St. Catherine of Siena was a mystic, author, Third Order Dominican, and Doctor of the Church who lived a life of deep faith and Christian spirituality.

She was the 23rd child of her parents, Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa and had a twin sister who did not survive infancy. St. Catherine had a deeply religious nature from her childhood and she determined that she would not marry.

At the age of eighteen, she entered the Dominican Third Order and practiced seclusion, prayer, and austerity at her home itself. Through the Dominican sisters, she also learned to read.

When she was 21 years old, she described an experience that she called her “mystical marriage to Christ” which completely changed her. As a result of this vision, she reentered public life and lived a life of service to the poor and sick.

She also began to travel and call for reforms within the Church. She entreated people to confess and surrender completely to God’s love. St. Catherine helped establish a monastery for women in 1377 outside the town of Siena.

St. Catherine composed over 400 letters and prayers. These works were very influential which is why Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

By 1380, St. Catherine had become very ill, perhaps as a result of her habit of fasting. She died on April 29 at the age of 33 and was canonized in 1461.

Other Saints of the Day:
St. Peter of Verona
St. Senan
St. Hugh the Great
St. Daniel
St. Ava