The 14th - 15th centuries in Europe witnessed a rich development of the mystical tradition in spirituality, especially amongst lay people. There were a number of women among these mystics, and Catherine of Siena is one of the most important.

Catherine was born in Siena in 1347 (though there is some contrary evidence that she may have been born in 1333), the youngest daughter of the very large family of a local dyer. Despite considerable opposition from her parents, who wished her to marry, she joined the Dominican Third Order at the age of 16. The development of 3rd orders of the religious orders (which grew enormously from the later 13th century) offered committed lay people a way of associating closely with an order and living by a rule, but without becoming a fully-professed member of the order.

Having devoted herself to prayer and fasting from an early age, Catherine at length began to undertake a more active ministry. She began nursing the sick, especially lepers and people with cancer. There gathered around her groups of people who found her personal holiness immensely attractive and her spiritual writings and reflections helpful. She had numerous intense spiritual visions and gave herself courageously to tending the sick during an outbreak of the plague. Although she herself could not write, she dictated numerous letters and a Dialogue, a work of mystical spirituality.

During the last 5 years of her life, she became embroiled in the political strife going on in Europe around the Pope. She boldly intervened in the altercations between the Pope and the Florentines, and urged Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from his “captivity” in Avignon, where the French exerted considerable influence on papal policy. Then, when Europe became divided in its allegiance to rival popes, Catherine gave unstinting support to Urban VI in Rome, though at the same time admonishing him for his harshness to his opponents.

Catherine wore herself out in her efforts and died after a stroke in 1380 at the age of 33. The return of the papacy to Rome from Avignon was attributed to her. The transparent sanctity of her life and her spiritual writings made her an influential figure.

BORN: 25 March 1347, Siena, Italy.