STORY: Saint Catherine was born in Italy, during a time of plague. She was a twin, but her twin died when she was an infant. When she was older, her parents wanted her to marry but she wanted to give her life for the Lord. She would often go out and help the sick and poor. In 1377 she started a monastery for women. She also wrote over 400 letters, including some to the Pope urging him to return to Rome and be steadfast in faith; because of this she was pronounced a Doctor of the Church.

PATRON OF: fire, illness, the United States, Italy, miscarriages, people ridiculed for their faith, sexual temptation, and nurses

FEAST DAY: April 29

BDAY: 1347 – 1380

SOURCE: St. Catherine of Siena at Catholic.org

READ MORE: St. Catherine of Siena at Catholic Encyclopedia

Image attribution: anonymous, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons