March 2018 - St. Colette
- Written by CNA/EWTN News
- Published in Saints of the Month
St. Colette. Photo: Shutterstock
St. Colette
Orphaned visionary reformed Poor Clares
1381–1447
Feast: March 6
The daughter of a carpenter at the Benedictine Abbey of Corbie in France, Colette was orphaned at 17 and distributed her inheritance to the poor. She became a Franciscan tertiary, and lived at Corbie as a solitary. She soon became well known for her holiness and spiritual wisdom, but she left her cell in 1406 in response to a dream directing her to reform the Poor Clares. She received the Poor Clares habit from Pedro de Luna, whom the French recognized as pope under the name of Benedict XIII, with orders to reform the order. Despite great opposition, she persisted in her efforts. She founded 17 convents with a reformed rule, and reformed several older convents as well. She was renowned for her sanctity, ecstasies and visions of the Passion. A branch of the Poor Clares is still known as the Colettines.
-Catholic News Agency
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Northwest Catholic - March 2018