CATERINA de' RICCI, saint. — Dominican, died on 23 April 1522 in Florence, from the first marriage of her father, Pierfrancesco. Alessandra (that was her baptismal name) spent her childhood first in her patrician and numerous family, then in the Benedictine monastery of S. Pietro di Monticelli and at Villa di S. Paolo near Prato. On 18 May 1535 she received the Dominican habit in the monastery of S. Vincenzo at Prato, taking the name C. In that community the spirit of Savonarola was alive. Of generous and resolute character, she knew how to unite spiritual energy wonderfully with gentleness of spirit. After serving as novice mistress and subprioress, she governed the monastery as prioress for seven biennial terms between 1552 and 1558. As a spiritual director she also guided many secular persons. Consulted on the most varied spiritual questions by laypeople (such as Giovanna d'Austria, grand duchess of Tuscany, Antonio de' Gondi, etc.), priests, bishops, and cardinals, she maintained relations with s. Carlo Borromeo, s. Filippo Neri, s. Pio V, and s. Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi, supporting their work of Catholic reform with counsel and prayers. In addition to familiar letters, written in a pure and agreeable style and addressed to her devotees and disciples, she left other writings and a « laude » in honor of Savonarola, whom she particularly venerated.
Favored with extraordinary gifts (change of heart, stigmata, ecstatic visions, and the reproduction in her body of the Passion, which took place from Thursday until Friday afternoon from 1542 to 1554), C. appeared to her contemporaries as a living manifestation of the redemptive Passion of Jesus, attracting many devotees and visitors to Prato. The « cantus passionis » Amici mei, composed of scriptural passages and inspired by her, found a place in the Processionarium Ord. Praedicatorum. The Saint recommends peace and joy, to be attained in the « vigorous struggle » with ourselves. Docile to God’s inspirations, the soul must ascend through the stages of trials until it reaches disinterested surrender to the divine will. Although so rich in sublime ascetic fervor, C. was an intelligent and balanced woman, humanly attentive to everyday life.
C. died on 2 February 1590 and was canonized by Benedict XIV on 29 June