St. Colette
Saint Colette
When they lived: St. Colette the hermit, also known as Saint Colette of Corbie, lived from January 13, 1381, to March 6, 1447.
Where they lived: St. Colette was born in Corbie, a small town in the Picardy region of France. She spent much of her life as a wandering hermit, traversing various regions in Europe.
Notable world events during the time of their life:
- Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453): This prolonged conflict between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France had significant repercussions across Europe, including political and social upheaval, and it directly impacted the region where St. Colette lived.
- The Council of Constance (1414-1418): This was a major church council that aimed to resolve the Western Schism, a period when the Catholic Church had multiple rival popes. The council played a crucial role in church reform and the election of Pope Martin V.
- Renaissance: The 15th century marked the early stages of the Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement that brought about significant advancements in art, literature, and science. While St. Colette’s life as a hermit might not have been directly involved in these developments, the Renaissance was shaping the world around her.
- Invention of the Printing Press: Although St. Colette did not witness the invention itself (Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440), this innovation rapidly transformed Europe, revolutionizing the spread of knowledge and religious texts.
Patronage: St. Colette is the patron saint of expectant mothers, women seeking to conceive, and sick children.
Early Life
Saint Colette was born in a village called Corbie, a part of the region of Picardie in France. She was said to be a miracle child born to an old couple.
Her father was a Carpenter at the Benedictine monastery called the Abbey of Corbie. Her mother was named Marguerite Moyon.
Her parents were said to have prayed to Saint Nicolas for a child after being barren most of their lives. The answer to their prayer came on January 13, 1381, and she was named Nicolette after the Saint.
Nicolette, fondly called Colette by her parents, was a bubbly child. She showed an interest in devotion at a very young age.
When she was around eighteen, in the year 1399, her parents died. This motivated her to join the Beguines, a group of women who practiced spirituality. Saint Colette ended up not liking their methods and moved on to a Benedictine order.
At the Benedictine order, she decided to join the Third Order of Saint Francis. She did so and began to live in a hermitage that was provided by the Abbot of Corbie.
She lived as a hermit for four years and had several visions. These visions convinced her that her path would reform the Poor Clares, the Second Order of Saint Francis’ Franciscan Nuns.
Dedication and Devotion
Saint Colette did what the visions showed her, and in October of 1406, she visited the Antipope Benedict XIII in Nice, France. There, she received his blessings and went to join the order.
This reform was further hastened by the papal edict she was later armed with.
Supported by the Countess of Geneva and a man called Henry de Beaume,she resumed at the Diocese of Geneva in Beaune. Circa 1410, she established an abbey at Besançon.
That proved to be her starting point. From then on, she set up monasteries in Auxonne, Poligny, and even Heidelberg, among other places. This reform swept through places like France, Savoy, Spain, and Burgundy.
Saint Colette set up over seventeen monasteries in her lifetime. She was devoted to God and practiced extreme poverty, depriving herself of things that she considered vanity.
In all the monasteries that she established, she created an injunction of poverty and obedience, of fasting, and of chastity.
Legacy
In her lifetime, Saint Colette was said to have performed several miracles. Some of these miracles involved an increase in food and wine, and some involved healing the sick from diseases.
Saint Colette was said to have visited a friend whose wife was in painful labor. Afraid that the mother and child would both die, she was said to have hurried to a nearby church and prayed for the woman.
Her prayers were said to have saved the woman, who later gave birth to a girl. The child was named Petronilla and would later become a part of Saint Colette’s monastery.
Saint Colette was also reported to have raised a stillborn child from death. Refusing to baptize the dead child at the request of his desperate father, a local priest sent the stillborn to Colette. Colette had given her veil to the father of the child, instructed him to wrap the baby in it, and sent him back to the priest.
On returning to the priest, the baby was found conscious.
Saint Colette was highly revered. Her Colettine Friars and nuns are widespread and found in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, and a host of other countries.
Death and Canonization
Saint Colette died in March of 1447. She died in Ghent, Belgium.
Even in death, she was associated with various miracles, and her reform continued to spread.
Saint Colette was canonized on May 24, 1807, by Pope Pius VII.
She is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on March 6.
5 Interesting Facts About Saint Colette
- Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have joined the
Benedictines to avoid forced marriage? - Did you know that Saint Colette is the patron saint of the childless?
couples, expectant mothers, and sick babies? - Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have been attacked by
the devil? He is recorded to have come in the form of insects that
stung her. - Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have died in a walk of
intercession for sinners? - Did you know that Saint Colette was revered for her intellect?
Prayer of Saint Colette
Blessed Jesus, I dedicate myself to Your health in illness, in life, in death,in all my desires, and in all my deeds. So that I may never work henceforth except for Thy glory, for the salvation of souls, and for that for which Thou hast chosen me. From this moment on, oh dearest Lord,there is nothing that I am not prepared to undertake for the love of Thee. Amen.
Source:[https://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p03892.htm]{.ul}
Early Life
Saint Colette was born in a village called Corbie, a part of the region of Picardie in France. She was said to be a miracle child born to an old couple.
Her father was a Carpenter at the Benedictine monastery called the Abbey of Corbie. Her mother was named Marguerite Moyon.
Her parents were said to have prayed to Saint Nicolas for a child after being barren most of their lives. The answer to their prayer came on January 13, 1381, and she was named Nicolette after the Saint.
Nicolette, fondly called Colette by her parents, was a bubbly child. She showed an interest in devotion at a very young age.
When she was around eighteen, in the year 1399, her parents died. This motivated her to join the Beguines, a group of women who practiced spirituality. Saint Colette ended up not liking their methods and moved on to a Benedictine order.
At the Benedictine order, she decided to join the Third Order of Saint Francis. She did so and began to live in a hermitage that was provided by the Abbot of Corbie.
She lived as a hermit for four years and had several visions. These visions convinced her that her path would reform the Poor Clares, the Second Order of Saint Francis’ Franciscan Nuns.
Dedication and Devotion
Saint Colette did what the visions showed her, and in October of 1406, she visited the Antipope Benedict XIII in Nice, France. There, she received his blessings and went to join the order.
This reform was further hastened by the papal edict she was later armed with.
Supported by the Countess of Geneva and a man called Henry de Beaume,she resumed at the Diocese of Geneva in Beaune. Circa 1410, she established an abbey at Besançon.
That proved to be her starting point. From then on, she set up monasteries in Auxonne, Poligny, and even Heidelberg, among other places. This reform swept through places like France, Savoy, Spain, and Burgundy.
Saint Colette set up over seventeen monasteries in her lifetime. She was devoted to God and practiced extreme poverty, depriving herself of things that she considered vanity.
In all the monasteries that she established, she created an injunction of poverty and obedience, of fasting, and of chastity.
Legacy
In her lifetime, Saint Colette was said to have performed several miracles. Some of these miracles involved an increase in food and wine, and some involved healing the sick from diseases.
Saint Colette was said to have visited a friend whose wife was in painful labor. Afraid that the mother and child would both die, she was said to have hurried to a nearby church and prayed for the woman.
Her prayers were said to have saved the woman, who later gave birth to a girl. The child was named Petronilla and would later become a part of Saint Colette’s monastery.
Saint Colette was also reported to have raised a stillborn child from death. Refusing to baptize the dead child at the request of his desperate father, a local priest sent the stillborn to Colette. Colette had given her veil to the father of the child, instructed him to wrap the baby in it, and sent him back to the priest.
On returning to the priest, the baby was found conscious.
Saint Colette was highly revered. Her Colettine Friars and nuns are widespread and found in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, and a host of other countries.
Death and Canonization
Saint Colette died in March of 1447. She died in Ghent, Belgium.
Even in death, she was associated with various miracles, and her reform continued to spread.
Saint Colette was canonized on May 24, 1807, by Pope Pius VII.
She is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on March 6.
5 Interesting Facts About Saint Colette
- Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have joined the
Benedictines to avoid forced marriage? - Did you know that Saint Colette is the patron saint of the childless?
couples, expectant mothers, and sick babies? - Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have been attacked by
the devil? He is recorded to have come in the form of insects that
stung her. - Did you know that Saint Colette was said to have died in a walk of
intercession for sinners? - Did you know that Saint Colette was revered for her intellect?
Prayer of Saint Colette
Blessed Jesus, I dedicate myself to Your health in illness, in life, in death, in all my desires, and in all my deeds. So that I may never work henceforth except for Thy glory, for the salvation of souls, and for that for which Thou hast chosen me. From this moment on, oh dearest Lord, there is nothing that I am not prepared to undertake for the love of Thee. Amen.
Source:[https://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p03892.htm]{.ul}
