Saint Catherine of Siena
- Feast
- 29 April
- Patron of
- Italy, Europe, nurses, the sick and those ridiculed for their faith
Catherine was born in Siena in 1347, one of the youngest of a dyer’s many children. She joined the Dominican laywomen, nursed the sick through plague, and worked for peace between Florence and the Pope. In 1376 she went to Avignon and urged Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome, which he did. She died in Rome in 1380, aged thirty-three.
She dictated hundreds of letters and a book, The Dialogue, and in 1970 Pope Paul VI named her one of the first two women Doctors of the Church. She is a patron of Italy and of Europe. Painters show her in a white habit and black mantle, holding a lily or a crucifix, sometimes crowned with thorns.
A young laywoman who spoke the truth to the most powerful men of her day and served the sick with her own hands. A strong patron for a confirmation candidate who wants a faith that acts.
The print of Saint Catherine of Siena
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena?
The feast of Saint Catherine of Siena is kept on 29 April.
What is Saint Catherine of Siena the patron saint of?
Saint Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of Italy, Europe, nurses, the sick and those ridiculed for their faith.
Is Saint Catherine of Siena a good confirmation saint?
A young laywoman who spoke the truth to the most powerful men of her day and served the sick with her own hands. A strong patron for a confirmation candidate who wants a faith that acts.
Is Saint Catherine of Siena the patron saint of people named Catherine?
Yes. Saint Catherine of Siena is the traditional name saint for anyone called Catherine, Katherine, Katharine, Kathleen, Caterina and Catalina, and the feast on 29 April is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours