Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena was born in Siena, Italy in  1347, the 24th of 25 children. From an early age she devoted herself to Jesus and prayer.  She went to prisons, hospitals and worked tirelessly with the poor. She spent three months in Avignon, France trying to convince Pope Gregory to return to Rome. In 1365, Catherine became a  member of the Mantellate, also known as the Third Order of St. Dominic or Lay Dominicans. On October 4, 1970, St. Catherine of  Siena became the first woman and lay person to become a Doctor of the Church. She died in 1380 at the age of 33. St. Catherine of Siena is the Patron Saint of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic.