St. Catherine de' Ricci
Patroness of the Dominican Sisters
 Born in Florence Catherine de' Ricci was born Alessandra Lucrezia Romola de' Ricci. At age 6, her father put her in the Monticelli convent near their home where she received an education. After a short time outside the convent, at 14, she went to the Dominicans,
Order of Preachers, at the convent of San Vincenzo
in Prato.
By age 25, she had risen to the post of prioress.
As the prioress she developed into an effective and greatly admired administrator. She was an advisor on various topics to princes, bishops and cardinals. She corresponded with three men who were destined to become popes.
Her advice was eagerly sought. She gave counsel both in person and through writing letters. It is reported that she was extremely effective and efficient in her work, managing her priorities very well.
It is claimed that her meditation on the passion of Christ was so deep that she spontaneously bled as though scourged, and that a coral ring appeared at times of deep prayer on her finger (representing her marriage to Christ.) She was a very prayerful person from a very young age.
One of the miracles that was documented for her canonization was her appearance many hundreds of miles away from where she was physically located.
She lived at San Vincenzo until her death in 1590 after a prolonged illness.
Her feast day is February 13.
|
|
|
