Saint Catherine De Ricci
1522-1590
February 4

Catherine, baptized Alessandra, was a member of the wealthy de Ricci family. At the age of seven, she was enrolled in the school of a Benedictine monastery, an environment which encouraged the child's love of prayer, and deepened within her a yearning to enter religious life.

Having finally obtained her father's permission to become a religious, Catherine, at the age of thirteen, entered the Third Order cloistered monastery of St. Vincent in Prato, near Florence. At the reception of the habit, the young novice received the name Catherine because of her devotion to Catherine of Siena.

At first, the Sisters of St. Vincent's had difficulty in understanding Catherine's extraordinary prayer life and her mystical experiences. However, because of her patience in the face of misunderstanding and humiliations, the Sisters came to recognize the integrity of her experiences. In time, after the community's acknowledgement of Catherine's gifts, she was elected novice mistress and later prioress.

To the community, Catherine was a firm and prudent prioress; to the individual Sister, she was always the attentive listener, patient and sympathetic. This attitude likewise characterized her ministry of service to the many visitors from all walks of life who came for advice, direction, and prayers. Catherine was wont to say to her Sisters: "See that no person leaves the convent without being consoled and comforted in one way or another." One of her favorite ways to help the poor who came to the monastery was to give them bread she herself had baked.

May we too seek to find ways that we can bring the comfort of Jesus to whoever seeks assistance from us.