Catherine of Siena
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.
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 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]
After dying in Rome in 1380, Catherine's followers attempted to steal her body from the city. 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. As the guards searched the sack, the followers allegedly prayed to Catherine which led the guard to see rose petals in the sack instead of the head. This allowed the followers to safely return to Siena without the sack being taken away.[1] Catherine's headless body remained buried in the Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome[2] while her foot was said to be buried in the San Giovanni e Paolo in Venice.[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