St. Catherine of Siena Rosary Bracelet

- Sunflower Charm, Catholic Niner Chaplet -

 This rosary bracelet is dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of nurses, and features an Italian holy medal, a sunflower charm, tiger's eye beads, and Swarovski pearls and crystals. A Catholic "niner," it celebrates a remarkable 14th-century woman who tended to the poor and sick, even during plague years, and who asserted herself politically in a time of civil tension in Italy, boldly exhorting her Pope to address Church corruption. She worked tirelessly to create a better world, dying when she was only 33 years old and leaving a considerable body of writing.

THE BASIC BRACELET LENGTH IS 7.5 INCHES

The holy medal (base metal) is nicely detailed. On the back is an image of St. Barbara. The tiger's eye, used for three of the prayer beads, was cut from high-grade stone with varying shades of shimmering brown.

Also included are the following:
• A TierraCast sunflower charm
• Swarovski "Sunflower" crystals and cream pearls
• TierraCast silver-on-pewter daisy spacers
• Sterling silver twist crimps and wire guards
• High-quality 49-strand beading wire
• Silver tone 1-inch extender chain
• TierraCast silver-plated lobster clasp
• Complimentary holy card

Inspirational and an aid for meditation and prayer, this St. Catherine of Siena chaplet bracelet would make a wonderful gift not only for a Catholic, but for any spiritual woman who can appreciate the intelligence, selflessness, and courage of this saint who, although a common-folk woman, voiced her opinions on the politics and ethics of her day, winning the notice of men of high power and securing their admiration. I designed this chaplet with care, thought, and best wishes for its destined wearer. It comes wrapped in a pretty organza bag, all set for gifting.

A DUAL SAINT MEDAL

About St. Catherine of Siena
Born in 1347, at the start of the "Black Death" plague years, St. Catherine was the daughter of a lower middle-class wool dyer in Siena, Italy. She was a deeply religious child and claimed to have experienced a heavenly vision when she was only seven years old. Because of her religious devotion and intent to dedicate her life to Christ, her family created a refuge for her in their basement, where she could enjoy solitude and contemplate spiritual matters. At the age of 16, she joined the Dominican order as a third-way member, meaning that she would remain a lay person, supervise herself, and carry out any duties from home. For three years, the girl lived a hermetic life. She learned to read, and studied Church history and the writings of Church scholars such as Augustine. Her seclusion came to end after she had a mystical experience of union with God. She moved back with her family and turned her focus outward, toward the sick and the poor, including the imprisoned. She became a popular figure, caring for the worst-case patients and impressing people with her courage and high-spirited charm.

From these focused beginnings, and now with a host of followers, Catherine developed into a political activist. When 23, she had a series of visions that culminated in a divine command to set her life in the public sphere. This was a period of widespread corruption in the Church, with the Pope—Gregory XI—living outside Rome, in Avignon, France. As dissent in Italy verged on civil wars between its states, Catherine, no shy flower, approached the power brokers of her day, tirelessly writing letters to men in high places, from the princes of the Italian states to the Pope himself. Her letters to the latter were filled with protest as she exhorted him to return to Rome and set the Church straight. After a time, she even went to France and personally met with him. A year later, Gregory did indeed return to the Vatican, and he would employ Catherine on diplomatic missions in the aftermath. This kind of respect for a common-folk woman was nearly unheard of in the 14th century.

In her short life, Catherine produced a considerable body of writing. Although she had learned handwriting, she usually dictated to a scribe, probably to save time. Her work included almost 400 letters, a treatise on Divine Providence (aka "The Dialogue"), and collection of prayers. As a woman dedicated to helping the sick, poor, and imprisoned, Catherine remained beloved until her death—and beyond. She died from illness when age 33, in 1380, and was canonized in the 1400s. In 1970, she was declared a doctor of the Church, the only women out of 31 Catholics who have been so honored.

St. Catherine is the patron saint of nursing, journalists and communication professionals, the country of Italy, miscarriages, and fire prevention. Her Feast Day is the day of her death, April 29th. Her flower includes both the lily (for purity) and the sunflower.

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