S. CATHARINE DE RICCI, V.
(A.D. 1590.)
[Roman Martyrology. Canonised by Pope Benedict XIV, in 1746.]
S. Catharine, born of the noble Ricci family at Florence, from her infancy exhibited a precocious piety. Being placed in a convent when young, she prayed every day before a crucifix, shedding many tears, and meditating continually on the passion. She afterwards entered the Dominican convent of S. Vincent, in the town of Prato. She was asked to come home, but refused to revisit her parents till they had given her a promise that they would not oppose her vocation. At the age of thirteen she embraced the religious profession.
The grace of God descended upon her in abundant measure, and she is said to have received from our Blessed Lord the ring of espousal, and the stigmata. Being at Prato, she is said also to have seen and conversed with S. Philip Neri, who was then in Rome. At length after a life of great self-denial and continual ecstasy, exhausted by grave sickness, and strengthened with the sacraments of the Church, she departed to her rest, in the year 1590, in the sixty-ninth year of her age, on Feb. 2nd.
[41] See Jan. 26th.
February 14.
- SS. Vitalis, Fechula, Zeno, MM. at Rome.
- S. Eleucodius, B. of Ravenna, a.d. 112.
- S. Valentine, P. M. at Rome, a.d. 269.
- S. Valentine, B. M. at Teramo in Umbria; circ. a.d. 273.
- SS. Modestine, B., Florentine, P., and Flavian, D., at Avellino in Italy.
- S. Maro, H. in Syria; circ. a.d. 370.
- S. Abraham, B. at Carrhæ, in Mesopotamia; circ. a.d. 390.
- S. Auxentius, Ab. in Bithynia; circ. a.d. 470.
- S. Antonine, Ab. at Sorrento; circ. a.d. 830.
- SS. Bruno, B., and Eighteen Companions, in Prussia, MM. a.d. 1008.
S. VALENTINE, P. M.
(A.D. 269.)
[All Western Martyrologies. Acts contained in those of SS. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Habachuc.]