Catherine of Sweden

Fourth of the eight children of Bridget of Sweden, married at thirteen to a nobleman much older than herself with whom she lived in continence, she joined her mother at Rome in 1350 for the holy year and learned on the way that she was a widow. She stayed. For twenty-three years she went with Bridget on her pilgrimages, her approaches to the popes and her work of writing, never holding the first place. At her mother's death in 1373 she brought the body back to Sweden across Europe, then took charge of the monastery of Vadstena. She then had to return to Rome and remain five more years to obtain two things: confirmation of the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, and the opening of Bridget's process of canonisation. She obtained both, and died in 1381 without seeing the canonisation, which came ten years later.