BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Wednesday, May 9, Fifth Week in Easter

Fourth from left, the saint's incorrupt body seated on a golden throne, and extreme right, a Madonna painted by the saint.
ST. CATERINA DI BOLOGNA (Italy, 1413-1463), Poor Clare, Mystic, Painter and Writer
Daughter of a diplomat, Caterina Vigri was raised and educated in the Este ducal court of Ferrara, but at 17, she joined the Franciscan Third Order along with a group of friends
who wished to perform an active apostolate. At 21, she joined the Poor Clares, where she made her way from baker and portress to mistress of novices. In 1456, she was sent to
establish a convent in Bologna, where she became the abbess and remained for the rest of her life. She is known to have had mystic visions and she wrote about her spiritual life
in a couple of instructive books and her 'sermons' to her congregation. She also wrote poems, played the violin and was an accomplished painter, illustrating manuscripts with
miniatures and even painting frescoes. When she died, her body was exhumed after 17 days because her grave emanated perfume. She was incorrupt, and her remains were kept
seated upright on a throne, in the Poor Clares convent. Many miracles were attributed to her. Some 12 years after her death, the Poor Clares published her book Le Sette Armi
Spirituali (Seven Spiritual Weapons) which became a medieval bestseller. Her remains are venerated at the Chiesa della Santa in Bologna, where she is still seated on a golden
throne, but the face is mummified and blackened from centuries of candle soot. On December 29, 2010, Benedict XVI dedicated his Wednesday catechesis to her.
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101229...
Readings for today's Mass:
usccb.org/bible/readings/050912.cfm


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

General Audience - Continuing his catecheses on prayer in the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Father reflected today on the imprisonment of Peter by Herod and his miraculous release from prison, saying that the Church and each of us “goes through a night of trial... (but) the unceasing vigilance of prayer sustains us". He added a personal note: "I, too, from the first moment of my election as the Successor of St. Peter, I have always felt supported by the prayers of you all, by the prayer of the Church, especially by your prayers, especially during difficult times. Thank you from my heart”.