The Life of St Catherine of Siena
St Catherine of Siena was born in March on the 17 1347, Siena, Italy. St Catherine was one of 25 children who all lived upstairs above their father's business in the town of Siena in northern Italy. Lapa Piagenti (her mother) was approximately 40 years old when she gave birth to twin girls Catherine and Giovanna unfortunately Catherine's twin sister died at birth. Her mother was a quick-tempered woman who's father had been a poet, Catherine's father was a wealthy man who owned a business that dyed wool. Catherine was a merry, cheerful child who bought everyone she encountered joy and happiness into their lives, her family felt is was appropriate to give her the pet name "joy". At the age of six Catherine had her first vision of Jesus, in her mind she saw him clearly, even though he was dressed not like a carpenter's son but in the fine robes usually worn by a pope. She was equally certain that the two men with him were Saints Paul and John. From childhood this lively girl longed only to serve God with passion. St Catherine used to say a Hail Mary on each step of the staircase while ascending and descending. Frightened by her behaviour her family insisted on her working constantly, never leaving her alone. Catherine was determined to become a nun even though at the of 16 her parents wanted her to marry, Catherine was opposed to the idea of marriage so she cut all her hair off to prove she was serious. As punishment her mother fired the family servant and forced Catherine to dress as a maid and do all the household jobs, she did what she was told without ever complaining. Her obedience convinced her father of her holiness, he decided she should be allowed to become a tertiary of the Dominican Order and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. St Catherine eventually became one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education.
St Catherine of Siena was born in March on the 17 1347, Siena, Italy. St Catherine was one of 25 children who all lived upstairs above their father's business in the town of Siena in northern Italy. Lapa Piagenti (her mother) was approximately 40 years old when she gave birth to twin girls Catherine and Giovanna unfortunately Catherine's twin sister died at birth. Her mother was a quick-tempered woman who's father had been a poet, Catherine's father was a wealthy man who owned a business that dyed wool. Catherine was a merry, cheerful child who bought everyone she encountered joy and happiness into their lives, her family felt is was appropriate to give her the pet name "joy". At the age of six Catherine had her first vision of Jesus, in her mind she saw him clearly, even though he was dressed not like a carpenter's son but in the fine robes usually worn by a pope. She was equally certain that the two men with him were Saints Paul and John. From childhood this lively girl longed only to serve God with passion. St Catherine used to say a Hail Mary on each step of the staircase while ascending and descending. Frightened by her behaviour her family insisted on her working constantly, never leaving her alone. Catherine was determined to become a nun even though at the of 16 her parents wanted her to marry, Catherine was opposed to the idea of marriage so she cut all her hair off to prove she was serious. As punishment her mother fired the family servant and forced Catherine to dress as a maid and do all the household jobs, she did what she was told without ever complaining. Her obedience convinced her father of her holiness, he decided she should be allowed to become a tertiary of the Dominican Order and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. St Catherine eventually became one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education.