About St. Catherine of Siena

As I have been learning about lives of saints for the last 12 weeks, I have seen several references to St. Catherine of Siena, so she has been on my radar. Then I spoke to my cousin, Kay, (actually my husband’s cousin, technically) who recommended that I write about her. So here I go. I look forward to getting to know Catherine of Siena this week.

Her Family

Catherine was the last of more than 20 children born to Jacopo and Lapa Benincassa on March 25, 1347, during an outbreak of the plague. Half of her brothers and sisters did not live through childhood. She even had a twin who did not survive infancy. Her family was in the lower-middle-class in Siena, Italy.

After Catherine’s young married sister died, their mother wanted Catherine to marry the widower. She encouraged Catherine to groom herself to attract her husband. But Catherine did not want to marry. She was committed to remaining pure and devoted to Jesus. She cut her hair and began fasting in protest of being pushed to marry. Her father eventually insisted that she be able to follow the path she chose, and she was given a private space for prayer and meditation.

Her Holy Life

Catherine joined the Third Order of St. Dominic when she was 18 years old, spending the first three years in seclusion and prayer. She also underwent a mystical experience known as the “spiritual espousals,” which is something like a “mystical marriage to Christ.” I’m not sure that I understand exactly what that means, but it certainly explains the level of devotion she practiced throughout her life.

Often, Catherine communicated through letters to Popes, leaders of state, and ordinary citizens offering counsel and advice. She was admired for her insight and wisdom. Italy faced great conflicts and the Church suffered serious division during this time, and Catherine worked to bring peace.

She actually developed quite a following of disciples, both men and women, who were drawn to her devotion and her amazing wisdom. Although she endured ridicule from some, including some friars and sisters of her own order, she maintained a positive attitude and a life of sacrifice and service.

Her Visions

On source (here) says that she began receiving visions in early childhood. There were a few that stand out, including the spiritual espousal event, at which time she was commanded to go out into the world and serve the sick and the poor. In the summer of 1370, she experienced a series of visions described as special manifestations of Divine Mysteries. These visions culminated in her going into a prolonged trance, which was kind of like a “mystical death.” In these visions she saw Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. This is also when she began working for peace.

Written Works

Her definitive work, the Dialogue, contains her spiritual testament. It is sometimes called her “Treatise on Divine Providence.” According to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, Dialogue, “which treats of the whole spiritual life of man in the form of a series of colloquies between the Eternal Father and the human soul (represented by Catherine herself), is the mystical counterpart in prose of Dante’s “Divina Commedia” (found here, para 6)

She is possibly revealed most truthfully in her letters. Some were written to leaders of states or of the Church, others were written to citizens who asked for her guidance. New Advent describes her teaching as this, “man, whether in the cloister or in the world, must ever abide in the cell of self-knowledge, which is the stable in which the traveler through time to eternity must be born again” (para 7)

Additionally, there are many books written about St. Catherine. Most notably are three from the people who knew her in life. Her confessor and spiritual director, Bl. Ramondo delle Vegne of Capua, wrote “The Legend,” and another of her associates, Fra. Tomasco Caffarini, wrote “The Supplement,” both stories of her life. “Process” is another work that contains accounts of St. Catherine. It was composed from 1411 to 1413 by gathering information from surviving witnesses of her life and work.

Sainthood

Possibly because of her extreme fasting, Catherine became seriously ill when she was 33 years old. By January, 1380, she had become completely unable to eat and drink, and she even lost the use of her legs. She had a stroke in mid to late April, 1380, and died a week later on April 29, which became her feast day.

Pope Pius II canonized St. Catherine in 1461. Pope Paul VI named Catherine of Siena, along with Teresa of Avila, Doctors of the Church in 1970. As the Franciscan Media says in a reflection on St. Catherine of Siena, ” The value of her life for us today lies in her recognition of holiness as a goal to be sought over the course of a lifetime.” (found here, para 7)

St. Catherine of Siena is a patroness of fire, illness, the United States, Italy, miscarriages, people ridiculed for their faith, sexual temptation, and nurses. I hope you’ll join us this week as we explore the lessons that St. Catherine provides for our lives.