Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Europe and of Italy
Saint Catherine of Siena was born on March 25, 1347 in Siena, Italy along with her twin who passed away shortly after birth. Catherine’s parents, Lapa Piagenti and Giacomo di Benincasa, had 25 children in total including Catherine and her twin. St. Catherine’s family was raised in the Catholic Church, and Catherine had a great love for every person, especially her family. She explained that it was easier to love her family as she thought of her father as Jesus, her mother as Mary, and her brothers as the apostles. Her education included only the basics, as was the common custom during that time period.
At the age of 7, Catherine received a vision of Jesus with many popular saints of that era behind him. Jesus was wearing the vestments that a pope would typically wear. After this vision, she made personal vows, similar to the ones followed in religious orders. However, her parents hoped she would marry one day. When Catherine was 16 years old her sister died leaving behind a husband. Catherine’s parents wanted her to marry her widower brother-in-law. Catherine responded by cutting her hair and embarked on a life of serious fasting as a means of making herself seem less attractive. This worried her parents, and they eventually stopped pressuring her to marry. That same year, Catherine was inspired by a vision of St. Dominic to enter the female branch of the Third Order Dominicans known as Mantellate. After receiving her parents’ consent, she entered the order, which she preferred over residing in a convent, because she was able to continue living with her family.
Catherine had a deep devotion to the poor and sick. There were multiple cases where Catherine gave away the belongings of her family without their permission in order to help those whom she saw had a greater need. Catherine’s family members would reprimand her, and she quietly and humbly accepted these reactions. Relative to modern day Italy, there were many more people who were poor and sick during Catherine’s life. The Black Plague only worsened the circumstances.
Approximately one-third of Europe’s population died as a result of the plague.
When Catherine was 21 years old, she had an experience which she described as her “mystical marriage to Jesus.” After receiving Jesus’ body and blood in the Blessed Sacrament, Catherine went into trances on various occasions which were witnessed by her Dominican sisters. These trances would sometimes include Catherine being unresponsive, not even reacting to pain. There was at least one instance of Catherine levitating. When Catherine was in her mid-20s she entered into a state of ecstasy and had a dialogue with God. During this dialogue, she dictated some of it aloud, and her sisters heard this. Catherine, being illiterate, could not write this all down herself, so after this experience, she continued relaying the dialogue which her sisters would record. By 1370 the full treatise was completed, and this compilation of over 400 letters is known as The Dialogue with Divine Providence. A famous analogy that Catherine used was to refer to Jesus as a bridge. The Christ-Bridge would lead us “horizontally” over the raging river of sin, and also “vertically” from Earth to Heaven. During a separate mystical experience in 1375, Catherine was gifted with the stigmata, although it was only visible to her.
In 1309, Pope Clement V left Rome to live in Avignon, France for political reasons. The papacy remained in Avignon after Pope Clement’s death despite countless people pleading for each pope to return to Rome. Catherine felt called to join the ranks of people who would try to convince the pope. By this point, Pope Gregory XI was the current successor of Peter, and Catherine walked to Avignon to confront the pope in person. She told him that he needed to keep the promise he made to God. Pope Gregory XI was caught off guard when Catherine referred to a promise that he had made before he became the pope. He had promised God that if he became pope, he would bring the papacy back to Rome, but he never told a single person about that promise. Pope Gregory XI had been convinced by Catherine, and he reluctantly returned to Rome in January of 1377 despite his fear of the political complications. Later that same year, Catherine established a monastery for women.
On April 29, 1380, Catherine was near death and was plagued by demons. She prayed for God’s forgiveness for all her inadequacies. In her last moments, those by her side said that the torments stopped, and she passed away with a peaceful look on her face.
Catherine was canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. In 1866 Pope Pius IX declared her the Patroness of Rome, and Pope Pius XII declared her the Co-Patron of Italy (together with Francis of Assisi) in 1939. In 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine a Doctor of the Church. This came as a shock to many, because there are comparably fewer women who receive the honor of this title.
Today let’s remember St. Catherine of Siena as she professed deep truths through the truly deep love that she shared with God.
Heaven is our Goal.
Sources: About St. Catherine of Siena – Saint Catherine of Sienna – Quarryville, PA (stcatherineqville.com)