St. Catherine of Siena Icon

Born into a family of wool dyers in northern Italy, St. Catherine of Siena began to have mystical experiences at the young age of 6. She could see guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. By the time she was 16, she had become a member of the Dominican tertiaries, and continued to have visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints throughout her life. Despite having no formal education, St. Catherine was known for her brilliant theological insights and played a key role in persuading the Pope to return to Rome from Avignon in 1377. She also worked tirelessly to heal the Great Western Schism. She was blessed with the Stigmata in 1375, although it was only visible after her death. Her spiritual advisor was Blessed Raymond of Capua. St. Catherine's letters and her famous treatise, "a dialogue," are considered some of the most brilliant works in the history of the Catholic Church.