Veneration and relics


First, Catherine was buried in the cemetery of the Roman Minerva, but it quickly became the burial place of pilgrimage, and the remains were moved to the church of Santa Maria, accompanied by Minerva, where they are located under the main altar in a luxurious cancer. Holy relics were from the medieval habit of separation (in this regard, in particular, is responsible Raimund Kapuansky), and part of the remains had been moved to their holy in Siena, where her head and fingers are kept in the Basilica of San Domenico. Since delivery of the head of Rome, the place of her death, at home - in Siena, a legend connected - if sientsy, convinced that at least part of the relics should be delivered to their homes, kidnapped the head of deceased saint. They put her in a bag, and being stopped in order to inspect the guards roman, saint cried for help (because of course, she also wanted to home). When the guards opened the bag that was filled with rose petals, and on arrival in Siena there was a head again.

Popular worship of Catherine began immediately after her death (1380), vzleleyannoe its students, as well as monks, Dominicans, who ordered and distributed their images, have also started celebrating the day of its memory 29 April - the date of her death. This happened with the promotion of the general order of Dominicans, who became her closest associate Raimund Kapuansky. He finished writing his biography of her life, Legenda Major in 1395. This carefully essay was to promote legal canonized a saint. Nevertheless, because of the continuing confusion in Italy in connection with the Great schism, it was formally canonized in 1461 by Pope pyemia II, another native of Siena. Day of her memory was celebrated on April 29, but with 1628, so as not to coincide with the Day of Commemoration in memory of Peter Verona, he was moved to April 30, and in 1969 returned back again, as Peter Verona removed from the list obschechtimyh saints of Catholicism.

In 1939, the Catholic Church has proclaimed her patroness of the whole of Italy (together with Francis of Assisi). In 1970, Pope Paul VI will include it (together with Teresa Avilskoy) among the teachers of the Church, what honor has never before had not granted to women.