St. Catherine of Siena

A Dominican laywoman and mystic who told popes what to do and was obeyed.

The story

The twenty-fourth of twenty-five children, Catherine consecrated herself to Christ at seven and lived as a Dominican tertiary at home. She nursed plague victims, converted prisoners on the scaffold, and dictated the Dialogue while in ecstasy. She persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome, and died at thirty-three worn out for the Church she called "the sweet Bride of Christ."

What Catherine teaches

Love of the Church means telling the truth inside it. Catherine combined burning charity with fearless candor.

Patronage

Italy, Europe, nurses, against fire.

Prayer

St. Catherine of Siena, set our hearts on fire with love for Christ and His Church, and give us your courage to speak the truth in love. Amen.