Catherine of Bologna

Its life

Catherine was born in Bologna in 1413, child of the patrician family of Vigri, near of the lords to Ferrare. His/her father having been responsible by Nicolas III with Ferrare for an important station at the court, it became the partner of Marguerite, princess of Ferrare and shared his plays and his refined education.

Arts and the letters were particularly cultivated at the court of Ferrare as they were it also, in other Italian cities of this time, such Mantoue. The children of the princely families received an education there covering as well arts as philosophy, the beautiful letters that the exercises such as riding a horse or handling the weapons. Catherine was thus able to read and write in Latin, and learned also painting and art from the religious miniature.

Most of time was also devoted to the study of the religion and Christian philosophy.

Catherine took share with the balls and to the pleasures which this princely youth appreciated, one said of it that it was beautiful, and that the good parties were pressed near it. However, it had simpler tastes, it liked loneliness, and obstinately refused to marry.

When his/her Marguerite partner married Roberto Malatesta, prince of Rimini, it did not want however not to follow it, in spite of his objurgations, and preferred to devote his life to the prayer and charitable works. In spite of the reserves and the sadness of her parents, it thus left to join a community of pious ladies which belonged to an third-order of inspiration augustinienne. Advised by franciscains, they transformed their community into monastery of Clarisses.

Catherine pronounced her wishes in there 1432. She was in charge of the training of the beginners there.

Quickly, it was favoured visions, of extases, but also of temptations, doubts. She profited from a vision of Marie the Christmas Eve 1445 which introduced the Jesus Child to him. She saw also François d' Assise showing him her marks. His/her sisters admired her application, her good sense, and its deep piety. In 1455, the general vicar of the Observance had obtained from the Pope Calixte III a in short authorizing the foundation of monasteries of Clarisses in various points of Italy. Some knights were thus sent since Bologna until Ferrare to request the sending of nuns from it. Catherine was those, and was designated like abess of the new foundation.

She arrived in her birthplace, on July 22nd 1456, and was solemnly accommodated by the Bessarion cardinal, papal legate, and by the cardinal archbishop of the city, suvi of the clergy, the Senate, and all the population.

Catherine was characterized there by her deep spiritual life, and her councils warned with the sisters of the monastery. She spent 7 years to Bologna and died on March 9th 1463. At once miracles occurred on its tomb, so much so that its skin, only 18 days after its funerals, was exposed to the veneration of the sisters and the faithful ones. One installed it under a baldachin in a vault of the church Corpus Domini of the monastery, where it is always. Its body not having known corruption.

Its works

Its writings :

the only written work which was preserved is the Traité of the seven weapons of the spiritual combat .

Its pictorial works :

Its superiors, instead of repressing its talents of painter, encouraged it, and qu arranged to him brood a small workshop where it could work apart from the offices.

In the church of the Domini Corpus: a table representing Christ in cross .
With the art gallery of Bologna: A table of Holy Ursule and his/her daughters .
With the Gallery dell' Accademia of Venice: another Holy Ursule
In the church San Giovanni in Bragora of Venice: a table in four parts representing of the martyrdoms .

Quotation

Prayer of Holy Catherine of Bologna: “ When I wish to surely obtain a grace, I have resort to the hearts of the purgatory, so that they present my request to our common Father ”.

Canonization

Catherine was canonized in 1712 by the Pope Clément XI. Its festival was fixed at the March 9th . She is the owner of the artists .

Sources

Wikitau (encyclopedia franciscaine free and free)
Article of Marie Léra in the review Christmas of February 17th, 1916.

External bonds

Details of the life of Holy Catherine of catholic Bologna
Encyclopedia

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