The Life and Legacy of St Catherine of Siena

Born in Siena in 1347, Saint Catherine is one of the outstanding figures of the medieval Church. At the age of five or six, she experienced a vision of Jesus enthroned in glory. She resolved to devote her life to God from a young age. Catherine joined a group of pious women devoted to Dominican spirituality, which later became the Third Order of the Dominicans. Shortly afterwards, she experienced a vision of Jesus with blood gushing from his pierced side. She engaged in extreme fasting. She devoted herself to helping the poor, the sick and the imprisoned of Siena. She authored a set of spiritual writings entitled The Dialogue of Divine Providence, much of which she dictated while in a state of mystical ecstasy. At the age of 21, Catherine experienced what she described as a Mystical Marriage to Jesus. In 1375, she received the stigmata.

Catherine’s influence with Pope Gregory XI played a part in his decision in 1376 to leave Avignon for Rome. He then sent her to negotiate peace between Florence and Rome. After Pope Gregory’s death in 1378, she travelled with her followers to urge resistance to the anti-papal league. She also sent numerous letters to nobles and cardinals to promote obedience to Pope Urban VI. Catherine died in 1380. She was canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461. In 1939, Pope Pius XII declared her the joint patron saint of Italy (with Saint Francis of Assisi). Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared her a

joint patron saint of Europe (with Saint Teresa Benedicta and Saint Bridget of Sweden). Her feast day is celebrated on 29 April.