(A.D. 1463.)
[Roman Martyrology. Her name was inserted by Clement VIII., in 1592;
and she was canonized by Benedict XIII., in 1724. Authority:--Her life
written by F. Paleotti, about fifty years after her death.]
[Illustration: CATHEDRAL MODENA. From Stoughton's "Italian Reformers."
March 9.]
Catharine was the daughter of noble parents. Her father, John Vigri,
was high in favour with Nicholas d'Este, prince of Ferrara. She was
born on the Nativity of the B. Virgin, 1412, at Bologna, where she
spent her childhood; but growing up to girlhood she removed with her
parents to Ferrara, and became the associate of Margaret, daughter
of the prince. At the age of eleven she joined the order of the Poor
Clares, and entered the convent of that society in Bologna, with
the consent of her parents. "Thus withdrawn from all terrestral
occupations," says her biographer, "she began to serve God with such
fervour of soul, that all began to marvel at her. So great was her
gentleness, so great her reverence and obedience towards others, as
long as she lived, that she soon became beloved and pleasant to all,
and almost venerable in her early girlhood. Wherever she was, and with
whomsoever she conversed, she spoke either of God or with God, so that,
though her body was on earth, her soul was ever in heaven. And although
she was tormented with grievous temptations which tried her almost
out of measure, yet was she always of a glad countenance." She grew
daily more devoted to prayer; and her greatest delight was to spend
many hours in close communing with God. One Christmas Eve she obtained
permission to spend the night in the church, having resolved to recite
a thousand times the Angelic Salutation in honour of her who that night
bore the Saviour of the world. The hours glided away in the church in
all stillness, save for the click of the beads in Catharine's fingers,
and in all darkness, save for the glimmer of the red lamp before the
Blessed Sacrament. Suddenly, a glory filled the church, and she saw
before her the holy Mother bearing her infant Son in her bosom, and
smiling on the young religious, S. Mary laid the child Jesus in her
arms. It was a moment of supreme felicity, and one painters have loved
to recall, as she held to her heart her Redeemer and God, and looked
down on His radiant face. Then, trembling between love and fear, she
bent her lips to his mouth, and instantly all was dark; the vision had
fled. When she returned to her cell she wrote down what she had seen on
the margin of her breviary, where it was found after her death.
Margaret d'Este, her little friend in childhood, had grown up, and was
married to a good man, Robert Malatesta,[39] who, however, died and
left her a disconsolate widow. The prince of Ferrara was desirous of
marrying his daughter again, but Margaret clung to the memory of her
first husband, and besought her friend Catharine to assist her with her
prayers. And it fell out that on the very day of the second marriage
the bridegroom died. Next night Margaret saw Robert come to her, and
extending to her the wedding ring, say, "Margaret, I marry thee again,
thou must be mine alone!" and she spent the rest of her days in a holy
widowhood. A convent of Poor Clares having been founded in Bologna, S.
Catharine was appointed to be the first prioress, in spite of her tears
and entreaties to be left to the calm seclusion of her cell, and the
subordinate duties of a sister. She dreaded lest the cares and business
which fall to a superior should leave her less time for contemplation
and prayer.
[39] Robert was only eighteen when he married her, and she was much
younger.
On her way from Ferrara to her new home she sickened, but persevered in
her journey, though carried on a litter to the boat, and when placed
in it, was given a blessed candle to hold, as is usual with dying
persons, in case she should die on the journey. She however recovered,
sufficiently to set the new house in order, and to complete the
construction of some of the buildings; and then after the flame of life
had again sunk, and once more flickered up, calmly entered into the joy
of her Lord on March 9th, 1463, at the age of fifty-one.
Her body, incorrupt, is shown in the church of her convent, through
glass, sitting, richly habited, but with face, hands, and feet bare.