164 ST. CATHERINE of the Merccnnrians. The fame of her deyotion spread to such a degree that she suffered much from the fatigne, intermptioD, and crowding caused by those who went to see her. There came a day when the whole plain was fall of carriages. The friars of the neighbour- ing monastery were compelled to raise her up on high, that she might give the crowd her blessing, and so get rid of them. She was so impressed by the sanctity of Si Teresa, and the impor- tance of her reform, that, after eight years of solitude, she left her cave to found a monastery of Barefooted Carmelites. In 1571 she went to Pastrana, where the Prince of Eboli and the Duke of Gandia had promised to found a monastery for her. She took the habit of a lay-brother, fearing that if she became a nun, she would be deprived of her solitude and extreme austerity. She had to go to Madrid on the business of the foundation. While there she continued to give her blessing to the people. A good old man did not understand it, and, somewhat scandalized, he told the nuncio that he had seen a Carmelite lay-brother in a carriage with ladies, giving his blessing to the people like a bishop. The nuncio was very angry, but on the circumstances being explained, he left Catherine in peace. At Madrid and other places the people gave her funds, and in 1572, when she had obtained the licence, she built a monastery over her cave. In a trance in that church, St. Theresa saw Catherine in glory, accompanied by angels; Catherine told her not to grow faint, but to persevere with her founda- tions. Another cave, containing a solid tomb, was made for her. There she lived five years, leaving it only to be present at the divine office. She died May 11, 1577. In 1C03 the monastery was moved to Villanueva de la Jara. The friars took with them the body of their founder, and three years later they laid it in a distinguished place in the church. St. Theresa calls her "the saintly Cardona " and " that holy woman." She is called " Saint " by some authors, and was so considered in her own country and community, both before and after her death, but is not canonized. P.B. St. Theresa. Foundations, St Catherine (18), or Sandbina dei Ricci, Feb. 13. 1522-1589. 3rd O.S.D. Sometimes represented with a crown of thorns. Of an ancient family of Florence. She was christened Sandrina, and edu- cated in the convent of Monticelli. In 1535 she took the name of Catherine^ and became a novice in the convent of St. Vincent, at Prato. While very young she was appointed mistress of the novices^ and at five-and-twenty, prioress. This nunnery was built in 1 502 by the Dominicans of Savonarola's Convent of St. Mark, in Florence. The nuns of Prato were distinguished not only for holiness, but for skill in the arts of painting, sculpture, and poetry. The Order of Preachers — commonly called of St. Dominic — were exempted from strict seclusion. Fra Angelo Diacceto, prior of the Minerva in Home, had a great affection for his niece Catherine, and was present at her profession. He acted as a medium for the intense interest which existed be- tween her and his friend Philip Neri, and consequently between the holy com- munities of Dominicans at Prato and Rome. One of the chief ties between them was their ardent love and admira- tion for Fra Girolamo Savonarola. Ca- therine treasured relics of him, studied his writings, and in a serious illness, reconmiended herself to him, and was cured. Her eager desire for the refor- mation of the Church in general, and of the everyday life of Rome, also appealed strongly to the heart of Philip. She used to say, '* That poor city of Rome ? what sins are committed there! What lives men live there l" From corre- spondence by letter there grew up in the hearts of these two saints a groat desire to see each other; but Philip had resolved never to leave Rome, and Catherine was a cloistered nun at Prato, and not likely to travel. Yet they met in spirit, passed some time in holy converse, and each saw the face of the other as plainly as if they were together in the flesh. This incident is represented in a picture by Antonio Marini, and is mentioned in the bull of the canonization of Philip Neri. There
