St. Catherine Of Siena Round Medal and Necklace

Sterling Silver St. Catherine Of Siena Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold Filled St. Catherine Of Siena Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold St Catherine Of Siena Medal

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine was born in 1347 in the city of Siena, a town in Italy not far from Florence. Catherine, and a twin sister who died in infancy, were the youngest of twenty five children. The father was a dyer by trade, and noted for his piety.

Holiness in Youth

Little Catherine at a very early age gave signs of future holiness. When but five years old her love of the “Hail Mary” was so great that she would kneel and repeat it on each step of the staircase, as she went up and came down. In her sixth year Our Lord favored her with a wonderful and beautiful vision. One day as she was returning home from a visit to her eldest married sister with her brother Stephen, who was a year or two older than herself, she suddenly saw above the church of St. Dominic a magnificent throne, on which was seated our Divine Savior, clad in pontifical robes, wearing a tiara.

With Him were St. Peter and St. Paul, and St. John the Evangelist. As she gazed lovingly on her beloved Redeemer, He made the Sign of the Cross over her and smiled with a look replete with love. From that moment Catherine was no longer a child; ardent love of God became the only motive of her actions. She had a burning desire to imitate the penances, prayers, and practices of virtue of the Saints.

Seeking out places of great solitude to be joined with God, she scourged herself and watched and prayed. She longed for a closer union with her Savior, and made a vow of virginity. The next five years were spent quietly at home. Cathernie’s mother resolved that the child should be married and endeavored to obtain a good husband for her. But Catherine had given her heart to Jesus and remained firm in her purpose not to wed any mortal man.

Finding Union with God in Her Heart

All the efforts of her family to hinder her prayerful life served, by the mercy of God, but to increase its fervor. No longer permitted to be alone, Catherine, guided by the Holy Spirit, made a cell of her heart, where she could retire at all times, whether alone or in the company of others, to enjoy the presence of her Beloved, Whom she always found awaiting her within its enclosure.

At sixteen, Catherine received the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic, continuing to live as an anchorite in her father’s home. Almighty God favored her with many supernatural graces. On one occasion when meditating on the words, “Create in me a new heart”, she beheld her Divine Spouse approach and touch her left side with His hand. She immediately experienced such a shock of pain and love in it as to cause her to swoon with happiness.

The Stigmata

It seemed to her that her Spouse had taken her heart from her breast. Amazed, she saw Him reappear with a luminous heart in His hand, and she sank trembling and fainting. As her Divine Spouse approached, these tender words reached her ear: “My daughter, I have thy heart and I give the Mine, that thou mayest forever live in Me”.

From that day Catherine had not only a wound in her side, which crowds came to contemplate respectfully after her death, but in her heart so active a fire, that all material fire seemed cold in comparison with it. When Catherine asked Jesus why His side had been pierced, He answered: “It was to reveal to men the secret of My Heart, and make them understand that My love is far greater than exterior manifestations I have given of it. My sufferings have had an end, but My love has none”. Catherine’s wonderful life of prayer and penance was crowned by God with the gift of the Stigmata.

The gift of prophecy was also bestowed upon her, as well as a mar vellus insight into the state of souls. St. Catherine was indefatigable in her service of the poor. In 1374, when Siena was visited by the plague, Catherine was the angel of the sick and dying, and several wonderful cures were the outcome of her prayers and labors. At that time Italy was facing many struggles, strifes and fierce warfare. There were two claimants for the throne of St. Peter.

From her obscure home St. Catherine was summoned to defend the Church’s cause, and she was instrumental in bringing about the return of Pope Gregory XI from Avignon to Rome in 1377. After countless proofs of her virtues, and famous for the gift of prophecy and for many miracles, at about the age of thirty-three St. Catherine passed to her Spouse at Rome on April 30, 1380. She was canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II, and has been proclaimed a Patron of the Holy City. Her body rests in the Minerva church in Rome. Her “Dialogue” and other writings are a treasure-house of mystic counsel.

Wearing a St. Catherine of Siena pendent is a source of inspiration and a daily reminder for us each to seek such an intimate and close relationship to God.

St. Catherine of Siena Rosary
UPC: 822362890422
Brand: Bliss