Life and Achievements of Saint Catherine

Catherine Benincasa was born on March 25th 1347 in Siena, Italy. She was born the second youngest of a large family of 26 children and was raised in the lower class of the middle ages.  When Catherine was a little girl, Jesus Christ appeared to her and said "Please give me your Heart". She gave it freely and in return, Christ gave her his Sacred Heart. At the age of 7 she dedicated her virginity to Christ. By the time she was 16 she joined the Third Order of Dominican . She spent next three years in a small room in her parent's house located in the desert and during those years, she undertook a Spiritual Espousal. After that, Catherine began to offer Christ in the sick, poor and ignorant and began to pray for them. During this time Catherine went to France and said to the Pope Gregory XI "Holy Father, your place is in Rome, come home to your people". He listened to her and moved back. Catherine died April 19th 1380 at the age of 33 from an unknown illness. Catherine lived and died a Dominican Tertiary and a Spiritual teacher. In 1461, Pope Pius II canonized Catherina a Saint. In 1970, she became 1 of 2 to be named Doctor of the Church. Saint Catherine's Feast Day is celebrated on April 30th.