The Ricci were an ancient family of Tuscany. Catherine was born in Florence in 1522 and was given the name Alexandrina at baptism. Later, at her religious profession, she took the name Catherine. Her mother died when she was still an infant, and her father placed her in the Convent of Monticelli near the gates of Florence when she was about six or seven years old. Her aunt, Louisa de Ricci, was a nun there. The convent felt like a paradise to the young girl, but after some years her father brought her home.
Drawn strongly to religious life, and with her father’s consent, she entered the convent of the Dominican nuns at Prato in Tuscany. In 1535, at only fourteen years of age, she received the religious veil.
For two years she endured severe suffering caused by a combination of serious illnesses, and medical treatments seemed only to worsen her condition. She sanctified these sufferings through her inner disposition, accepting them with patience and nourishing her spirit through constant meditation on the Passion of Christ. Through prayer and self discipline she gained victory over herself and purified her affections. In union with God, and through the complete reign of divine love in her heart, she became detached from earthly concerns.
While still young she was chosen as mistress of novices, later sub prioress, and at the age of twenty five she was appointed perpetual prioress. Her reputation for holiness and wisdom attracted many visitors, including bishops, princes, and cardinals. Among them were Cardinals Cervini, Alexander de Medici, and Aldobrandini, all of whom later became popes under the names Marcellus II, Clement VIII, and Leo XI.
Saint Catherine experienced profound spiritual raptures while meditating on the Passion of Christ, which was her daily devotion. Each week, from Thursday noon until three o’clock on Friday afternoon, she dedicated herself entirely to this contemplation.
One miracle documented during the process of her canonization concerned her appearance many hundreds of miles from where she was physically present. She appeared in a vision to Saint Philip Neri in Rome, with whom she had maintained a long correspondence. Although Saint Philip Neri was usually reluctant to speak about miraculous events, he confirmed that this extraordinary occurrence had taken place.