ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA Patron Saint of Europe, Italy, firefighters, illness, miscarriages


St. Catherine was born on March 25, 1347, at Siena, Italy, of a large family. She was the youngest among the 25 children of Giacomo di Benincasa, a dyer, and Lapa, the daughter of a local poet. She was called Euphrosyne by her family because of her happy disposition. The name means joy in Greek.
At the early age of six, St. Catherine had a vision of Christ seated in glory with the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John. At the age of seven, she consecrated her life to Christ. When she was 12, her mother, with marriage in mind, urged her to pay more attention to her appearance. She dressed in fashionable clothes and wore jewelry but soon repented her vanity and declared that she would never marry.
When her parents persisted in finding her a husband, she cut off her golden-brown hair and she was punished by doing menial work in the household. She did all the things she was asked without complaint. Soon her family realized that further pressure on her was useless and she was permitted to do as she pleased.
At 16, she took the habit of the Dominican Tertiaries and led a life of penance and prayer. She began tending the sick, especially those afflicted with the most repulsive diseases, and worked for the conversion of sinners. In 1370, she had a vision of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, and heard a call to leave her cell and enter the public life of the world. She exchanged correspondence with the princes and republics of Italy and was consulted by the papal legates about the affairs of the Church.
In 1375, while in Pisa, she received Communion in the little church of St. Christina. She was gazing at the crucifix when suddenly from it descended five blood-red rays piercing her hands, feet, and heart. The wounds remained as stigmata, although, at her special prayer, the marks did not appear outwardly in her body while she lived. She subsequently undertook missions of peace in Italy.
Upon her return to Siena, she occupied herself in writing “The Dialogue,” a book on her meditations and revelations. When the Great Schism broke out in the Church, Catherine was summoned to Rome by Urban VI. The remaining time of her life was spent serving the poor. On April 21, 1380, at the young age of 33, she suffered from a stroke and eight days later, on April 29, she passed away. She was declared a saint by Pius II in 1461.
Source: Manila Bulletin


PRAYERS


Prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena for Mothers 
Humble virgin and Doctor of the Church, in thirty-three years you achieved great perfection and became the counselor of Popes. You know the temptations of mothers today as well as the dangers that await unborn infants. Intercede for me that I may avoid miscarriage and bring forth a healthy baby who will become a true child of God. Also pray for all mothers, that they may not resort to abortion but help bring a new life into the world. Amen.


Prayer to Avoid a Miscarriage
Humble Virgin and Doctor of the Church, in thirty-three years you achieved great perfection and became the counselor of Popes. You know the temptations of mothers today as well as the dangers that await unborn infants. Intercede for me that I may avoid miscarriage and bring forth a healthy baby who will become a true child of God. Also pray for all mothers, that they may not resort to abortion but help bring a new life into the world. Amen.O Saint Catherine of Siena, God our Father enkindled the flame of holy love in your heart as you meditated on the Passion of Jesus His Son. Moved by His grace, you devoted your life to the poor and the sick, as well as to the peace and unity of the Church. Through your intercession, may we also come to know the love of Jesus, bring His compassion to all, and work for the unity of His Church. We ask this in Jesus' Name and for His sake. Amen.God, You caused St. Catherine to shine with Divine love in the contemplation of the Lord's Passion and in the service of Your Church. By her help, grant that Your people, associated in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of His glory. Amen.


Prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena for Firefighters
Dominican Tertiary and Doctor of the Church, you were full of wisdom, the special gift of God, and you knew how to guide even Pontiffs, as well as how to extinguish fiery passions and restore true peace among people. How inspiring your spiritual writings and how heroic your abstemious life! Fires are today unfortunately all too common - including those caused by criminals. Please protect and encourage firefighters in their heroic efforts to save lives. Amen.
Prayer for the Gifts of Saint Catherine of Siena
God of Wisdom you made our sister Catherine burn with divine love in contemplating the Lord's passion and in serving your Church. With the help of her prayers may your people, united in the mystery of Christ, rejoice forever in the revelation of his glory, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Novena Prayer in Honor of St. Catherine of Siena
Heavenly Father, your glory is in your saints. We praise your glory in the life of the admirable St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church. Her whole life was a noble sacrifice inspired by an ardent love of Jesus, your unblemished Lamb. In troubled times she strenuously upheld the rights of His beloved spouse, The Church. Father, honour her merits and hear her prayers for each of us, and for our whole parish family dedicated to her. Help us to pass unscathed through the corruption of this world, and to remain unshakably faithful to the church in word, deed, and example. Help us always to see in the Vicar of Christ an anchor in the storms of life, and a beacon of light to the harbour of your Love, in this dark night of your times and men's souls. Grant also to each of us our special petition . . . (pause to pray for your own intentions). We ask this through Jesus, your Son, in the bond of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
St. Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.


PRAYERS OF SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA


"Lord, take me from myself and give me to yourself." - St. Catherine of Siena


Prayer to the Holy Ghost by Saint Catherine of Siena 
Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O ineffable Love, from every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus, love, Jesus, love. Amen.


Prayer of Saint Catherine of Siena to the Precious Blood of Jesus
Precious Blood,
Ocean of Divine Mercy:
Flow upon us!
Precious Blood,
Most pure Offering:
Procure us every Grace!
Precious Blood,
Hope and Refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!
Precious Blood,
Delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.


Another Prayer of Saint Catherine of Siena
I see that you have endowed your vicar
by nature
with a fearless heart;
so I humbly, imploringly beg you
to pour the light beyond nature
into the eye of his understanding.
For unless this light,
acquired through pure affection for virtue,
is joined with it,
a heart such as his tends to be proud.
Today again let every selfish love be cut away
from those enemies of yours
and from the vicar
and from us all,
so that we may be able to forgive those enemies
when you bend their hardness.
For them, that they may humble themselves
and obey this lord of ours,
I offer you my life
from this moment
and for whenever you wish me to lay it down
for your glory. [pp.217-18]


Litany of St. Catherine of Siena
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, our mother, pray for us.
St. Dominic, glorious Patriarch, pray for us.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us.
St. Catherine benevolent mother of the poor, pray for us.
St. Catherine, kind mother of the suffering, pray for us.
St. Catherine, merciful mother of the sick, pray for us.
St. Catherine, refuge of the sorrowful, pray for us.
St. Catherine, intercessor for sinners, pray for us.
St. Catherine, rose pf patience, pray for us.
St. Catherine, model of humility, pray for us.
St. Catherine, lily of chastity, pray for us.
St. Catherine, vessel of graces, pray for us.
St. Catherine, zealous promoter of the honor of God, pray for us.
St. Catherine, luster of holiness, pray for us.
St. Catherine, example of mildness, pray for us.
St. Catherine, glory of the Order of Preachers, pray for us.
St. Catherine, fruitful mother of spiritual children, pray for us.
St. Catherine, promoter of peace, pray for us.
St. Catherine, terror of the evil spirits, pray for us.
St. Catherine, follower of Jesus, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who didst give the blossoms of thy innocent youth to the service of thy Heavenly Spouse, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who didst lead an angelic life in human flesh, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who didst tear thy virginal flesh with scourges, pray for us.
St. Catherine, whom Jesus, Himself, did feed with His Body and Blood, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who didst exchange thy heart with the Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who was blest with His Holy Wounds, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who was taken to Heaven to the celestial nuptials, pray for us.
St. Catherine, who didst receive a hundredfold, reward for all thy labors and merits, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.


Pray for us, O glorious Virgin, St. Catherine
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us Pray
O God, who didst enable Blessed Catherine, graced with the special privilege of virginity, and patience, to overcome the assault of evil spirits, and to stand unshaken in the love of Thy Name, grant we beseech Thee, that after her example treading under foot the wickedness of the world, and overcoming the wiles of all enemies, we may safely pass onward to Thy glory. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.


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