Catherine of Sweden

 This Tuesday there is a very important vote taking place in Ohio. The proponents of Issue 1 have put out many misleading ads and false information implying that a "No" vote will deprive women of care for miscarriages. This is absolutely and un-categorically untrue. Miscarriage care has never been in jeopardy in Ohio. 

From a Catholic perspective, the Church has a long history of caring for women in need, including those who have suffered miscarriage. St. Catherine of Sweden is the patron Saint of women who have miscarried. 

Catherine was a noblewoman born in the 14th century. Her mother was St. Bridget of Sweden. St. Bridget is the founder of the religious order now known as the Bridgettines. Catherine accompanied her mother on several journeys, including to Rome and the Holy Land. When her mother died, she brought her body back to Sweden and then took over as abbess of the convent her mother had founded. She took on the task of forming the community in the rule that her mother had written and followed Bridget's example of love by counseling women who had suffered miscarriage or illness during pregnancy. 

Catherine later returned to Rome to promote the cause for her mother's canonization. While there, she formed a close friendship with Catherine of Siena. She returned to Sweden after five years with the canonization still not accomplished. She died shortly after. Although Catherine was never formally canonized herself, Pope Innocent VIII gave permission for her veneration as a Saint in 1484. Her feast day is March 24.

St. Catherine of Sweden, pray for us!