Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Feast day 29/30th of April

Catherine of Siena is one of the outstanding figures of Medieval Catholicism
She was the youngest of 25 children. She was a nun and a mystic. She was both clever and good so even popes sought her advice. She is remembered for her role in encouraging the Pope Urban V to return to Rome and for her letters. She never actually learnt how to write- dictated letters to secretaries. She died at the young age of 33 through exhaustion.

She remains a greatly respected figure for her spiritual writings and political boldness to ’ speak truth to power ’ - it being exceptional for a women in her time period (Middle Ages) to have such an influence in politics and on world history.

There were two tasks she set herself to accomplish. She wanted the Popes to move from Avignon, in France back to Rome so that ancient tradition was restored. Secondly she wanted peace between the pope and the people of Florence. She accomplished both of those aims/tasks.

Her ’ Dialogue ’ , 100s’ of letters and dozens of prayers also gives her a prominent place in the history of Italian literacy.

Pope Urban V1 celebrated her funeral in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.

She was the first woman to be declared ’ doctor of the church ’ by Pope Paul V1 in 1970.

Sources used wikepedia, The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander,
Historicas Women and Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton