Saint Catherine of Siena

Although she lived more than 100 years after St. Dominic, Catherine of Siena is considered by many to be the spiritual mother of the Dominican Order. At an early age she felt called to the Dominican life as it was being lived at the time by lay women who spent their days in service to the poor and the sick of their city. Finally overcoming the objections of her family, Catherine joined this group, known as the Mantellata. Despite her desire for the contemplative life, much of Catherine’s time was spent in the streets, ministering to neighbors who had been stricken with the Black Plague (rampant in the 14th century). She also cared passionately about the Church and  wrote many letters to Pope Gregory, begging him to return to Rome “where he belonged.” Finally, she made the arduous journey to Avignon, where the Pope, under the influence of the powerful French cardinals, had taken up residence. Despite the busy apostolic life in which she was engaged, Catherine lived a profoundly contemplative life of union with her God, often having mystical experiences and other manifestations of holiness. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Catherine wrote a profound work entitled The Dialogues, which remains to this day an intimate portrayal of the spiritual life. Canonized in 1461, Catherine was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.