Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
September 8, 1413–March 9, 1463
Patron Saint of artists, painters, sculptors, those seeking purity of heart
St. Catherine of Bologna was a woman of remarkable spiritual depth whose life beautifully united contemplation, creativity, and faithful service. Born in 1413 to a noble family, she spent her early years at the court of Ferrara, where she received a refined education in literature, music, and art. Even amid courtly life, St. Catherine cultivated a strong prayer life and devotion to Christ.
In her late teens, she joined a small group of religious women, which, under St. Catherine’s influence, later adopted the Rule of St. Clare. Embracing the Poor Clare way of life, St. Catherine’s piety and her leadership, founded in humility and wisdom, helped the community grow.
St. Catherine possessed exceptional artistic talent, particularly in painting and illumination. She used these gifts to create sacred images and devotional works that drew hearts closer to God. Her artistic legacy reflects the depth of her interior life and her desire to glorify God through beauty.
In addition to her art, St. Catherine authored several influential spiritual writings. Her most well-known work, The Seven Spiritual Weapons, offers practical advice for resisting temptation and growing in virtue. She emphasized perseverance, humility, confidence in God’s mercy, and fidelity to prayer.
St. Catherine endured illness and physical suffering with patience and joy. She died on March 9, 1463. Her incorrupt body remains venerated in Bologna. Canonized in 1712, St. Catherine of Bologna is honored as a saint who demonstrates that holiness can flourish through both contemplation and creative expression.
St. Catherine’s body is remarkably preserved and enshrined in a small chapel within the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna, Italy. Immediately after death, a sweet odor of sanctity emanated from her grave, followed by reported miraculous cures. Her incorrupt remains have been venerated for more than five hundred years, serving as a powerful testimony to her holiness and the Church’s reverence for her life of virtue. St. Catherine’s relics are extraordinary because, despite centuries of exposure and visitation, her body remains miraculously incorrupt. Her body is seated upright on a golden throne, appearing almost lifelike, dressed in her Poor Clare habit and holding a Bible and a cross. Her body, though darkened by candle smoke, retains a surprising flexibility and semblance of life. Attempts to find a scientific explanation for her preservation have been unsuccessful.
St. Catherine of Bologna was known for experiencing visions of future events. Her prophecies were part of a broader experience of visions, including visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary, who placed the Infant Jesus in her arms. She detailed these mystical encounters and prophecies in her spiritual writings, which were preserved by her Poor Clare community. She foresaw the final destruction of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks. She predicted a lunar eclipse, lights in the sky, severe storms just before the assault, and the sound of Turkish cannon fire. These prophecies were witnessed by people in Constantinople during the siege in 1453.
St. Catherine led a group of sisters to found the Corpus Domini convent in Bologna in 1456, establishing a new center for the Poor Clares. St. Catherine significantly grew the Poor Clare Order by establishing new convents, serving as an influential Abbess and Mistress of Novices, and inspiring vocations through her deep piety, mystical experiences, and spiritual writings. She guided the spiritual formation of numerous young women, fostering a strong community. Her writings provided spiritual guidance for resisting temptation and encouraging perseverance in the Faith. She attracted many young women to follow her community’s Franciscan path, particularly in Bologna.
Prepare your soul for the glorious Resurrection with free weekly prayers and reflections from EWTN Chaplain Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe, MFVA—exploring the healing power of Christ’s love. You’ll also receive weekly emails from Fr. Joseph beginning on Ash Wednesday, continuing each Sunday of Lent and Easter Sunday.
Draw closer to Our Lord as you pause, meditate, and return to Him with your whole heart.
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