Ekaterina Bolonskaya Italian Catholic Saint Date of Birth: 08.09.1413 Country: Italy

1. Saint Catherine of Bologna: A Visionary Artist
2. Early Life and Aristocratic Origins
3. Founding the Monastery of Corpus Domini
4. The Seven Spiritual Weapons
5. Artistic Talent
6. Death and Sainthood
7. Recent Discoveries and Publications

Saint Catherine of Bologna: A Visionary Artist

Saint Catherine of Bologna was an Italian Catholic saint who founded and became the first abbess of the Corpus Domini Poor Clares monastery in Bologna.

Early Life and Aristocratic Origins

Catherine was born into an aristocratic family in Bologna, Italy. At the age of nine, she was raised at the court of Marquis Niccolò III d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara, where her father served as ambassador.

Founding the Monastery of Corpus Domini

In 1431, Catherine, along with another young woman from Ferrara, established a monastery for the Order of Saint Clare. In 1456, she returned to Bologna at the request of the city's government to establish and head a new female monastery of the same order, located at the Basilica of Corpus Domini.

The Seven Spiritual Weapons

Catherine was known for her spiritual writings, including the "Treatise on the Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare." The treatise took the form of a dialogue between God and Satan, accompanied by vivid illustrations.

Artistic Talent

Catherine was also an accomplished artist. Her manuscripts, including a biography of Saint Ursula from 1456, are now preserved in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. Her style has been described by some historians as naive.

Death and Sainthood

Catherine died at the age of 48. Eighteen days later, her body was found incorrupt and moved to the Poor Clares chapel in Bologna, where her relics remain preserved behind glass today.

Saint Catherine is considered a protector against temptations and a patron of artists. She was revered in her hometown of Bologna for three centuries before being canonized in 1712. Her feast day in the Catholic Church is March 9.

Recent Discoveries and Publications

In recent years, new works by Catherine have been discovered and published in Italian in her native Bologna. These works shed light on her spiritual insights and artistic talents.