Saint Catherine Del Ricci

Biography

Saint Catherine de Ricci, also known as Catherine Del Ricci, was born as Alessandra Lucrezia Romola de’ Ricci on April 23, 1522, in Florence, Italy. She was born into the patrician class, but unfortunately, her mother passed away when she was just an infant. Catherine was then raised by her godmother, but she considered the Blessed Virgin Mary to be her true mother and developed a deep devotion to her. From a young age, Catherine displayed a special connection with the spiritual realm. She could communicate with her guardian angel, who taught her prayers for the rosary. At the age of six, she moved to the convent school of Montecelli, where her aunt served as the abbess. It was during this time that Catherine developed a strong devotion to the Passion of Christ. Catherine's father, Peter, initially objected to her plans of joining a convent. However, he eventually relented before changing his mind again. This back-and-forth caused Catherine to fall ill until her father finally agreed to her vocation, and only then did she recover. Catherine became a Dominican tertiary, living a life dedicated to prayer and serving God. Throughout her life, Catherine experienced visions and ecstasies, which caused some doubts and problems among her fellow sisters. During these episodes, Catherine appeared to be asleep or devoid of consciousness, which caused confusion and skepticism. However, she believed that everyone had the potential to experience these visions as part of their spiritual journey. In addition to her spiritual experiences, Catherine also faced various physical ailments, which permanently damaged her health. Despite her sufferings, Catherine remained steadfast in her devotion to God. It was said that she could bilocate, meaning she could be present in two different locations simultaneously. One of the most remarkable aspects of Catherine's life was her permanent stigmatism. Starting at the age of 20, she began experiencing weekly ecstasies of the Passion, which would last from noon on Thursdays until 4:00 pm on Fridays. During these episodes, Catherine would often exhibit wounds that aligned with the stages of Christ's Passion, such as scourging and crowning with thorns. Over time, these wounds became more severe, and by the end of the twelve-year cycle, Catherine was covered in wounds, her shoulder indented from the weight of the Cross. Catherine's first extraordinary encounter with the Passion occurred during Lent in 1542. She meditated so intensely on the crucifixion of Jesus that she fell ill. However, she was subsequently healed by a vision of the Risen Lord conversing with Mary Magdalene. News of her spiritual experiences spread, and crowds began to flock to see her. Many skeptics and sinners were converted upon witnessing her wounds. The crowds grew to such an extent that the sisters prayed for the wounds to become less visible, and in 1554, they became less apparent. Saint Catherine de Ricci served as a model for her fellow sisters, taking on the roles of novice-mistress, sub-prioress, and eventually prioress at the age of 30. She was a noted reformer of her religious community, striving to embody the principles of the Dominican order. Catherine's holiness and wisdom attracted the attention of other notable figures in the Catholic Church, including Saint Charles Borromeo and Pope Pius V, with whom she corresponded. Represented by symbols such as a ring, crown, and crucifix, Saint Catherine de Ricci was venerated for her extraordinary mystical experiences and her unwavering devotion to God. She was known to have received a ring from the Lord, symbolizing her spiritual espousal to Him. Saint Catherine de Ricci passed away on February 2, 1590, in Prato, Italy, due to natural causes. She was beatified on November 23, 1732, by Pope Clement XII and canonized as a saint on June 29, 1746, by Pope Benedict XIV. She is considered the patron saint against illness and is venerated as a protector of sick people in general, as well as pipe makers, tobacconists, and the city of Prato, Italy.