St Catherine of Siena

Under the altar in Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, Italy is St. Catherine of Siena’s body and tomb. The placement of tombs and relics in churches was a common practice in the Catholic religion. St. Catherine of Siena refused to marry so that she could devote herself to prayer. She played a vital role in church and state politics by influencing the popes to return from Avignon to Rome. 

There are many symbolic images on St Catherine's tomb. First, gold is the primary color that surrounds the entirety of her tomb, which signifies Heaven. Next, there is the presence of the Greek Cross, as shown in blue with a gold outline. This symbolizes the spreading of the Gospels. Seven candlesticks are strategically placed between the frontal columns. Seven is an important number in the church as it symbolizes completeness and perfection.

Roses are intricately placed into the gold engravings on her tomb, and live roses are still placed on the outside by visitors today. These roses are significant because of a legend surrounding St. Catherine's death and burial. When St. Catherine died in 1380 at the age of 43 of a stroke in Rome, the people of Siena wanted her body to be returned to her hometown. However, because they knew the Romans would not let them take her body, they secretly severed her head and thumb. They placed her head and thumb in a bag, but were stopped by Roman guards. The Roman guards wanted to see the contents of the bag, so her followers prayed to St. Catherine to help them. When the Roman guards opened the bag, it was full of rose petals. However, when they arrived in Siena the rose petals were gone and the head and thumb had returned. Of course, these are legends one can choose to believe or not. Regardless of the legend's truth, St. Catherine is often seen with a rose in hand. 

• "St. Catherine of Sienna." Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014. http://www.piercedhearts.org/theology_heart/life_saints/catherine_siena.htm