![[painting of Saint Colette]](saintc20.gif "40kb gif painting of Saint Colette, artist unknown; if you have information on this image, please email me; please do not write to ask about the image")
Coleta Collette of Corbie Nicholette Boilet Nicolette
She had visions in which Saint Francis of Assisi ordered her to restore the Rule of Saint Clare to its original severity. When she hesitated, she was struck blind for three days and mute for three more; she saw this as a sign.
Colette tried to follow her mission by explaining it, but had no success. Realizing she needed more authority behind her words, she walked to Nice, barefoot and clothed in a habit of patches, to meet Peter de Luna, acknowledged by the French as the schismatic Pope Benedict XIII. He professed her a Poor Clare, and was so impressed that he made her superioress of all convents of Minoresses that she might reform or found, and a missioner to the friars and tertiaries of Saint Francis.
She travelled from convent to convent, meeting opposition, abuse, slander, and was even accused of sorcery. Eventually she made some progress, especially in Savoy, where her reform gained sympathizers and recruits. This reform passed to Burgundy, France, Flanders, and Spain.
Helped Saint Vincent Ferrer heal the papal schism. Founded seventeen convents. One branch of the Poor Clares is still known as the Colettines.
She was known for a deep devotion to Christ's Passion with an appreciation and care for animals. Colette fasted every Friday, meditating on the Passion. After receiving Holy Communion, she would fall into ecstasies for hours. She foretold the date of her own death.
Corbie, France loss of parents
Poor Clare nun holding a crucifix and a hook Poor Clare nun visited by Saint Anne, Saint Francis of Assisi, and/or Saint Clare of Assisi in a vision Poor Clare nun walking on a stream being carried to heaven by an angel birds delivering a soul from purgatory lamb
Catholic Encyclopedia, by Michael Bihl Catholic Online For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein Google Directory Kirken i Norge norwegian Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler Minature Stories of the Saints, by Father Daniel A Lord, SJ New Catholic Dictionary Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson- Saint Colette, in her spiritual testament to her sisters
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured.
- Saint Colette