MARABOTTO, CATTANEO. - A Genoese priest, of noble family (R. Sopranis [V. BIBLICA.], p. 17) and of holy life, d. 1528. In 1504 he was rector of the male section of the Hospital of Pammatone, while s. Caterina da Genova governed the female section.
An ardent disciple of the Compagnia del Divino Amore,
an admirer and spiritual son of Caterina da Genova, he was, during the final years of the Saint’s life (1499-1510)—who for 25 years had been guided directly by God—her spiritual director and confessor. A curious fact emerges from comparison of the manuscripts (A. B. C. D.) with the first edition of the life of s. Caterina (1551). In this edition, an entire chapter (no. 44), of which there is no trace in the manuscripts, is devoted to outlining the figure of the spiritual director given by God to s. Caterina in the final years of her life. M. was also the administrator and procurator of Caterina’s property, as appears from her will of 18 March 1509 (Atti del notaio Strata, Archivio di Stato, 1, 167): to him and to the priest Giacomo Carenzio the Saint entrusted the choice of the place of her burial (fourth and final codicil, 12 Sept. 1510 - Atti di Gregorio Sauli Sacchero, Archivio di Pammatone). He placed Caterina’s body in a dignified marble sarcophagus.