Saint Colette

Saint Colette - Feast Day: March 6

Nicollette, named for St. Nicholas of Myra, was born on January 13, 1381. She was the daughter of a carpenter who worked at the Corby Abbey in Picardy, France.

Collette's was always attracted to the religious life. When she orphaned at age 17, she distributed her inheritance to the poor and then entered the Third Order of St. Francis, living in a hermitage as a solitary.

Collette became known for her holiness, spiritual wisdom, and her visions. In one of them, Saint Francis directed her to reform the Poor Clares (the Second Order of St. Francis), which led her to leave her solitary life at the hermitage in 1406. She visited the schismatic Pope Benedict XIII (there was a dispute at the time over the rightful pope) and, receiving his support, began her work. Although she met resistance at first, her persistence paid off. She founded 17 convents with the reformed rule and reformed several older convents.  A branch of the Poor Clares is still named for her.

Colette let nothing stand in the way of her religious vocation: not her guardian’s wishes that she marry; not her rejection by two different religious orders; not even the slander and accusations of sorcery with which she met when she tried to preach her message of religious reform.

Colette, as a follower of St. Francis of Assisi, had a great love of animals. She was also deeply devoted to the mysteries of Christ’s passion, fasting every Friday while meditating on the Passion.

Quote: “If there be a true way that leads to the everlasting kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured.”