St. Catherine of Genoa

            Arguably one of the holiest women of her time St. Catherine of Genoa was born into a family with strong ties to the church, having two popes from the Genoa line.  Setting the standard for a little Christian girl she was described as being “extraordinarily holy” being gifted with prayer, having a deep connection with Christ’s passion love and patience. Furthermore, if that wasn’t enough she was simple quiet with unquestionable obedience.

            At the age of 16 she was married to an abusive husband. Due to her unmatched obedience the first five years of her marriage in complete submission to him. During the latter part of the marriage, according to the source she turned to secular methods for dealing with the abuse. These however, because of her unbelievable encounter with God were overlooked and were considered an innocent detour from her extra holy life.

            Her incredible encounter with God was what really interested me in St. Catherine’s life. Ten years after her marriage she had the desire to become the holy girl she once was.  She visited a convent in Genoa where a nun advised her to confess to the nun’s confessor. The second she knelt down in the confessional her soul was pierced with a divine light and in that same moment she “manifested her sinfulness and the Love of God with equal clearness”  (Florence Capes). After this indescribable moment she lost consciousness and experienced a sort of ecstasy.

From that moment one her internal state never changed, almost as if she was high on God the rest of her life. However, this high was “accompanied by severe penance which was in her mind required of the Holy Spirit. She lived out the rest of her life serving in the Great Hospital of Genoa where she later on became manger and treasurer.  

St. Catherine of Genoa lived nothing short of a holy life, serving in almost every way possible, however it was her encounter with God that truly immortalised her.  

Sources: 

Info: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03446b.htm

Image: http://saints.sqpn.com/saintc35.jpg