She was exhumed 18 days later after visitors noticed a sweet smell coming from her grave and some experienced miracles. St. Catherine was convinced that the moment of her departure from this world was at hand, but her spiritual daughters, although resigned to the divine plan, redoubled their prayers and supplications asking Heaven to leave her a little longer among them. Catherine represents the rare phenomenon of a 15th-century nunan artist whose artworks are preserved in her personal breviary. Saint Catherine of Bologna spent most of her life as a cloistered nun in the convent of the Poor Clares of Bologna, in northern Italy. Then, repeating the sweet name of Jesus three times, she took flight to meet the Lamb. Our Saint wanted to be where all the people of God could venerate her easily, and so she appeared to one of the nuns of the Monastery of Corpus Domini and told her she wanted a Chapel built close to the outer church. So, it was decided that she should be exhumed. Saint Catherine was beatified in 1524 by Pope Clement VII and canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI. Open now Thy arms wounded on the cross to receive my soul, which I offer in sacrifice to the glory of Thy Name. Sign up for our Premium service. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. She then spoke her last words to her spiritual daughters and gave them the book The Seven Spiritual Weapons, which until then had not been divulged. | To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. However, the religious, thinking of the regrettable consequences that this would have for the precious relic, asked permission to exhume the body of the abbess on the eighteenth day and deposit it in a vault. It was a wonderful opportunity for Catherine. Catherine became known as a miracle worker after her death in 1463. During that first period in Ferrara, she received many mystical graces, but she also had to endure many spiritual trials. As was the custom of the Poor Clares, she was buried without a coffin. To their amazement, her body which had lost none of its suppleness, rigor mortise never having set in, became stiff, and the nuns could not place her in the chair. As companion to Margaret d'Este she was educated at the ducal court until Margaret's marriage. Catherine was buried in the convent graveyard, but after eighteen days, a sweet smell emanated from the grave and the incorrupt body was exhumed. Saint Catherine of Bologna In addition, she wrote lauds, short religious treatises, and letters,[9] as well as a 5000-line Latin poem called the Rosarium Metricum,[10] the I Dodici Giardini and I Sermoni. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. She felt forsaken by God, she found herself in the darkness of faith. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Her body was discovered incorrupt and remains so today. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. WebOf noble birth, Catherine was educated at the Este court at Ferrara and entered the order in 1432. [6] Catherine lived at Corpus Domini, Ferrara most of her life from 1431 to 1456, serving as Mistress of Novices. During the Lenten season of 1463, Catherine became seriously ill, and on March 9th she passed away. She rapidly gained a wide reputation for her holiness and her severe asceticism. She was not in a position to return to the bakery until five hours later, and certainly believed that everything had been burned by that time. These nuns turned away from anything that kept them from focusing on God. Her ministry eventually moved beyond her local community, and Catherine began to travel and promote church reform. Saint Catherine of Bologna, original name Caterina Vigri, (born Sept. 8, 1413, Bologna, Papal States [Italy]died March 9, 1463, Bologna; canonized 1712; feast day May 9), Italian mystic and writer whose spiritual writings were popular in Italy until the end of the 18th century. WebSt. Catherine's best-known text is Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare[8] which she appears to have first written in 1438 and then rewritten and augmented between 1450 and 1456. Saint John Cassian's feast day is February 29. During this time she also authored a number of religious treatises and sermons and crafted her own illuminated breviary. Her body was found to be astonishingly untouched by death, and deemed incorrupt. It was reported to be fully flexible and emanating a sweet scent. Thank you. When the daughter eventually married, she wanted Catherine to remain in her service, but Catherine, feeling a calling to the religious life, left the court. Then she became Superioress of a new school in Bologna. Her skin has since been blackened due to exposure from oil lamps and soot. At a young age she is said to have consecrated her virginity to Christ and experienced mystical visions. WebCatherine began to have visions of Christ and Satan, and wrote her experiences down. The route from Ferrara to Bologna at that time was by waterway. Take care of it as if it were mine and do it no further harm.5. It's FREE! WebAt age 49, she became gravely ill and died a few months later. The process for her Canonization was started in 1669 and was solemnly concluded on Trinity Sunday, the 22nd of May, 1712 when Pope Clement IX proclaimed to the whole world, to the whole Roman Catholic Church that we had a Saint! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Catherine-of-Siena, Eternal Word Television Network - Biography of Saint Catherine of Siena. Then, as the priest began to intone the Sanctus, angelic singing began to resound in her ears. On one Christmas eve she had a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who placed the Infant Jesus in her arms. WebIn St. Catherine of Bologna, Divine Providence deposited admirable gifts, among which stand out her docility in allowing herself to be loved by God. Catherine willingly served in humble roles at the convent, including laundress, baker, and animal caretaker. Compose a prayer in honor of artists, asking for the intercession of St. Catherine. On March 9, at about two oclock in the afternoon, she asked that a priest be called to hear her Confession and give her Viaticum and Extreme Unction. So extraordinary was their music that Catherine feared that her soul would leave her body at that moment. Catherine was determined to live a life of perfection, and was admired by her companions for her holiness. As companion to Margaret d'Este she was educated at the ducal court until Margaret's marriage. [15] Other panel paintings and manuscripts attributed to her include the Madonna and Child (nicknamed the Madonna del Pomo) in the Cappella Della Santa, a possible portrait or self-portrait in the autograph copy of the Sette Armi Spirituali, a Redeemer, and another Madonna and Child in her chapel. There, she served as an abbess until. http://www.robertsimon.com/works_html/fontana.html The manual was based on Catherines experience in dealing with visions of both God and Satan, and contains strategies to cope with temptation. WebClare is known as a patron of artists, probably because she worked as a manuscript illustrator. It, therefore, played an important role in the dissemination of late medieval vernacular mysticism in the early modern period. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Contemplating the life of this holy abbess invites us, before all else, to an attitude of deep gratitude for the divine affection that descends upon each one of us. Saint Alexander's feast day is February 26. Feast Day: March 9 trans. Catherine of Bologna was an Italian nun and artist born as Catherine de' Vigri on September 8, 1413, in Bologna, Italy. She also served as a caretaker for the animals. Available for only $2.99 US Catherine understood this teaching and from that time on followed it wholeheartedly. The viewers eyes are drawn to the center where St. Catherine and Maxentius are debating which religion is correct. But 14 days after her burial her sisters decided to exhume her body, as a sweet scent emanated from her tomb. [16] Recently one scholar has tried to question certain attributions. Her incorrupt body is preserved in the city of Bologna, in the chapel of the monastery of Corpus Domini. WebCatherine lived at Corpus Domini, Ferrara most of her life from 1431 to 1456, serving as Mistress of Novices. They thus became daughters of Lady Poverty and, as such, it was the lot of young Catherine to carry out the most diverse functions: she was novice mistress, but also porter and baker. The superior of the time did not think twice and ordered St. Catherine to assume a sitting position, a command which the corpse obeyed without hesitation. Together with St. Catherine was her widowed mother, who, being a Franciscan tertiary and infirm, was received by the sisters as a religious. She was conducted to the place of her martyrdom followed by several women who wept at her fate. Box 724Nobleton, ON L0G 1N0Phone: 1-800-674-3410, P.O. Only the face had been damaged by the weight of the earth, but after a short time it miraculously returned to normal. http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j103sdCatherineAlexandria11-25.htm In 1456 she founded in Bologna a convent of Poor Clares, serving as abbess until her death. Please helpus continue to bring high quality books to our readers at the lowest possible price! When she returned to remove the bread, which many sisters imagined would be completely charred, she found it baked to perfection. Soon, the women decided to join an order of nuns called the Poor Clares. Before dying she said a prayer and told the soldiers to execute their orders, and she was beheaded with a quick blow of the sword. She also taught them to use the golden mean that leads to solid virtue. There, she served as an abbess until her death at age 49 in 1463, when she reportedly passed away while playing the viola. Tradition tells us that the white mark which remained on St. Catherines incorrupt body indicates the exact spot where Jesus affectionately kissed her. Innumerable miracles reward the faithful for their devotion to her. She, like us, suffered temptations, she suffered the temptations of disbelief, of sensuality, of a difficult spiritual struggle. She also wrote books and poems about her faith. Thank you! From the very beginning, Saint Catherine's Miracles and fame have brought people from all parts of the world, not only the simple faith-filled believers who fill and enrich our beautiful Church, but also future Saints, Kings and Queens and scholars. Fortunati, Vera, Jordano Pomeroy & Claudio Strinati. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Her most famous work is probably the, Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare. Omissions? Unfortunately, the body has darkened over the years due to the negligence of the first devotees who burned oil lamps and votive candles very close to the Saints body during their prayer vigils. Catherine, then 14, joined a group of Franciscan tertiaries in Ferrara who later adopted the Rule of St. Clare. WebOf noble birth, Catherine was educated at the Este court at Ferrara and entered the order in 1432. Now, who is this abbess, so benevolent that even today she kindly welcomes all who come to see her? St Catherine's body has remained incorrupt and retains its quality of flexibility like that of a living body. When the rebellious city of Florence was placed under an interdict by Pope Gregory XI (1376), Catherine determined to take public action for peace within the church and Italy and to encourage a Crusade against the Muslims. The patron saint of artists and against temptations, Catherine de' Vigri was venerated for nearly three centuries in her native Bologna before being formally canonized in 1712 by Pope Clement XI. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. During the Lenten season of 1463, Catherine became seriously ill, and on March 9th she passed away. Annunciation; Miraculous Draught of Fish; Transfiguration; Raising of Lazarus; Resurrection; Amanda Weaver. var _gaq=_gaq||[];_gaq.push(['_setAccount','UA-27202388-1']);_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);(function(){var ga=document.createElement('script');ga.type='text/javascript';ga.async=true;ga.src=('https:'==document.location.protocol? There she was able to study literature, poetry, music and painting, revealing exceptional artistic gifts, which she put to use with remarkable unpretentiousness, and which explain her designation as patroness of artists. She was the daughter of John de Vigri and Benvenuta Mammolini. With a gesture of His hand, the Redeemer bade the virgin come forward and explained to her the deepest meaning of these words, referring to herself. It was first printed in 1475, and went through 21 later editions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including being translated into Latin, French, Portuguese, English, Spanish, and German. But near the city centre, one is sure to come upon a tiny and charming chapel, where the abbess of the Corpus Domini Monastery has sat for over five centuries. The gardener was instantly cured, with no scars or any other ill effects of the accident. St. Catherine then gave her the formula she had used: Jesus, Mary, Francis, Clare. 800-621-1008 Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. When she was a young girl, her aristocratic father sent her to court in Ferrara to be a lady-in-waiting to the Marquis daughter, Princess Margarita. WebThroughout her life, Catherine experienced visions of both Jesus Christ and Satan, which she documented in her treatise. The vision signified that, however great her trials might be, her attitude should always be to pray and to place herself in Gods hands with serenity and confidence. WebCatherine was to be canonized by Pope Clement XI on 22 May 1712. . All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. as an ebook download. Catherine of Bologna [Caterina de' Vigri] (8 September 1413 9 March 1463)[1][2] was an Italian Poor Clare, writer, teacher, mystic, artist, and saint. St. Catherine of Siena is one of only four women who were named doctor of the church, meaning that her writings, including the mystical The Dialogue and her prayers and letters, have special authority in Roman Catholicism. St. Catherine's piety, charity, and kindness attracted many to follow her along the road to Christian perfection. Catherine, then 14, joined a group of Franciscan tertiaries in Ferrara who later adopted the Rule of St. Clare. She was a laundress, a baker and a caretaker for the animals. Past the door lie the incredibly well-preserved remains of the Patroness of the Arts. She would live there for seven years, until her leave-taking from this earth. As Catherine used her talents to honor and glorify God, she is the patroness of artists. The manual was based on Catherines experience in dealing with visions of both God and Satan, and contains strategies to cope with temptation. She was the daughter of John de Vigri and Benvenuta Mammolini. At just 17 years old, Catherine joined a semi-religious lay community and later went on to join other women in founding a monastery of the Order of Poor Clares. After being examined by doctors, the body remained exposed for the devotion of the faithful for six days, and was then placed in a crypt under the altar. For a long time she herself was troubled with the temptation to sleep during the spiritual exercises. During her years in the palace, Catherine also discovered that God was calling her to a more simple and prayerful life. Date: 1551 For this reason, she sought every possible means to serve her as a nurse, which included washing her feet. Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. Four years later, a royal princess founded a convent for this society according to the rule of St. Clare, and several zealous sisters from Mantua introduced the young women to the Poor Clare rule of life. Canonized: May 22, 1712. It appears as if you had not yet learnt to be a true servant of Christ.". WebBy continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our Privacy Notice. Her body was found to be flexible and uncorrupted. His actions would lay the foundations of a Kingdom for Christ that would eventually reach around the world and spread the Catholic faith to millions of souls. Catherine of Bologna is the patron saint of artists. 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