February 13

Alexandrina was born in 1522 into the Ricci family of Florence, Italy.

At the age of thirteen, the girl entered the Dominican order. As a sister

she chose the name Catherine.

Even at that young age, Catherine had a deep love for the passion of

Jesus Christ. She used to think about Our Lord's sufferings often. Jesus

gave her the great privilege of receiving in her own body the marks of his

wounds. She was happy to accept all the pains of these wounds.

Catherine also felt very sorry for the poor souls suffering in

purgatory. She realized how they longed to be with God in heaven. She

realized, too, that this time in purgatory seemed to drag on endlessly.

St. Catherine prayed and did penance for them. Once God let her know that

a certain man was in purgatory. So great was her love that she offered to

suffer for him. God listened to her prayer and she suffered greatly for

forty days.

After a long, painful illness, St. Catherine died at the age of

sixty-eight. It was February 2, 1590. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope

Clement XII in 1747.

Let us help the poor souls in purgatory with our prayers as St.

Catherine Ricci did. We pray that they soon may be with the Lord. When

they are in heaven, they will pray for us.