The Memorial of Saint Catherine of Sweden

Saint Catherine of Sweden is the Patron Saint of • Against abortions
• Against miscarriages

Saint Catherine of Sweden Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Feast Day, Beatification Date, Canonization DateMatrimony/Holy OrdersNuns/Sisters who became Saints

Saint Catherine of Sweden Short life History

Saint Catherine of Sweden is also known as
• Catherine Vastanensis
• Catherine of Vadstena
• Katarina

• She was the fourth of the eight children of Saint Bridget of Sweden and Ulf Gudmarsson.
• Educated at the convent of Riseberg.
• Married by arrangement at age 13 to the pious German noble Eggart von Kürnen.
• Soon after their marriage, both she and her husband took vows of chastity and continence.
• Traveled to Rome, Italy in 1350 AD to be with her mother.
• Widowed soon after.
• For the next 25 years the two women used Rome as a base for a series of pilgrimages, including one to Jerusalem. When home, they spent their days in prayer and meditation, working with the poor, and teaching them religion.
• They each had to fend off the unwanted advances of local men, including young lords; during one of these, a wild hind came to Catherine’s defense, chasing off the troublesome, would-be suitor.

• When Bridget died, Catherine took her body back to Sweden, burying it at the convent of the Order of the Holy Savior (Brigittines) at Vadstena.
• Catherine became superior of the Order, and served as abbess.
• Wrote a devotional work entitled Sielinna Troëst (Consolation of the Soul), but no copies have survived.
• Attained papal approval of the Brigittine Order in 1375. Worked for the canonization of her mother.