Saint Colette

Saint Colette is the patron saint of childless couples, expectant mothers, and sick babies. Colette's mother was 60 when she gave birth to her in Picardy, France, on January 13, 1381! Her parents prayed diligently to St. Nicholas for a child, and out of gratitude, they named her Nicollette, which got shortened to Collette. Orphaned at seventeen, she distributed her inheritance to the poor. She became a Franciscan tertiary and led a solitary life at Corby. At age 21, she locked herself in a cell to spend her life in penance and prayer, but she had several dreams that she should restore the primitive, austere spirit in the Poor Clares, a task for which she felt herself entirely unfit. God's will seemed unmistakably clear, and Pope Benedict XIII made her Abbess over the Poor Clares with full authority to establish reforms in all the convents.

Despite great opposition, she persisted in her efforts. She founded seventeen convents with the reformed rule and revitalized several older convents. The nuns are discalced, strictly cloistered, maintain continuous fast and abstinence, and possess no property, not even in common. Poor Clares following the primitive observance restored by Colette are often referred to as Poor Clare Colettines. 

In her lifetime, St Colette was said to have performed several miracles. A local man's wife gave birth to a stillborn child. In desperation, the father took the baby to the  Parish Priest for baptism. The priest refused to baptize a dead baby and sent him to the nuns. He arrived at St. Colette's house. She took off her veil, wrapped it around the baby, and told him to take the baby back to the priest. When he got the baby to the priest, the baby was crying and alive! The priest baptized the baby. Once, Colette was on her way to see the Pope when she arrived at the home of a friend whose wife was in labor with their third daughter and was in grave danger. Colette prayed for them, and the mother was blessed with a safe childbirth. St. Colette died at Ghent in March 1477. She was beatified in 1740 by Pope Clement XII and was canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII.

Saint Colette, you spent your life in love and dedication to the Cross; pray for us to endure our sufferings patiently for the sanctification of our lives.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.