Catherine of Siena (1347 – 1380) was an Italian mystic, activist, and author who contributed huge influence to Italian literature and the Catholic Church. She was venerated as a saint in 1461.
Biography[]
Life and career[]
Catherine was born in Siena as the last of the 25 children[1] to Lapa Piagenti, the daughter of a local poet, and Jacopo di Benincasa, a cloth dyer. From 1375, Catherine began exchanging correspondences with Pope Gregory XI, requesting him to reform the clergy and the administration of the Papal States.[2] Eventually, she became one of his most important ambassadors.[1]
Legacy[]
After dying in Rome in 1380, Catherine's followers from Siena attempted to steal her body. However, they were unable to get the body out of the city and resorted to cutting off her head and hiding it in a sack. When they were stopped by guards, the followers prayed to Catherine, which allegedly led the guards to see rose petals in the sack, allowing them to continue to Siena without the sack being taken away.[1] Catherine's headless body remained buried in the Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.[2]
Her foot, considered a relic, is said to be housed at the Venetian church of San Giovanni e Paolo.[1]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed II (mentioned in Database entry only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Assassin's Creed II – Database: Santi Giovanni e Paolo
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Catherine of Siena on Wikipedia