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. 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. Saint Catherine was beatified in 1524 by Pope Clement VII and canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI. Entrust your prayer intentions to our network of monasteries. In 1456, Catherine returned to Bologna with her superiors and the governors there requested she found a second monastery of the same Order and be the Abbess of the convent. It's FREE! For more information about Visionaries, Mystics and Stigmatists like Saint Catherine of Bologna go to: http://www.bobandpennylord.com/vms.htm, Article Source: Corrections? Catherine of Bologna was an Italian nun and artist born as Catherine de' Vigri on September 8, 1413, in Bologna, Italy. As a sister, Catherine did her part for the community by performing more mundane tasks: laundry, baking and other housework. St. Catherine was born in Alexandria of a patrician family. Dissension in the community led Catherine and others to join the Poor Clares, a contemplative order founded by St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. Her body was discovered incorrupt and remains so today. Does the Bible Have Anything to do with My Life? If He encounters no obstacles on our part, the heavenly Father will transform and sanctify us, making our spirit shine with His, the ultimate end of our existence. Her body was found to be astonishingly untouched by death, and deemed incorrupt.. 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. Visitors to the bustling Italian city of Bologna will find many palaces and historical and buildings there, including those dedicated to its ancient and renowned university. She denounced the Emperor Maxentius in person for his persecution of the Christians, and when 50 pagan philosophers were converted by her arguments, he had them burned to death. Catherine was appointed as the abbess, or superior, of the order. The first time we went to visit Saint Catherine, it was out of holy curiosity; her body was in-corrupt! 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? But whoever wishes to undertake this battle must never give up, for the enemies never sleep.2, St. Catherine conceived religious life as that of a soldier on the battlefield who courageously confronts the enemy. Her body was found to be flexible and uncorrupted. It was this disposition, accompanied with such devotion, that made it possible for her to so successfully use the outstanding human and spiritual talents with which she had been endowed for the benefit of souls. Learn more about the Franciscan spirituality which St. Catherine lived. In one instance, she had the baby Jesus placed in her arms by the Blessed Virgin Mary. She also served as a caretaker for the animals. Please helpus continue to bring high quality books to our readers at the lowest possible price! Excerpted from Christ Our Life, by Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio. Some of her artwork can still be seen today in a museum in Venice. So, it was decided that she should be exhumed. Surrounding them are the philosophers who are amazed at what Catherine is sharing as can be seen by the look of awe on their faces. 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. She painted pictures of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Catherine, then 14, joined a group of Franciscan tertiaries in Ferrara who later adopted the Rule of St. Clare. That office made her responsible for providing pastoral care and spiritual oversight to all of sisters. So, it was decided that she should be exhumed. 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. little known incorrupt saint To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. But Catherine, then aged 14, politely declined the offer in order to become a servant of God. There, she served as an abbess until her death at age 49 in 1463, when she reportedly passed away while playing the viola. But 14 days after her burial her sisters decided to exhume her body, as a sweet scent emanated from her tomb. Read his story here. Canonized: May 22, 1712. . Pope Clement VII granted the nuns permission to say the Office and celebrate Holy Mass in honor of Saint Catherine on March 9th which became her Feast Day. Style: Mannerist. These nuns turned away from anything that kept them from focusing on God. Catherine was the youngest of 25 children born to a lower middle-class family; most of her siblings did not survive childhood. WebCatherine was to be canonized by Pope Clement XI on 22 May 1712. Then, repeating the sweet name of Jesus three times, she took flight to meet the Lamb. 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. She went as an unofficial mediator to Avignon with her confessor and biographer Raymond of Capua. WebClare is known as a patron of artists, probably because she worked as a manuscript illustrator. Then the nuns decided that the faithful could view her better if she were seated on a chair. Biancani, Stefania (2002). https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Lord/359627, 2023 EzineArticlesAll Rights Reserved Worldwide, https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Lord/359627, http://ezinearticles.com/?Miracle-of-Saint-Catherine-of-Bologna&id=3966615. Catherine excelled in painting, Latin and the viola. Corrections? As a mistress of novices, St. Catherine left behind an important treatise on the spiritual life which, centuries later, continues to be useful not only for religious, but for all those who aspire to walk the paths of perfection. During the Lenten season of 1463, Catherine became seriously ill, and on March 9th she passed away. Learn interesting facts and tidbits about the beloved St. Patrick. Crossing of the Red Sea; Moses Changing Aarons Rod into a Snake; Moses Saved from the River; Moses Donations to Catholic Vitality Publications, Copyright 2011 Roman-Catholic-Saints.com. Saint of the Day for Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, 5 prayers you should say this Lenten Season News, 7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God. The ecclesiastical and civil authorities, as well as the people, received the foundresses of the new convent with great deference. 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. Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! Saint Catherine of Bologna was charged with the duties of the bakery; she cheerfully undertook this laborious service, and even when the heat began to affect her eyes, she remained at her post as long as the abbess required it. Faberi, Mariafiamma (2013). She was the daughter of John de Vigri and Benvenuta Mammolini. While they were unable to account for this, Catherine, knowing the source of all good from whom this miraculous event proceeded, began to give out the wine openly and unstintingly to all the poor people she knew, but even then the cask showed no signs of drying up or the wine of losing its flavor. The body of St Catherine was found to be incorrupt. .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}V. M. Traverso - @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.css-1xovt06 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-1xovt06 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 05/10/19. In the year 1475, it was decided that her remains would be placed in a side chapel of the church belonging to the monastery. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. On the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady in the year 1413, Saint Catherine was born at Bologna. http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/prospero-fontana/ Connecting to Blest Are We Parish and School WebSt. Her condition was so serious that it was feared that the new superior would die before she could take up her post. Among her visual art production, a painting of. In 1463, aged 49, she became gravely ill and died within a few months. Prospero Fontana was an Italian Mannerist Painter who lived from 1512 to 1597. She was the daughter of John de Vigri and Benvenuta Mammolini. Fresh blood immediately flowed, as if the saint were still alive. WebClare is known as a patron of artists, probably because she worked as a manuscript illustrator. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. Her own experience taught her how to protect them from the snares of the devil. as an ebook download. At Christmas 1445, St. Catherine of Bologna asked the superior for permission to spend that night in prayer. Expert WebSt. Catherine continued in her artistic pursuits, playing the viola, painting religious pictures (including one of St. Ursula that hangs today in a gallery in Venice), copying out and illuminating her breviary (now on display at Oxford), and writing spiritual guides and poetry. 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. These nuns turned away from anything that kept them from focusing on God. Annunciation; Miraculous Draught of Fish; Transfiguration; Raising of Lazarus; Resurrection; Amanda Weaver. her death at age 49 in 1463, when she reportedly passed away while playing the viola. [12] She meditated while she copied the scriptural text, adding about 1000 prayer rubrics, and drew initials with bust-portraits of saints, paying special attention to images of Clare and Francis. The gardener was instantly cured, with no scars or any other ill effects of the accident. 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. St. Catherine of Bologna was an Italian nun and artist born as Catherine de' Vigri on September 8, 1413 in Bologna, Italy. A Rule is a specific expression of the Christian life which calls the men or women of a particular religious order to a daily pattern of prayer, work and charity. 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. St. Catherine of Bologna His glory will be seen upon you, Blessed Clemens August von Galen The Lion of Mnster, St. Walburga A Soul Ever Faithful to the Divine Will, St. Alberic Leader of a Monastic Rebellion, Blessed Maria Victoria Fornari Strata Everything passes and all is naught, except God, St. Columban To this day the earth shines from his radiance. Her father was an important government official who worked for the Marquis of Ferrara, a member of the royal family. Updates? She wrote a number of religious treatises, lauds, sermons, and copied and illustrated her own breviary (see below). At the time, the city of Ferrara was becoming a cultural center, providing the young girls with an excellent education in music, literature, painting, and dancing. Annunciation; Miraculous Draught of Fish; Transfiguration; Raising of Lazarus; Resurrection; Amanda Weaver. At the age of nine, she went to live at the court of the Marquis of Ferrara, where she became the maid of honour of Princess Margherita dEste. 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. Catherine willingly served in humble roles at the convent, including laundress, baker, and animal caretaker. Take care of it as if it were mine and do it no further harm.5. (LogOut/ In 1426, at 13-years-old, she entered the convent of Corpus Domini at Ferrara and became a Franciscan Tertiary. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, a problem arose: the place where the body was to be laid proved too small for the purpose. Catherines writings, all of which were dictated, include about 380 letters, 26 prayers, and the 4 treatises of Il libro della divina dottrina, better known as The Dialogue (c. 1475; Eng. Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. Of noble birth, Catherine was educated at the Este court at Ferrara and entered the order in 1432. She left Ferrara in July 1456 with 12 sisters to start the new community and remained abbess there until her death on 9 March 1463. Catherine is pointing her finger upward as she explains that there is only one God. During her years in the palace, Catherine also discovered that God was calling her to a more simple and prayerful life. Then she became Superioress of a new school in Bologna. WebBologna, Italy, Sept. 8, 1413; d. there, March 9, 1463. 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 Chiesa della Santa (literally Church of the Saint). These nuns turned away from anything that kept them from focusing on God. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He became the favored artist of the Pope and had the honor of receiving many important commissions. 1478). He inscribed her name in the Martyrology of Saints of the Roman Catholic Church. He was commissioned to paint The Dispute of St. Catherine which can be seen in the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. Catherine became known as a miracle worker after her death in 1463. The reputation of the Community for its holiness and austerity became widespread. http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Catherine%20of%20Alexandria.html. The Saint remained in prayer for some time, after which he lay down and went into a deep sleep. [16] Recently one scholar has tried to question certain attributions. She was particularly solicitous for the sick sisters. Perhaps partly thanks to such a secluded life, she proved an incredibly prolific artist, writer and philosopher, leaving behind many important pieces of work in her 49 years of life on earth. On his return home from a camp inspection, he found that his wife, an officer, and 200 soldiers had been converted. .css-pelz90{font-weight:400;}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. Click the link below! She went joyfully to the appointed place, exhorted all the people who had come to witness her death to abandon idolatry, prayed to God for their conversion, and then received the stroke that sent her soul to heaven. She first join a local order of lay women who followed the Franciscan rules and later become part of the Poor Clares, a religious order founded by St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi to allow nuns to lead a contemplative lifestyle. She also taught them to use the golden mean that leads to solid virtue. Feast Day: March 9 Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. http://www.robertsimon.com/works_html/fontana.html On another occasion, she was overcome by a deep and persistent sleepiness during Mass. When she was 11, Catherine was invited to live in the palace to be a companion to the marquis daughter, Margaret. Yet in all these situations she was always holding the Lord's hand, she did not leave him, she did not abandon him. She also served as a caretaker for the animals. WebOf noble birth, Catherine was educated at the Este court at Ferrara and entered the order in 1432. In 1455 the leaders of the recently established Franciscan order joined forces with the governor of Bologna to ask Catherine to establish a Franciscan convent in the city. The birth of Saint Catherine of Bologna was foretold to her devout father by the Blessed Virgin, with the announcement that the child would be a brilliant light throughout the world. The amazing life story of the At that time there lived in the monastery a twelve-year-old girl called Rose Magdalene. 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