Yesterday was Siena’s half birthday, and today is yet another day to celebrate our girl – it’s her Feast Day! April 29th is the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena. Siena is the Italian city where St. Catherine lived, but because it is part of her title, we consider St. Catherine of Siena to be our daughter’s patron saint (along with St. Francis of Assisi, since her middle name is Francesca).

St. Catherine of Siena is one of just three female Doctors of the Church, and can certainly be considered a mystic (her first mystical experience was at the age of six!). Here is an excerpt about her from Foley and McCloskey O.F.M.’s Saint of the Day:

Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. In 1970 Paul VI named her and Teresa of Avila as doctors of the Church. In recent years, it has been suggested that she (among other possibilities) should be named patron of the Internet. Her spiritual testament is found in The Dialogue.

Tonight we will light her baptismal candle as we thank God for the gift of our daughter and ask St. Catherine of Siena to protect and guide her in a special way. We will pray for her Godparents – one living and one in Heaven – as we know they both pray for Siena. Finally, we will pray for God’s guidance to us as parents, as we are imperfect but eager guides to Siena on her Earthly path to her Eternal Father.

Merit consists in the virtue of love alone,

flavored with the light of true discretion,

without which the soul is worth nothing.
—St. Catherine of Siena