St. Catherine of Bologna

St. Catherine of Bologna was born Caterina de' Vigri on 8 September 1413 at Bologna, Italy, into a well-connected family, and died there on 9 March 1463. Raised for a time at the cultured court of Ferrara, she received a fine education before renouncing the world to join a community of devout women that embraced the Rule of St. Clare, becoming a Poor Clare nun. She was later sent to found and lead a new Poor Clare convent, Corpus Domini, at Bologna, where she served as abbess.

A mystic who experienced both consoling visions and fierce spiritual trials, she distilled her hard-won wisdom in a treatise, The Seven Spiritual Weapons, on the soul's combat against temptation. She was also a gifted painter, illuminator, and musician, and for this she is honored as the patron saint of artists. Her body, venerated as incorrupt, remains seated in a chapel at Bologna. She was canonized in 1712.