From October 27-29, 2011, Rome and Siena will be host to an international convention on St. Catherine of Siena.  The event is meant to mark the 550th Anniversary of her canonization by Pope Pius II Piccolomini (who himself had studied in Siena).  She was canonized in June of 1461, eighty years after her death.  The conference, which will be in Italian, is being sponsored by the Pontifical Committee on Historical Sciences, Memorie Domenicane, the Dominican Province of Rome (St. Catherine of Siena Province), The International Center of Catherine Studies, and the Archdiocese of Siena.  The schedule of the conference (translated from the Italian) is listed below.

Virgo digna coelo

(Virgin Worthy of Heaven)

Catherine and Her Heritage

Rome-Siena, Oct 27-29, 2011

October 27, 2011

Rome, Italy

S. Maria Sopra Minerva Opening the Conference (9:00am)

• V. Rev. Bernard Ardura, O. Praem., President of the Pontifical Committee of Historical Science
• H.E. Angelo Cardinal Amato, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
• V. Rev. Daniele Cara, O.P., Prior Provincial of the Roman Province of St. Catherine of Siena of the Order of Preachers
• Hon. Gianni Alemanno,  Mayor of Rome
• Prof. Diega Giunta, President of the Center for International Studies of St. Catherine

I. Sanctity, Mysticism, and Prophecy Presentations by

• Gabriella Zarri, University of Florence
• Agostino Paravicini Bagliani, President of SISMEL (International Society for the Study of Latin Middle Ages)”Catherine and the Papacy”
• Sofia Boesch, Roma Tre University”Catherine of Siena in Historiography”
• Francesco Santi, University of Cassino
• “Catherine of Siena and the Renewal of Theology”
• Elena Brizio, The Medici Archive Project”Law and Women: St. Catherine and 14th Century Italian Society”

II.  The Process of Canonization (3:00pm) Presentations by

• Giulia Barone, Sapienza University, Rome”Models of Holiness and Women in the Process of Canonization in the 14th and 15th Centuries”
• Silvia Nocentini, Ezio Franceschini Foundation”The Legenda Maior of Raymond of Capua: A Shared Heritage”
• Luciano Cinelli, Director of Memorie DomenicaneIl Processo Castellano: Catherine in the Mirror of the Friars Preachers
• Massimillano Bassetti, University of VeronaIl Processo Castellano: Prosopographical Studies
• Concetta Bianca and Elio Montanari, University of FlorencePius II and the Official Liturgy of St. Catherine

October 28, 2011

Rome, Italy

S. Maria Sopra Minerva III.  Catherine in the Season of Observance (9:00am)

• Paolo Nardi, University of Siena”Catherine and Siena”
• Mario Sensi, Pontifical Lateran University”Catherine and the Hermits of Central Italy”
• Carlo Delcorno, Iniversity of Bologna”The Memory of Catherine in the Sermons of the Order of Friars Preachers”
• Isabella Gagliardi, University of Florence”Catherine and the Dominican Observance”
• Pierantonio Piatti, Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences”Thomas of Siena and the Dominican Women’s Religious Movement of the 15th Century”
• Alessandra Bartolomei Romagnoli, Pontifical Gregorian University”Discussion of the Stigmata”

IV.  The Memory of Catherine in the Modern Age (3:00pm)

• Gianni Festa, Theological Faculty of Emilia Romagna, Bologna”The Catherinian Model in the Hagiographical Readings of Dominican Women”
• Fausto Arici,  Theological Faculty of Emilia Romagna, Bologna”Ambrose Catarino: Theologian and Hagiographer”
• Alessio Assonitis, Memorie Domenicane”The Heritage of Catherine in the Savanarolinian Movement:  The Case of St. Silvester of Quirinale”
• Elisabetta Lurgo, University of Geneva”Catherine in the Mysticism of the 16th and 17th Centuries”
• Anna Scattigno, University of Florence”Catherine and the Literary Tradition of Women’s Correspondence”

October 29, 2011

Siena, Italy

State Archives

Inaugural Showing of the Documentary “Catherine of Siena and the Process of Canonization” (11:00am) Presenters:

• His Excellency, Antonio Buonchristiani, Archbishop of Siena
• V. Rev., Bruno Cadore, Master of the Order of Preachers
• V. Rev. Bernard Ardura, O. Praem., President of the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences
• Hon. Franco Ceccuzzi, Mayor of Siena
• Prof. Paolo Nardi, Prior General of the International Catherine Association

Round Table Discussion Participants:

• Franco Cardini, University of Florence
• Rev. Luciano Cinelli, OP, Director of Memorie Domenicane
• Carla Zarrill, Director of the State Archives of Siena

Liturgy of the Hours: Midday Prayer (Basilica of St. Dominic) at 12:30pm Presider: V. Rev. Bruno Cadore, O.P., Master of the Order of Friars Preachers

Convent of St. Dominic, Chapter Room

V.  Catherine in Art (3:00pm)

• Diega Giunta, President of the International Center of Catherine Studies”Catherinian Iconography: Those Who Commissioned (Works) and Areas of Dissemination, Typology”
• Raffaele Argenziano, University of Siena”Dominican Sister of Heaven:The Heritage of the Figure of Catherine in the Iconography early 16th century Mysticism”
• Martine Boiteux, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris-Rome”The Image of Catherine in Modern Iconography”
• Vitaliano Tiberia, Presdent of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon”The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and the Tomb of St. Catherine”
• Anna Benevenuti, University of FlorenceConcluding Remarks