Catherine of Siena

 

 

Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of Italy and Italian nurses. She was born in Siena in 1347 and died in 1380.

 

Catherine was the youngest of 25 – yes  25, children.  She was very religious and eventually joined the Dominicans.  She was a mystic and led a solitary life of prayer until 1366 when she began to preach. Not to universal acclaim but the pope respected her.

 

She claimed to have stigmata and it was said that they became visible on her death of a stroke.