Saint Who?
Saints Who Cared for the Sick
Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine
Religious († 1668)Feast: May 8
When Catherine died in a hospital in Quebec, she was only thirty-six years old. She was also the administrator of that hospital.
Catherine was born in France and lost her mother at a young age. She was then raised by her grandparents, who ran a small hospital for the poor. In this devout environment, she learned how to care for the sick and met many priests and religious sisters, who inspired her to want to grow closer to God. Recognizing a call to become a nun and to serve others as a nurse, she was given the religious habit of a Canoness Regular of Saint Augustine when she was fourteen years old.
At the age of sixteen, she volunteered to be sent to her community’s hospital in New France. It was initially difficult for her to adjust to life in Canada due to the harsh climate, hard work, and constant threat of violence from native tribes. But she showed herself to be a tireless nurse, served as treasurer, and soon became the hospital administrator. Although only her spiritual director knew, Catherine was also a mystic and faced serious interior temptations along with spiritual ecstasies. She was frequently ill, but she never complained and obediently fulfilled her duties to prayer, her community, and the sick. She died of tuberculosis.
Jesus, Son of God, inspire us with a great
desire to draw closer to you.
