Born in Italy in 1327, she was one of twenty-five children born to Giacomo and Lapa Benincasa. 

She had a twin sister who died at birth, and eleven of her siblings also died in childhood. The home she grew up in still exists. 

When Catherine was five or six she had her first vision of Jesus. He was seated in Glory with Sts. Peter, James, and John. By age seven, Catherine had resolved to give her life to The Lord. 

But when she was sixteen she refused to marry her brother-in-law after the death of her sister, which angered her parents. She fell ill and did not recover until her mother finally gave her permission to give her life to The Lord. 

When Catherine was eighteen she joined the Dominicans and spent three years in seclusion and prayer, attracting followers and leading to an Apostolate. 

At twenty one she had a mystical marriage with Jesus. Catherine wrote many letters providing spiritual direction but these also included commentary on public affairs and, eventually, she was accused of slander, though she was later cleared. 

She went with the Chaplain of the Dominicans to the Pope in Avignon, as the Ambassador of Florence which was then at war against the Pope. Her influence with Pope Gregory XI played a role in his decision to leave Avignon for Rome. Then, she was sent by the Pope to negotiate peace with Florence. 

In 1378 there was a great schism with two, and then three, claiming the Chair of St. Peter. 

Catherine spent the last two years of her life, living in Rome, praying and then advocating on behalf of Pope Urban VI and fighting for the unity of The Church. 

She offered herself as a victim for The Church in its agony and died on this day in 1380 at the age of just 33. 

In 1939 she and St. Francis of Assisi were made Patron Saints of Europe and in 1970 she and St. Teresa of Avila were declared Doctors of The Church. 

St. Catherine of Sienna, please pray for us.