Born in Corby Abbey in Picardy, France, on January 13, 1380, Colette was the daughter of a carpenter by the name of DeBoilet. She was baptized Nicolette, and given the nickname Colette. At seventeen, she became an orphan and gave away her inheritance to the underprivileged.

She became a tertiary Franciscan and lived alone in Corby. She quickly gained a reputation for her holiness and spiritual insight, but in 1406, she abandoned her cell after receiving a dream that instructed her to reform the Poor Clares. Peter de Luna, whom the French acknowledged as Pope Benedict XIII, gave her the Poor Clares habit and gave her the authority to restructure the Order, designating her as Superior of all the convents she reorganized.

She continued with her efforts in the face of strong opposition. She modified numerous existing convents and built seventeen convents with the new rule. Renowned for her holiness, ecstasies, and Passion visions, she foretold her demise in her convent located in Ghent, Belgium. A branch of the Poor Clares is still known as the Collettines.

She was beatified on 23 January 1740 by Pope Clement XII and on May 24, 1807, she was canonized by Pope Pius VII. Her feast is celebrated on March 6th. She is revered as the patron of women seeking to conceive, expectant mothers and sick children.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Conon
Saint Baldred
Saint Cadroe of Metz
Saint Marcian of Tortona
Saint Evagrius of Constantinople