St. Catherine of Siena was a Dominican tertiary and mystic who lived in Italy in the 1300s. She was known for her holiness, asceticism, and spiritual visions and was said to have received stigmata. She was also a reformer and political activist, and she was influential in religious and political affairs of the church.
Why is St. Catherine of Siena famous?
St. Catherine of Siena is one of only four women who were named doctor of the church, meaning that her writings, including the mystical The Dialogue and her prayers and letters, have special authority in Roman Catholicism. She was an important defender of the papacy and is a patron saint of Europe and of Italy.
Where is St. Catherine of Siena buried?
St. Catherine of Siena died at age 33 in Rome, and most of her body is buried there at Santa Maria sopra Minerva basilica. Her mummified head is in a reliquary near her thumb in the church of St. Dominic in Siena, while her foot and three of her fingers are holy relics in Venice.
St. Catherine of Siena (born March 25, 1347, Siena, Tuscany [Italy]—died April 29, 1380, Rome; canonized 1461; feast day April 29) Dominican tertiary, mystic, and one of the patron saints of Italy. She was declared a doctor of the church in 1970 and a patron saint of Europe in 1999.
Catherine was the youngest of 25 children born to a lower middle-class family; most of her siblings did not survive childhood. At a young age she is said to have consecrated her virginity to Christ and experienced mystical visions. Catherine became a tertiary (member of a monastic third order who takes simple vows and may remain outside a convent or monastery) of the Dominican order (1363), joining the Sisters of Penitence of St. Dominic in Siena. She rapidly gained a wide reputation for her holiness and her severe asceticism. In her early twenties she experienced a “spiritual espousal” to Christ and was moved to immediately begin serving the poor and sick, gaining disciples in the process.
Her ministry eventually moved beyond her local community, and Catherine began to travel and promote church reform. When the rebellious city of Florence was placed under an interdict by Pope Gregory XI (1376), Catherine determined to take public action for peace within the church and Italy and to encourage a Crusade against the Muslims. She went as an unofficial mediator to Avignon with her confessor and biographer Raymond of Capua. Her mission failed, and she was virtually ignored by the pope, but while at Avignon she promoted her plans for a Crusade.
It became clear to her that the return of Pope Gregory XI to Rome from Avignon—an idea that she did not initiate and had not strongly encouraged—was the only way to bring peace to Italy. Catherine left for Tuscany the day after Gregory set out for Rome (1376). At his request she went to Florence (1378) and was there during the Ciompi Revolt in June. After a short final stay in Siena, during which she completed The Dialogue (begun the previous year), she went to Rome in November, probably at the invitation of Pope Urban VI, whom she helped in reorganizing the church. From Rome she sent out letters and exhortations to gain support for Urban; as one of her last efforts, she tried to win back Queen Joan I of Naples to obedience to Urban, who had excommunicated the queen for supporting the antipopeClement VII.
Catherine’s writings, all of which were dictated, include about 380 letters, 26 prayers, and the 4 treatises of Il libro della divina dottrina, better known as The Dialogue (c. 1475; Eng. trans. by Suzanne Noffke, 1980). The record of her ecstatic experiences in The Dialogue illustrates her doctrine of the “inner cell” of the knowledge of God and of self into which she withdrew. A complete edition of Catherine’s works, together with her biography by Raymond, was published in Siena (1707–21).
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the study of history, society, and religious figures, I bring a wealth of knowledge and first-hand expertise to the table. My passion for these subjects has led me to explore and understand various aspects of mysticism, the Avignon papacy, and influential figures like St. Catherine of Siena.
Let's delve into the concepts related to the article on Fra Bartolommeo's painting, "God the Father with SS. Catherine of Siena and Mary Magdalene." This masterpiece is a testament to the rich history and religious significance of the subjects portrayed.
St. Catherine of Siena:
St. Catherine of Siena was a Dominican tertiary and mystic who lived in Italy during the 1300s. Born on March 25, 1347, in Siena, Tuscany, she devoted her life to holiness, asceticism, and spiritual visions. St. Catherine played a pivotal role in the Avignon papacy and was known for receiving stigmata. Her influence extended beyond spirituality to reform and political activism. She was canonized in 1461 and declared a doctor of the church in 1970.
Avignon Papacy:
The Avignon papacy refers to the period when the popes resided in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. This relocation occurred during the 14th century, and it had significant implications for the Catholic Church. St. Catherine of Siena played a role in urging the return of Pope Gregory XI to Rome from Avignon to restore peace within the church and Italy.
Mysticism:
Mysticism, a central theme in St. Catherine's life, involves the pursuit of a direct and intimate experience of the divine. Her mystical experiences, including spiritual espousal to Christ and visions, shaped her understanding of the "inner cell" of knowledge of God and self, as illustrated in her writings.
The Dialogue:
St. Catherine's notable work, "The Dialogue" (Il libro della divina dottrina), completed around 1475, serves as a significant source of her teachings. This work, consisting of letters, prayers, and treatises, delves into her ecstatic experiences and doctrine, providing insights into her profound spirituality.
Fra Bartolommeo's artwork captures the essence of these concepts, depicting St. Catherine of Siena alongside Mary Magdalene in a portrayal of divine significance. The historical and religious contexts surrounding the figures in the painting add layers of meaning that resonate with the viewer, offering a glimpse into the complexities of mysticism, religious activism, and the Avignon papacy during that era.
Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa (25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380), known as Catherine of Siena (Italian: Caterina da Siena), was an Italian mystic and pious laywoman who engaged in papal and Italian politics through extensive letter-writing and advocacy.
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(born March 25, 1347, Siena, Tuscany [Italy]—died April 29, 1380, Rome; canonized 1461; feast day April 29) was a Dominican
Dominican
Dominican, one of the four great mendicant orders of the Roman Catholic Church, founded by St. Dominic in 1215. Its members include friars, nuns, active sisters, and lay Dominicans. From the beginning the order has been a synthesis of the contemplative life and the active ministry.
tertiary, mystic, and one of the patron saints of Italy. She was declared a doctor of the church
doctor of the church
In early Christianity the Western church recognized four doctors of the church—Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome—and later adopted the Three Holy Hierarchs of the Eastern church and also Athanasius the Great.
Pope Paul VI declared her a doctor of the Church, along with Teresa of Avila, on 4 October 1970, and Pope John Paul II proclaimed her patron saint of Europe on 1 October, 1999 (along with five other saints). She is also the patron saint of journalists, media, and nursing.
Because of her writ- ings and her powerful letters, Catherine is the patron saint of journalists, the media, and the communication professions. Saint Catherine of Siena, ask God to help me “speak truth to power.”
She is the patron of philosophers and scholars and is believed to help protect against sudden death. St. Catherine of Alexandria is not mentioned before the 9th century, and her historicity is doubtful. According to legend, she was an extremely learned young girl of noble birth, possibly a princess.
Born Catherine Benincasa in Siena, Italy, on March 25, 1347, she was the 24th of 25 children. From her earliest years, Catherine was blessed with visions. She assumed austere sacrificial penances, and consecrated her virginity to God at the age of 7. When she was 12, her parents wished to marry her off.
Pray for us, O glorious Virgin, St. Catherine, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray, O God, who gave St. Catherine, graced with the special privilege of virginity, patience to overcome the assault of evil spirits and to stand unshaken in the love of your Name.
Moved by His grace, you devoted your life to the poor and the sick, as well as to the peace and unity of the Church. Through your intercession, may we also come to know the love of Jesus, bring His compassion to all, and work for the unity of His Church. St. Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
In iconography, St. Catherine is often depicted with a Lily as a symbol of her purity. A burning Heart reminds us of the love St. Catherine received from Christ and her quote: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
Model for Christian Women. Catherine famously said, “Be who you are, and you will set the world ablaze.” This truth echoes through the ages, inspiring the modern conscience. “Catherine was completely herself,” says Father Danaher. “This is a key thing for Christians; we often imitate people to be holy.
Catherine disappointed her mother by cutting off her hair as a protest against being overly encouraged to improve her appearance in order to attract a husband. Her father ordered her to be left in peace and she was given a room of her own for prayer and meditation.
When an outbreak of the plague struck Italy, Catherine cared for the sick and dying, and buried the dead, with great compassion. She became so well-known for her holiness and compassion that many people started to seek her out for wisdom and advice.
Catherine loved God, and she loved others. She spent her life learning about God, praying for transformation into what he wanted her to be. She was singularly focused on Heaven. Lesson: Keep your eyes on God and Heaven as the one goal.
As she watched the Church around her continue in a pattern of spiritual decay, Catherine believed that she could carry the weight of its atonement. In her last mystical experience, she felt the Church's weight on her back, and collapsed into a state of excruciating paralysis. Within weeks, at age 33, she died.
In iconography, St. Catherine is often depicted with a Lily as a symbol of her purity. A burning Heart reminds us of the love St. Catherine received from Christ and her quote: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
Saint Anne is patroness of unmarried women, housewives, women in labor or who want to be pregnant, grandmothers, mothers and educators. She is also a patroness of horseback riders, cabinet-makers and miners.
In the Middle Ages, Saint Cecilia became a very popular saint. She is remembered today as the patron of musicians, composers, instrument makers, and poets. There is a story that Saint Cecilia was said to have heard heavenly music inside her heart when she was forced to marry the pagan Valerian.
The idea of reform, of renewal, is fundamental in Catherine's vision of the Church. The Church of Christ should renew herself in each epoch, not in her divine structure but in her members, putting on the new man of which St. Paul speaks.
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