Post #5815

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA, VIRGIN, PRIMARY PATRONESS OF ITALY Catherine, the one who could be rightly called the novel Debora, mother of the people and defender of the Church, was born in Siena, in the Fontebranda district, on the 25th of March 1347, by the pious dyer Jacopo Benincasa and the pious Lapa di Puccio de 'Piacenti, second last of 25 children. From early childhood she was entirely consecrated to Christ, Who appeared to her in a mantle and tiara (ornaments of the Roman Pontiff) at the age of six. At seven, she took a vow of perpetual virginity and began to mortify her body. At twelve she cut her hair to make her parents understand that it was her serious intention not to want to get married to anyone but Jesus.