February 13 – St. Catherine de’ Ricci
Born: 1522
Died: 1589
Nationality: Italian
Vocation: religious
Attributes: Dominican religious habit
Patronage: the sick
Canonization: 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV
Born Alexandrina to the ancient de’ Ricci family in Tuscany, Catherine lost her mother as an infant. When she was 6, her father brought her to the Convent of Monticelli where her aunt was a nun to be raised.
She returned home as a teenager, but desired to enter religious life. With her father’s consent, she received the Dominican veil and the name Catherine at the age of 14.
For two years, she bore intense sufferings as a result of her health which she fervently united with Christ’s Passion. She eventually was healed and had obtained a strong union with God through prayer as a result of her suffering.
Catherine was chosen to serve as novice mistress, then sub-prioress, and when she was 25, the perpetual prioress. Her advice was widely sought after by cardinals, bishops, and princes.
She devoted herself to meditating in ecstasy on Christ’s passion every week from Thursday at noon to 3 p.m. on Friday. After a long illness, she died at the age of 67.
St. Catherine, pray for us.