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Saint Catherine of Siena is the Patron Saint of:
Feast Day April 29 Birth 1347 Death 1380 Canonized By Pope Pius II in 1461
St. Catherine of Siena was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. During this time there was an outbreak of the plague and many of her brothers and sisters did not survive childhood. Catherine's mother was 40 years old when she was born and lost more than half of her 25 children.
When Catherine was 16, her sister, Bonaventura died leaving her husband as a widower. Her parents proposed that Catherine marries her sister's husband but she refused. Her parents eventually accepted her decision and let her live in peace.
Catherine isolated herself from the outside world to serve her family. Dominican sisters taught her how to read and she became very interested in Jesus and his holy word. When she was 21, something happened to Catherine that she described as a "mystical marriage to Christ". It was said to be a vision of an angel telling her to reenter to public life and help the poor and sick. She began traveling, visiting hospitals, and calling for reform of the Church. She eventually became involved in politics and worked to keep city states loyal to the Pope.
In 1377, Catherine established a monastery for women outside of Siena. She wrote over 400 letters showing her experience and prayers that influenced so many people to join the Church. She eventually was declared Doctor of the Church and is one of the most popular and influential saints.
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