Part of the Field Guide to Flying Saints

born: Siena 1347

died: Rome april 29 1380

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of Italy.

She was the 23rd child of Jacopo Benincasa. She saw angels as clearly as ordinary people. Aged 7, after a vision of 'Christ in glory' she promised her virginity to Him. To show her determination not to marry, she cut off her hair. Her family was furious, but Jacopo ordered her to be left alone and allowed a room for prayer.

She mystically married Jesus and his foreskin served as a wedding ring. After her death her hand with the praeputium of Jesus Christ of Nazareth became a relic and the famous part of the penis of the lord, though invisible, was told to swell and turn red for two virgins. She liked to be humiliated and drank cupfuls of cancerous puss from a sick woman that abused her.

Catherine got the Pope to move back to Italy from France. In 1378 the Great Schism began and devastated Catherine. She had a seizure and died.

Wingspan: 1,68m

Weight (approx): 44kg

Range and distribution: Italy

Color: white and brown tunic.

Special features: ring, stigmata, lily.

1