St. Catherine of Siena (1347–80,) properly Caterina Benincasa, was an Italian Dominican tertiary, mystic, and one of Italy’s patron saints. She was canonized in 1461. Her feast day is 29-April. She was named a doctor of the church in 1970 and a patron saint of Europe in 1999.
Born in Siena, Caterina became a Dominican at the age of 16. Her passion transformed many sinners, and she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return from the papacy in Avignon to Rome. Christ’s stigmata were said to have been imprinted on her body in 1375.
Catherine’s devout writings include 380 letters, 26 prayers, and the 4 treatises of Il libro della divina dottrina, better known as The Dialogue (c.1475; translated by Suzanne Noffke, 1980.) A comprehensive impression of Catherine’s works, together with her biographer Raymond of Capua’s, was issued in Siena (1707–21.)
Modern biographies include Alice Curtayne’s Saint Catherine of Siena (1929, 1980) and Suzanne Noffke’s Catherine of Siena (1996.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Catherine of Siena
To a brave man, good and bad luck are like his right and left hand. He uses both.
—Catherine of Siena
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Bonaventure Italian Christian Scholar
Thomas Aquinas Italian Catholic Priest
Francis of Assisi Italian Monk
Giuseppe Mazzini Italian Revolutionary
William of Ockham English Philosopher, Polemicist
Pope John XXIII Italian Catholic Religious Leader
Michelangelo Italian Painter
Roger Bacon English Philosopher
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto Italian Jewish Rabbi
Giacomo Leopardi Italian Poet