of her theological legacy.[4]
- Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI on October 4, 1970.[2]
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Siena, Republic of Siena
Death location: Rome, Papal States
Notable location: Diplomatic mission for peace (Florence, Republic of Florence)
Notable location: Persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome (Avignon, Papal States)
Notable location: Site of spiritual writings (Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Papal States)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Parishes
- Basilica of San Domenico, Siena, Tuscany, Italy, where Catherine was baptized and joined the Dominican Third Order.[3]
- Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Lazio, Italy, where her relics are enshrined and venerated.[1]
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Catherine of Siena as a Servant of God began shortly after her death in 1380, initiated by her followers and the Diocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino. Her reputation for holiness, documented miracles, and writings prompted the Catholic Church to investigate her life. The process was informal by modern standards, as formal canonization procedures were not fully established in the 14th century.[5]
Venerable
Catherine was not formally declared Venerable as the title was not used in the 14th century. However, her heroic virtue was widely recognized by her contemporaries and Church authorities, based on her ascetic life, mystical experiences, and service to the Church. This acknowledgment paved the way for her canonization.[3]
Beatification
Catherine did not undergo a separate beatification process, as was common for saints canonized before the 17th century. Her widespread veneration and reported miracles, such as the healing of a plague victim in Siena during the 1370s, were sufficient for her canonization process to proceed directly.[1]
Canonization
Catherine was canonized on July 29, 1461, by Pope Pius II in Rome, Papal States.[2] Her canonization was based on her holy life, theological writings, and miracles, including the healing of a dying man in Rome in 1379. Her universal veneration was established, and she was recognized as a Saint across the Catholic Church.[4]
Miracles
Miracle for Beatification
As Catherine was canonized before the formal beatification process was established, no specific miracle was required for a beatification stage. However, a notable miracle attributed to her during her lifetime was the healing of a plague victim in Siena during the 1370s. The individual, near death, recovered after Catherine's prayers, which her followers cited as evidence of her sanctity.[1] This miracle, among others, contributed to her reputation for holiness and supported her canonization.
The absence of a formal beatification process in the 14th century meant that such miracles were evaluated collectively by Church authorities. Catherine's intercession was seen as a sign of divine favor, reinforcing her status as a holy figure in Siena and beyond.[3]
Miracle for Canonization
A key miracle for Catherine's canonization was the healing of a dying man in Rome in 1379, attributed to her intercession. The man, suffering from a terminal illness, recovered after Catherine prayed for him, an event documented by her followers and later verified by Church authorities.[4] This miracle, combined with her writings and influence, was pivotal in her canonization by Pope Pius II in 1461.
The investigation into her miracles was less formalized than modern processes, but the Church relied on eyewitness accounts and the testimony of her followers, known as the "Caterinati." The healing in Rome solidified her legacy as a miracle worker and advocate for the sick.[5]
Other Notable Miracles
- Miraculous resolution of a conflict between feuding families in Siena through her mediation in the 1370s.[3]
- Reported visions and stigmata, including invisible wounds received during a mystical experience in 1375.[1]
Patronage
Saint Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of Italy, Europe, nurses, sick people, and those protecting against fire and miscarriages. Her patronage reflects her ministry to the sick during the plague and her role as a unifier of the Church in Italy and beyond.[1]
Feast Day
The feast day of Saint Catherine of Siena is celebrated on April 29, commemorating her death in 1380.[2]
Veneration
Saint Catherine of Siena is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to her shrine at Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, Italy, where her relics are enshrined beneath the high altar.[3] Devotees also visit the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, where her head and thumb are venerated. Her image, often depicted in a Dominican habit with a lily, book, or crown of thorns, appears in churches and religious art across Italy.[1]
Catherine's legacy is celebrated in literature and art, including works by Renaissance painters like Giovanni di Paolo. Her writings, particularly The Dialogue of Divine Providence, remain influential in Catholic theology. Pilgrimages to her shrines in Siena and Rome are significant, especially during her feast day, when the Diocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino hosts celebrations honoring her contributions to the Church.[4]
Books
Written About the Saint
- Undset, Sigrid. Catherine of Siena, biography (2009 Ignatius Press). ISBN 978-1586174088.[4]
- McBrien, Richard P. Lives of the Saints, biography (2001 HarperCollins). ISBN 978-0060653415.[5]
Written by the Saint
- Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue of Divine Providence, spiritual treatise (1378, translated 2007 Paulist Press). ISBN 978-0809142347.[2]
- Catherine of Siena. The Letters of Catherine of Siena, translated by Suzanne Noffke (2000 Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies). ISBN 978-0866982443.[3]
External Links
- St. Catherine of Siena at Catholic Online
- Catherine of Siena at Wikipedia
- St. Catherine of Siena, Vatican
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "St. Catherine of Siena". https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "St. Catherine of Siena". https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/holy-father/paolo-vi/apostolic-letters/documents/hf_p-vi_apl_19701004_santa-caterina.html.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 "Catherine of Siena". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Undset, Sigrid (2009). Catherine of Siena. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1586174088.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 McBrien, Richard P. (2001). Lives of the Saints. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060653415.