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As a school family, we are bringing focus to the virtues. Stemming from the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, we name two virtues each month to discover and strive to live out. Additionally, we learn about a saint who embodies those particular virtues.
For the month of March, we are focusing on the virtues of Humility and Modesty. We celebrate Saint Catherine of Bologna on March 9th.
Saint Catherine of Bologna's Story
St. Catherine of Bologna was an Italian nun and artist born as Catherine de' Vigri on September 8, 1413 in Bologna, Italy.
She was the member of an aristocratic family and the daughter of a diplomat to the Marquis of Ferrara. Catherine received a wonderful education in reading, writing, singing and drawing while being raised at the court of the Duke of Ferrara. Catherine excelled in painting, Latin and the viola.
When the daughter eventually married, she wanted Catherine to remain in her service, but Catherine, feeling a calling to the religious life, left the court.
In 1426, at 13-years-old, she entered the convent of Corpus Domini at Ferrara and became a Franciscan Tertiary.
During this time, her convent disagreed in whether to continue following the Augustinian rule or to instead adhere to the Franciscan rule. A Rule is a specific expression of the Christian life which calls the men or women of a particular religious order to a daily pattern of prayer, work and charity.
Catherine was determined to live a life of perfection, and was admired by her companions for her holiness.
In 1432, Catherine and other young women of Ferrara founded a monastery of the Order of Poor Clares, an order founded by St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.
Catherine was openly willing to serve the more humble roles in the convent. She was a laundress, a baker and a caretaker for the animals.
Through her efforts with Pope Nicholas V, the Poor Clare convent at Ferrara erected an enclosure, and Catherine was appointed Superioress. That office made her responsible for providing pastoral care and spiritual oversight to all of sisters. The reputation of the Community for its holiness and austerity became widespread.
In 1456, Catherine returned to Bologna with her superiors and the governors there requested she found a second monastery of the same Order and be the Abbess of the convent.
Catherine continued to paint and to write beautiful spiritual guides and poetry. She wrote the Treatise on the 7 Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare. And, her painting of St. Ursula remains on display in a Venice gallery.
Throughout her life, Catherine experienced visions of both Jesus Christ and Satan, which she documented in her treatise. In one instance, she had the baby Jesus placed in her arms by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
During the Lenten season of 1463, Catherine became seriously ill, and on March 9th she passed away.
She was buried without a coffin and her body was exhumed eighteen days later because of many cures attributed to her at her graveside and the sweet scent coming from her grave. Her body was discovered incorrupt and remains so today. That means it has not decayed. Catherine is dressed in her religious habit seated upright on a golden throne behind glass in the chapel of the Poor Clares in Bologna.
Her skin has since been blackened due to exposure from oil lamps and soot.
Saint Catherine was beatified in 1524 by Pope Clement VII and canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI. She is the patron saint of artists, the liberal arts, against temptations and of Bologna.
Her feast day is celebrated on March 9.
St. Catherine's piety, charity, and kindness attracted many to follow her along the road to Christian perfection. The beauty of her life and death encourages us to live in perfect charity as a Lenten goal.
Pope Benedict described this humble saint as, "From the distance of so many centuries she is still very modern and speaks to our lives. She, like us, suffered temptations, she suffered the temptations of disbelief, of sensuality, of a difficult spiritual struggle. She felt forsaken by God, she found herself in the darkness of faith. Yet in all these situations she was always holding the Lord's hand, she did not leave him, she did not abandon him. And walking hand in hand with the Lord, she walked on the right path and found the way of light."
Saint Catherine of Bologna is a Patron Saint of:
Artists,
Liberal arts
Against temptations
Bologna
-Courtesy Catholic Online
Saint Paul Catholic Classical School is seeking a long-term substitute for Latin and a full-time Latin teacher for grades PK-8 as well as Substitute teachers immediately to help fulfill the school’s mission to accompany parents on their journey as primary educators to unlock the wonders of God's creation through a comprehensive, faith-based, classical education. In communion with the Catholic Church, we foster awareness of each child's dignity as created in the image and likeness of God. We strive to form the whole person, which enables each child to seek truth, goodness, and beauty in all things and to grow and live as an instrument of God's love. Please visit the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Dallas at www.csodallas.org/apply to see all available positions.
If you are interested and would like to serve SPCCS as a substitute teacher, please apply. Please send your resume and cover letter to Courtney DeMakas at c.demakas@spsdfw.org. Safe Environment Certification also needs to be current, please contact Beatriz Gonzalez at beatriz@saintpaulchurch.org.