Saint Catherine (1347-1380) was born in Siena (Italy). At the age of 12, she rejected an arranged marriage because she wanted to devote herself completely to God.

She wanted to join the group of blessed Dominican widows (veiled). Although the abbess of the convent did not want to accept her due to her young age, she allowed Catherine to enter due to the disease she was exposed to. She devoted herself to the service of the poor and patients, to politicians and popes, to calm the factions between the city and the  Church, wrote letters and “dialogue” with the Lord in which she  expressed her spirituality. Miraculously, the stigmata, bodily wounds, appeared on her hands and feet corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. In 1970 Pope VI Paul, along with Teresa of Avila, declared her a Doctor of the Church, a title given by the Latin Catholic Church to saints recognised as having made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their research, study, or writings.

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