Saint Catherine of Siena Medal Necklace - Patron Saint of Nurses

Saint Catherine of Siena, Patron Saint of Nurses

Catherine of Siena became a nurse because she could not look away. In 14th century Siena she cared for plague victims, lepers, and hospital patients whose conditions were so severe that other caregivers refused to enter their rooms. One patient, a woman with advanced, infected breast cancer, was so difficult to tend that Catherine's fellow volunteers stopped coming. Catherine stayed. She was also one of the most politically consequential figures of her century, writing letters to Pope Gregory XI in 1376 that convinced him to end the Avignon papacy and return to Rome. Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

A Gift For...

• A nurse graduating, getting pinned, or starting a first shift
• Someone who has stayed with a patient when it would have been easier to leave
• A caregiver, family or professional, carrying more than they show
• Anyone who has lost a parent, one of her lesser known patronages
• Someone who needs "Be who God meant you to be" close by
• Anyone named Catherine or Caterina, for a birthday or personal milestone

A Confirmation Gift for Catherine

Some confirmation candidates want a saint who led with gentleness. Catherine's candidates want one who led with both gentleness and unmistakable strength. Most engrave a name and confirmation date.

The Saint Catherine of Siena Medal

This medal depicts her facing forward, eyes downcast, holding a large bouquet of lilies against a book. The lilies are her most recognized symbol, tied to her purity and mystical life. The book references her role as a Doctor of the Church. Look closely at her hands. The marks represent the stigmata she received in 1375, wounds she prayed would stay hidden, and which tradition holds turned to light before piercing her skin. She carried the pain in silence for five years, the marks only appearing after her death, the way nurses carry the weight of what they witness without anyone outside the room ever fully knowing. The natural gold or silver of the metal forms the illustration itself. Black ink is applied to the pendant surface and the metal shows through as the image. A shatterproof liquid glass coating seals the surface.

Personalization and Engraving

The optional engraving on the reverse is rendered in Tangerine cursive. Two lines, up to 20 characters each. For a nurse gift, most people engrave the recipient's name and graduation or pinning ceremony date. Her most quoted line fits across two lines: "Be who God meant" and "you to be."

Saint Catherine of Siena's feast day is April 29. She died that morning in 1380 at 33, partially paralyzed after a stroke, still dictating prayers in her final days.