April 29: Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor   St. Catherine was born at Siena in Tuscany, April 30 A.D. 1347. Her father, Giacomo Benincasa, was a dyer of that city and she was the youngest of his numerous family. While still a little child she attempted to retire into solitude, in imitation of the Fathers of the Desert, and at the age of seven she consecrated herself to God by a vow of virginity. When she grew older her parents endeavored to persuade her to marry and the Saint had to undergo much domestic persecution on this account, all which she bore with invincible patience and constancy. At length her father became convinced that her resolution was from God, and gave orders that she should no longer be opposed in her pious designs. She spent some years in a life of strict retirement and at the age of about seventeen took the habit of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, being, it is said, the first unmarried woman who had ever been received into that Sisterhood. She con...