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St. Catherine de Ricci (1522-1590) was born in Florence, Italy in 1522 and was named Alexandrina at her baptism. At age 6, her father put her in the Monticelli convent near their home where she received an education. After a short time outside the convent, at 14, she went to the Dominican convent of San Vincenzo (St. Vincent) in Prato, Tuscany. By age 25, she had risen to the post of perpetual prioress. She lived at San Vincenzo until her death in 1590 after a prolonged illness.
As the perpetual prioress of San Vincenzo, she developed into an effective and greatly admired administrator. She was an advisor on various topics to princes, bishops and cardinals. She corresponded with three men who were destined to become popes Marcellus II, Clement VIII, and Leo XI. An expert on religion, management and administration, her advise was eagerly sought. She gave counsel both in person and through writing letters. It is reported that she was extremely effective and efficient in her work, managing her priorities very well.
It is claimed that her meditation on the passion of Christ was so deep that she spontaneously bled as though scourged, and that a coral ring appeared at times of deep prayer on her finger (representing of course her marriage to Christ under the covenant of being a nun.) She was a very prayerful person from a very young age.
It is reported that she wore a "sharp iron chain" about her neck, engaged in extreme fasting and other forms of self punishment. Today, she might be classified as a self-injurer. Whether her stigmata were miraculously created, or were the result of self injury while in a state of religious ecstacy is a matter of faith.
One of the miracles that was documented for her canonization was her appearance many hundreds of miles away from where she was physically located.
She was canonized under pope Benedict XIV in 1746. Her feast day is February 13. She is still recognized today as having been a wonderful writer, her letters being both effective and beautifully written and among the high literature of the day.
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