Her most remarkable vision was on Christmas Eve, when she claimed that Mary appeared to her with baby Jesus, and that Mary even let Catherine hold him. Now, who is this abbess, so benevolent that even today she kindly welcomes all who come to see her? 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. As a sister, Catherine did her part for the community by performing more mundane tasks: laundry, baking and other housework. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); http://www.robertsimon.com/works_html/fontana.html, http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j103sdCatherineAlexandria11-25.htm, http://www.edocere.org/articles/st_catharine_alexandria.htm, http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/prospero-fontana/, http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/fontana_prospero.html, http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Catherine%20of%20Alexandria.html. At midnight, Our Lady appeared to her, holding the Child Jesus close to her breast. But 14 days after her burial her sisters decided to exhume her body, as a sweet scent emanated from her tomb. He worked with Perino del Vaga in Genoa for several years before he returned home. One of them, who would later take the name Cecilia, afflicted by a terrible temptation and violent attacks of the devil, went to Catherine for help. http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/fontana_prospero.html WebFrom Visionaries, Mystics and Stigmatists Perhaps, one of the greatest Miracles is the in-corrupt body of our Saint, seated on a regal throne in a Chapel to the left of the main altar in the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna. Annunciation; Miraculous Draught of Fish; Transfiguration; Raising of Lazarus; Resurrection; Amanda Weaver. 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. She was buried in Bologna but soon after her burial, miracles began happening near her gravesite. In memory of this fact, to this day the people of Bologna observe the custom of reciting a thousand Hail Marys on Christmas Eve. Soon numerous miracles began to take place. It, therefore, played an important role in the dissemination of late medieval vernacular mysticism in the early modern period. Available for only $2.99 US 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. Canonized: May 22, 1712. Her mission failed, and she was virtually ignored by the pope, but while at Avignon she promoted her plans for a Crusade. The record of her ecstatic experiences in The Dialogue illustrates her doctrine of the inner cell of the knowledge of God and of self into which she withdrew. Her incorrupt body is preserved in the city of Bologna, in the chapel of the monastery of Corpus Domini. In this state, almost in agony, the abbess fell into an ecstasy and had a vision: she found herself in an wonderful garden, adorned with many beautiful flowers. . Bob Lord| The beauty of her life and death encourages us to live in perfect charity as a Lenten goal. She was the daughter of John de Vigri and Benvenuta Mammolini. Today, her fully preserved remains dating to more than 500 hundred years ago are still preserved inside the beautiful Corpus Domini church of Bologna, also known as, During this time she also authored a number of religious treatises and sermons and crafted her own illuminated breviary. She felt forsaken by God, she found herself in the darkness of faith. WebIn St. Catherine of Bologna, Divine Providence deposited admirable gifts, among which stand out her docility in allowing herself to be loved by God. When she told the nuns what she had seen, she imitated the song of the Archangel as best she could, leaving her listeners speechless with admiration. The virginal lips of the nun touched the face of the Child, who, in response to the love of his spouse, also gave her a kiss. WebFrom Visionaries, Mystics and Stigmatists Perhaps, one of the greatest Miracles is the in-corrupt body of our Saint, seated on a regal throne in a Chapel to the left of the main altar in the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna. As reported by Loyola Press, Pope Benedict was particularly fond of this quiet saint: To visit the remains of St. Catherine of Bologna, enter the church of Corpus Domini (Via Tagliapietre, 21) and look for a small wooden door on the left. Expert In St. Catherine of Bologna, Divine Providence deposited admirable gifts, among which stand out her docility in allowing herself to be loved by God. While the sisters were burying her body in the monastery cemetery, a mysterious and sweet perfume began to waft from the place, pervading the entire surroundings. [1]Every mortal sin is a sin against God. Catherine became a tertiary (member of a monastic third order who takes simple vows and may remain outside a convent or monastery) of the Dominican order (1363), joining the Sisters of Penitence of St. Dominic in Siena. We can surely follow her example of what it means to live a godly life. The first time we went to visit Saint Catherine, it was out of holy curiosity; her body was in-corrupt! http://www.edocere.org/articles/st_catharine_alexandria.htm From Rome she sent out letters and exhortations to gain support for Urban; as one of her last efforts, she tried to win back Queen Joan I of Naples to obedience to Urban, who had excommunicated the queen for supporting the antipope Clement VII. Casting off comfortable courtly life with ready love and obedience, Catherine found great joy in performing humble duties of daily laundry and the baking of convent bread. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. St. Catherine of Bologna was born in Italy in 1413. Catherine was appointed as the abbess, or superior, of the order. She was the member of an aristocratic family and the daughter of a diplomat to the Marquis of Ferrara. The Poor Clares lived in silence much of the time so that they could listen and talk to God in the quiet of their hearts without distractions. . . WebIn St. Catherine of Bologna, Divine Providence deposited admirable gifts, among which stand out her docility in allowing herself to be loved by God. Shop St. Catherine of Bologna. [16] Recently one scholar has tried to question certain attributions. St. Catherine of Siena died at age 33 in Rome, and most of her body is buried there at Santa Maria sopra Minerva basilica. WebCatherine was to be canonized by Pope Clement XI on 22 May 1712. In one instance, she had the baby Jesus placed in her arms by the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the middle of the last century, a glass casing was added to protect her. Thus it can still be seen in Bologna robed in a costly garment presented by St Charles Borromeo and seated upright on a throne, under a crystal shrine. When at times it seemed to her that her afflicted body would be justified in complaining, she would say to herself, "O bundle of corruption, which will soon turn into dust, why should you complain? 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. One of the nuns noticed a bit of skin which seemed to hang from one of Catherine's feet, and so pulled it off. Read his story here. [17], A drawing of a Man of Sorrows or Resurrected Christ found in a miscellany of lauds (Ms. 35 no.4, Archivio Generale Arcivescovile, Bologna) has also been attributed to her. It remains intact, never having decomposed for over five hundred years! Corrections? WebCatherine lived at Corpus Domini, Ferrara most of her life from 1431 to 1456, serving as Mistress of Novices. 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. Her father was an important government official who worked for the Marquis of Ferrara, a member of the royal family. Sister Illuminata Bembo, a companion of the Saint, wrote a picturesque episode that occurred while she fulfilled the latter function. 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. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. Catherine left for Tuscany the day after Gregory set out for Rome (1376). She would live there for seven years, until her leave-taking from this earth. Saint Catherine was beatified in 1524 by Pope Clement VII and canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI. In 1426, at 13-years-old, she entered the convent of Corpus Domini at Ferrara and became a Franciscan Tertiary. WebBologna, Italy, Sept. 8, 1413; d. there, March 9, 1463. The exciting life story of Her skin has since been blackened due to exposure from oil lamps and soot. Medium: Oil on Wood (580x310mm) Kings, clergy and common people have knelt before her, filled with wonder at being able to venerate her up close. Catherine became a tertiary (member of a monastic third order who takes simple vows and may remain outside a convent or monastery) of the Dominican order (1363), joining the Sisters of Penitence of St. Dominic in Siena. One day, just as she had placed the loaves in the oven, the bell called her to the choir for some very special religious service; she made the Sign of the Cross over the loaves and said, "I commend you to our Lord." There, she served as an abbess until her death at age 49 in 1463, when she reportedly passed away while playing the viola. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When she died on March 9, 1463, sounds of sobbing and weeping were heard everywhere in the convent. After a time she was entrusted with the duties of mistress of novices. As companion to Margaret d'Este she was educated at the ducal court until Margaret's marriage. Location: Capitoline Museum, Rome She rapidly gained a wide reputation for her holiness and her severe asceticism. 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. The most distinguished suitors were compelled to withdraw without the least hope of obtaining her hand in marriage; she entertained no other desire than to be plighted forever to Jesus Christ, the spouse of her heart. 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