SAINT: St Catherine of Sweden – 24 March
By Catherine Sheehan
It could be said that saints make saints. They have such a profound impact on those around them, and their holiness is so attractive, that they inspire others to strive for greatness as well. Often it is the case that there will be several saints in one family, such as St Monica and St Augustine, or that two saints share a close friendship, like St Francis and St Clare.
The life of St Catherine of Sweden (1331-1381) is further evidence of this phenomenon. Not only was she the daughter of a great saint, she was also friends with one of the most famous female saints of the Middle Ages.
She was born Katarina Ulfsdotter, one of eight children to a noble father, Ulf Gudmarsson, Lord of Ulvasa, and a saintly mother, Birgitta Birgersdotter of Finsta, later known as St Bridget of Sweden. Bridget was an extraordinary woman, a wife and mother, a mystic, and founder of the Bridgittines, also known as the Order of the Most Holy Savior.
According to the custom of her time, Catherine was married very young at the age of only 13 to a young nobleman of German descent, Lord Egard Lydersson von Kyren.
Devoted to the spiritual life, Catherine convinced her young husband to join her in taking a vow of chastity. The couple lived a devout life together, full of prayer and serving others in charity.
Tragically, her husband died early in their marriage, leaving Catherine a young widow. It is said that because of her beauty, many suitors asked for her hand in marriage. However, she desired only to dedicate her life to serving God.
Catherine lived in Rome with her mother Bridget for several years and travelled with her on many pilgrimages, including to the Holy Land.
When Bridget died in 1373 Catherine brought her body back to Sweden and succeeded her as abbess of the Bridgittine convent at Vadstena. She worked to reform the Bridgittines, seeking to ensure they were living according to the Rule written by Bridget.
She returned to Rome to work for the cause of her mother’s canonisation which eventually took place in 1391, after Catherine’s death.
Catherine remained in Rome for five years and it was during this time that she struck up a close friendship with the great Italian saint, Catherine of Siena. One can only imagine the conversations that must have taken place between these two holy women, and how they must have inspired each other. Both women supported Pope Urban VI against the antipope Clement VII and advocated for the papacy to remain in Rome.
Catherine died at Vadstena on 24 March 1381 at the age of 50.
She is the patron saint of women who suffer miscarriage. Although Catherine never suffered a miscarriage herself, it is said that she counselled many women who had throughout her life.