Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
Saint Catherine of Siena.
Doctor of The Church.
Virgin.
Feast Day 30 April.
Double.
White Vestments.
Saint Catherine of Siena.
From the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario in Prati,
Rome, Italy.
Date: 19th-Century.
Source: http://www.tanogabo.it/religione/santa_caterina_siena.htm
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)
"The Holy Order of Preachers", which yesterday offered a Red Rose to Jesus Risen Again
[Editor: The Feast Day of Saint Peter of Verona, Martyr], offers Him, today, a Lily of Dazzling Whiteness". [The Liturgical Year, by Dom Guéranger: The Paschal Season. Vol. II. 30 April.]
Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was the last but one of twenty-four children. In her childhood, she chose Jesus for her Spouse (Epistle). Subjecting her delicate body to frightful mortifications, her only support during her prolonged Fasts was Holy Communion (Postcommunion).
She received, from The Crucified Lord, The Stigmata and Inspired Knowledge concerning the most profound Mysteries of Religion. It was by her persuasion that Pope Gregory XI left Avignon, France, to return to Rome, Italy.
When, like Christ, she had reached her thirty-third year, she entered Heaven with her Divine Spouse to take part in The Nuptial Banquet (Gospel) in The Holy Joys of The Eternal Passover (Introit, Alleluia).
"Let us offer to God, on this day, The Sacred Host embalmed with the Virginal Perfume of Blessed Catherine" (Secret), so that He may grant us, in return, Life Eternal (Postcommunion).
Mass: Dilexisti.
Saint Catherine of Siena, Third Order of Saint Dominic, T.O.S.D. (25 March 1347 in Siena – 29 April 1380 in Rome), was a Tertiary of The Dominican Order and Scholastic Philosopher and Theologian. She also worked to bring the Papacy of Pope Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France (Avignon) and to establish peace among the Italian City-States.
Since 18 June 1866, she is one of the two Patron Saints of Italy, together with Saint Francis of Assisi. On 3 October 1970, she was proclaimed a Doctor of The Church, by Pope Paul VI, and, on 1 October 1999, Pope Saint John Paul II named her as one of the six Patron Saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bridget of Sweden and Edith Stein.
