Saint catherine of genoa biography definition

St. Catherine’s parents were Jacopo Fieschi and Francesca di Negro, both of illustrious Italian birth. Two popes—Innocent IV and Adrian V—had been of the Fieschi family, and Jacopo himself became Viceroy of Naples.

Catherine is described as an extraordinarily holy child, highly gifted in the way of prayer, and with a wonderful love of Christ’s Passion and of penitential practices; but, also, as having been a most quiet, simple, and exceedingly obedient girl.

St catherine of genoa patron saint of

When about thirteen, she wished to enter the convent, but the nuns to whom her confessor applied having refused her on account of her youth, she appears to have put the idea aside without any further attempt. At sixteen, she was married by her parents’ wish to a young Genoese nobleman, Giuliano Adorno.

The marriage turned out wretchedly; Giuliano proved faithless, violent-tempered, and a spendthrift, and made the life of his wife a misery. Details are scanty, but it seems at least cle