St. Catherine of Bologna
Galentine's Day was made for us
St. Catherine of Bologna (or Caterina in her native Italian. That’s en vogue now, to use the native name of the saint rather than the anglicized name) was a Poor Clare, writer, teacher, mystic, and artist. She’s the patron of artists and against temptations.
Caterina is my girl on several levels. First of all, we’re both writers. Second, we’re both (at least partially) Italian. Third, we both love music and are (semi-) talented musicians (not to toot my own horn [trombone in my case] but I can play seven different instruments). Fourth, we both have something to do with temptations.
I don’t know why Caterina is the patron against temptations but she is. It could be because of the infidelity she saw at the royal court she was a part of. It could be because she struggled. And we don’t have to jump to struggling against sexual temptation. There are all kinds of temptations in the world and if you sin (you do), you struggle with at least one. *Stepping off my soapbox*
Anyway, Caterina was a boss babe and someone I look up to very much. She didn’t seek glory or fame in this life (she kept her most famous writing secret until she was near her death and then handed it off to her confessor). She just lived it the best she could, using the talents she had been given to get herself and those around her to heaven. She’s often overshadowed by much more famous St. Catherine of Siena or even St. Catherine of Alexandria, but I think that’s a mistake. This Catherine is well worth knowing, too.
Also, she’s incorrupt, which is fucking metal.
St. Catherine of Bologna, pray for us!