Early Years

St. Catherine of Siena was born March 25, 1347 in Siena, Italy into a large middle-class family as the 25th child. Her father was a dyer and her mother the daughter of a local poet. Even at an early age, Catherine was a very holy person. At sixteen, St. Catherine took the habit of the Dominican Tertiaries in a little room in her father's house. She experienced celestial visions regularly and participated in familiar conversation with Christ. After 3 straight years of this (when she was around 19) She underwent "spiritual espousals", or was married to Christ. She then returned to her family and began to tend to the sick, serve the poor, and work for the conversion of sinners. Even though St. Catherine was so devoted to nothing but God and The Catholic Church and had little time to tend to her personal desires, people who knew her described her as good-natured and charming.

Life and Accomplishments

St. Catherine of Siena was always willing to aid in troubled times to the best of her abilities. When the Black Plague swept across Europe in the Middle Ages, Catherine worked tirelessly to get to every dying person, and, in their final minutes, worked to relieve their suffering. She would try to convert them so that they may go to Heaven. One priest she had known from early childhood wrote, "Never did she appear more admirable than at this time. She was always with the plague-stricken; she prepared them for death and buried them with her own hands. I myself witnessed the joy with which she nursed them and the wonderful efficacy of her words, which brought about many conversions." (ewtn.com). Another adventure St. Catherine embarked upon was when she went to Pisa in 1375. St. Catherine was sent by the Florentines to meditate with the pope, and Catherine, always eager for peace, set out. However, when she got there, she was told that no one had invited her, proving Florentine's untrustworthiness. Although, now that she and the pope were face to face, she managed to urge him strongly to do what she had been telling him to do in letters for years; to return to Rome with his court. Even after the Pope fulfilled his promise, she kept sending letters probing peace between the papacy and city governors. She finally got this request fulfilled, although it was his successor who finally established it.

Dying Moments

St. Catherine, in her final moments on earth was overtaken by a stroke that initially paralyzed her from the waist down. Eight days later on April 19, 1380 she died in the arms of her friend, Alessia Saracini. St. Catherine was later canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Saint Catherine is also the first female Doctor of the Church; a great feat. Her feast day (or day of recognition) is celebrated on April 19, 1380.

Citations

"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Catherine of Siena." NEW ADVENT: Home. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

"Saint Catherine of Siena." Eternal Word Television Network, Global Catholic Network. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

"St. Catherine of Siena - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online." Catholic Online - Breaking News, World, U.S., Catholic, Diocese & Video News. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

"St. Catherine of Siena." Doctors of the Catholic Church Homepage. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

"St. Catherine of Siena: QUOTATIONS." Catholictradition.org. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. .