St. Catherine de’ Ricci

Saint Catherine de’ Ricci

Virgin

Alessandra de’ Ricci was born in Florence to a noble Italian family in the year of Our Lord 1522. After the death of her mother, Alessandra was brought up by her pious godmother, and from a young age she was taugh t in a Benedictine convent where her aunt was the abbess. After finally gaining her father’s reluctant consent, Alessandra joined a cloistered convent of Third Order Dominicans who followed the strict example of Girolamo Savonarola. She took the name Catherine, which was the name of her late mother, and received the veil from the hands of her uncle, who was the convent’s confessor. Catherine experienced frequent and consistent ecstasies and mystical visions for much of her life, and for some time she suffered persecution and humiliation on this account. The saint’s great humility and piety won over her detractors, however, and she eventually became abbess herself. Though cloistered, Catherine was in miraculous contact with St. Philip Neri, and she advised and corresponded with many other prominent figures of the time. Catherine died in the year of Our Lord 1590, on the feast of Candlemas.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for February 13th

AT Antioch, the holy prophet Agabus, of whom mention is made by St. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles.

At Ravenna, in the time of the emperor Decius, and the governor Quinctian, the Saints Fusca, virgin, and her nurse, Maura, who endured many afflictions, were transpierced with a sword, and thus ended their martyrdom.

At Meletine, in Armenia, in the persecution of the same Decius, St. Polyeuctus, martyr, who, after many sufferings, obtained the crown of martyrdom.

At Lyons, St. Julian, martyr.

At Todi, St. Benignus, martyr.

At Rome, pope St. Gregory II, who strenuously opposed the impiety of Leo the Isaurian, and sent St. Boniface to preach the Gospel in Germany.

At Angers, the demise of the holy bishop Lucinius, a man venerable for his sanctity.

At Lyons, St. Stephen, bishop and confessor.

At Rieti, the abbot St. Stephen, a man of wonderful patience, at whose death, as is related by the blessed pope Gregory, the holy angels were present and visible to all.

At Prato, in Tuscany, St. Catharine de Ricci, a Florentine virgin, of the Order of St. Dominic, replenished with heavenly gifts, whom pope Benedict XIV inscribed on the catalogue of holy virgins. She died rich in virtues and merits on the 2d of this month, but her festival is celebrated on this day.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.