Catherine was born of a famous family in Florence, Italy. At the age of thirteen, she entered the convent.
Even at that early age, Catherine had a deep love for the Passion of Jesus Christ. She used to think about Our Lord’s sufferings often, and Jesus gave her the great privilege of receiving in her own body the marks of His wounds. She was happy to accept all the sufferings of these wounds.
Catherine also felt very sorry for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. She 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.
At the age of sixty-seven, after a very long and painful illness, St. Catherine joined Jesus, her Beloved Spouse in heaven.
Let us help the poor souls in Purgatory with our prayers, so that they may soon go to Heaven. When they are in Heaven, they will pray for us.
