ROME APRIL 2024 PILGRIMAGE THE SHRINES AND RELICS OF SANTA CATERINA DA SIENA
THE INDOMITABLE ST. CATERINA DA SIENA, her SHRINES AND RELICS IN ROME, her FEAST DAY IS APRIL 29. This is a 3-hour Pilgrimage to the shrines and relics of St. Caterina da Siena in Rome, regarded as the SUPER SAINT, SHE WAS DECLARED PATRONESS OF ROME, ITALY AND EUROPE!
She died in Rome at 33 years old, lived 1347 - 1380. She was a mystic, theologian, stigmatic, philosopher, a writer, a kind and compassionate helper to the poor and suffering, and a political ambassador utilized by Popes. She was an ardent faster, mostly living on the daily Communion host. She was regarded to be a SPIRITUAL GENIUS and known to be RADIANTLY HAPPY.
On October 4, 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her a doctor of the church along with Teresa of Avila. A doctor of the church elucidates the faith by words or example. She was a prolific writer, it was her “Dialogue” that won her Doctor of the church status. Her “Dialogue” teaches us how to come closer to God. She dictated the book to 3 assistants over 5 days while she was in a spiritual ecstasy. On October 1, 1999, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Caterina da Siena patron saint of Europe. She had been canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II.
She was born 24 of 25 children in a lower middle class family in Siena. At age 7 she consecrated her virginity to God. At age 12 her parents wanted to marry her off but she refused. She cut her long hair very short to appear unattractive. Her parents wanted her to marry her older sister’s husband. Her sister had died at a young age and the widower was now free to marry again. Only Caterina knew the painful history of her sister’s marriage, the husband beat up his wife, sending the sister into fasting spells. That is how Caterina learned to fast. She was a rigorous faster. She entered a convent where the Nuns taught her how to read. At age 18 she became a Third Order Dominican Nun.
Florence was not historically lockstep with Rome. In 1373, factions in Florence turned against Pope Gregory XI, wanting to strip the Holy See of its lands in Italy involving the Papal States in central Italy. The Papal States occurred between 756 A.D. and 1870, when Italy unified at the defeat of Rome by the Italian Army. Caterina got involved and wrote to cities across Italy exhorting them not to follow Florence.
In 1376 Caterina traveled to Avignon France from Florence. The Papacy had fled to Avignon after the election of Pope John XXII in 1314. She acted as a peace ambassador from Florence and pleaded for the Papacy to return to Rome. Pope Gregory XI was in Avignon at the time. In September 1376 Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome.
In 1378 Pope Gregory XI sent Caterina to Florence for more peace negotiations.
In 1380 Caterina went to Rome, her mission was to restore the rightful Pope Urban VI with Rome against the anti-Pope Clement VII. Her confessor advised her to eat but by then she couldn’t make up for lost health.
Her body is buried in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the Church just a tad south of the Pantheon in Rome. You can see the back and east side of the Pantheon from the Piazza in front of the Church, the Piazza with Bernini’s elephant statue on top of a pedestal and holding up an Ancient Egyptian Obelisk.
Her left hand is in a special room of Monastero della Madonna del Rosario a Monte Mario next to the Altar of the Church of the same name. A Nun will enter the room and open a sliding window to display the relics to visitors standing inside the Church. The hand is very slight, the Nun may say that back then people were small, it was more than that, Caterina fasted strictly and severely.
Her head is in St. Dominic’s in Siena and her foot and 3 fingers are in Venice. Her followers wanted to smuggle her body out of Rome but settled for the head. When they opened the bag at the gate, the guards saw a bunch of rose petals.
This 3 - hour Pilgrimage will visit her tomb at the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. We will see La Cappella del Transito di Santa Caterina da Siena at Palazzo Santa Chiara 44, the room where she died. The original walls and floor moved to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. In 1638 her room was renovated to a Chapel.
We will visit relics at Monastero della Madonna del Rosario a Monte Mario.
We will visit Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli at Salita del Grillo 37, dedicated to Santa Caterina da Siena. It serves the Italian Military. This Church is magnificent for its eye-popping marble patterns, as marble columns are cut in half lengthwise and opened up to display their unique beauty within. Only here in Rome.
The Church of Saint Sabina on Aventine Hill has a chapel dedicated to Santa Caterina da Siena. Santa Caterina da Siena in Via Giulia 162/A has a painting in its main sanctuary depicting Caterina’s mystical marriage to Christ.
Rome has a contemporary modern church devoted to Saint Caterina as a doctor of letters. The Church reveres her education and intellectual achievements with her writings and political ambassador activities.
Cost is a flat 500 Euro for the 3 - hour Pilgrimage, cost may be adjusted for a group depending on size. Send me a text on Messages or WhatsApp at 01139 338 744 7764 or email sandra.panici@hotmail.com for Account Details. I arrange all transportation. Entry into churches and room is free.
You can take this Pilgrimage on Caterina’s Feast Day April 29 or any other day. Pilgrims often take Pilgrimages of interest at their convenience, whenever they are in Rome.
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