St. Catharine de Ricci (13 February): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On February 13, Butler’s Lives of the Saints recounts the life of St. Catherine de’ Ricci (born Florence, 1522, died Feb 2, 1589), a Dominican nun of Prato known for profound humility, intense prayer, and extraordinary weekly ecstasies of the Passion. Formed early in virtue, Catherine entered religious life young and endured severe illnesses that shaped her into a true spouse of Christ crucified—fasting, practicing austerity in obedience, and living with remarkable meekness and self-forgetfulness. Her sanctity and prudence drew attention from bishops, princes, and cardinals, and her spiritual life centered on meditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ. A striking element of her story is the long series of Passion ecstasies: from Thursday noon through Friday afternoon, she contemplated step-by-step the events leading to the Crucifixion—sometimes even moving in conformity with the gestures of Our Lord. The tradition also speaks of the stigmata and the famous mystical “Ring” given as a sign of spiritual betrothal, along with testimonies and later investigation in the beatification process. Butler also closes with a practical lesson: authentic devotion unites contemplation and action, keeping a living attention to God even in daily duties—exactly what St. Catherine practiced in her convent, especially in service to the sick and the poor. 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Butler Feb 13 — St. Catherine de’ Ricci 00:23 Family background; birth in Florence (1522) 00:39 Baptismal name; takes “Catherine” at profession 00:46 Early formation in virtue; love of prayer 00:56 Childhood in convent near Florence; peace of religious life 01:13 Returns home; longing for deeper recollection 01:27 Enters Dominican convent at Prato (1535) 01:45 Trials and illness; meditation on the Passion 02:21 Recovery; penitential life in obedience 02:54 Humility, meekness, desire to be unknown 03:28 Interior self-denial and spirit of prayer 03:44 Prayer’s power; heroic virtue and resisting evil 04:03 Contemplation; desire to be conformed to Christ 04:50 Offices: novice mistress, sub-prioress, perpetual prioress 05:01 Visitors and influence; notable church figures 05:21 Vision and spiritual conversation with St. Philip Neri 06:17 Weekly raptures on the Passion (Thu–Fri) 06:30 Death (Feb 2, 1589); beatification and canonization 07:00 The 12-year series of Passion ecstasies (from 1542) 07:52 Communion during ecstasy; returns to contemplation 08:29 Bodily motions mirroring events of the Passion 09:16 Stigmata accounts and differing witness impressions 10:00 The mystical Ring: spiritual betrothal (Easter 1542) 10:43 “Devil’s Advocate” scrutiny; evidence discussed 11:13 Later investigations; challenges of testimony timing 12:01 Key documents and reported sightings of the Ring 13:41 Perfume and signs; practical virtue and governance 14:05 Devotion to Savonarola; restoration of health 14:22 Lesson: contemplation must include action and duty 15:32 True devotion: God’s presence amid daily work 16:04 Closing reflection: silence, love, adoration of God https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/february/st-catharine-de-ricci-v-o-s-d/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ #SaintCatherineDeRicci #SaintOfTheDay #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #AlbanButler #DominicanSaints #CatholicMystics #PassionOfChrist #CatholicPrayer #CatholicSpirituality #TraditionalCatholic #February13 #Humility #Contemplation #Penance