Blessed Catherine of Cardona
Carmelite Recluse
Born into the illustrious House of the Dukes of Cardona, Catherine fled the Spanish court to live for twenty years as a hermit in a cave near Roda. Disguised as a man to preserve her solitude, she ended her days in 1577 as a recluse among the Carmelites after her identity was revealed by a book of hours.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
THE B. CATHERINE OF CARDONA, CARMELITE RECLUSE (1577).
The mysterious hermit of Roda
In the 16th century, an unknown hermit leads a life of extreme asceticism and prayer in a cave near Roda, fleeing the curiosity of the villagers.
Not far from the small town of Roda Roda Small town in Spain near which Catherine lived as a hermit. , in Spain, one could see, at the beginning of the 16th century, a conve nt of the Fathers Pères de la Merci Religious order dedicated to the redemption of Christian captives. of Mercy, those religious whose lives were consumed in relieving or ransoming Christians held captive by the Infidels. The inhabitants of the surrounding countryside flocked on Sundays to the monastery church, and they noticed there a hermit whose recollection and fervor edified everyone. No one, however, knew him, no one knew the place of his dwelling. This mysterious personage awakened and piqued curiosity: people began to spy on his steps as he left the church. He soon noticed this, and he began to remain in prayer for so long that he ended up exhausting the patience of the curious. Sometimes, however, the most intrepid waited, the most cunning hid; but the hermit took now one path, now another. Moreover, he walked so fast that one could not follow him; or else one lost sight of him in the crisscrossing paths, in the thickets, in the coppices, in the thorn bushes where he did not fear to lose himself, although barefoot and often bloodied. Upon this, all sorts of conjectures and all sorts of comments circulated among the crowd.
The dwelling of the poor hermit was, however, only half a league from the convent: it was a kind of cave hollowed out by nature in a rock, in the middle of thickets of thorns and brush, and whose entrance was closed by a latch made of broom. The solitary remained hidden there and gave himself over to the harshest exercises of penance, having for all food only roots, herbs, wild fruits, and a little water drawn from a small stream in the forest. There, his days and nights were spent praising the Lord, praying to Him, meditating on His greatness and His love, and imploring His mercy upon a world filled with sins and corruption. Does such a world not need lightning rods to divert the thunderbolts of divine justice?
The discovery of identity
After being discovered by a shepherd, the hermit is identified thanks to a book of hours: it is Catherine of Cardona, from the high Spanish nobility.
A shepherd, pursuing some stray goats on the rocks one day, came to discover the cave of the pious solitary, who begged, for the love of God, his visitor to make his asylum known to no one. "I could not promise you that, my father," said the shepherd; "I serve a master who is a good Christian, and who has long desired to know where you dwell. He will be happy and delighted to know you: he gives to so many others who are not worth as much as you. You lack everything, and he will not let you lack for anything." The hermit tried in vain to defend himself: he had to accept first a portion of the bread that this good peasant had taken for his day, and then receive what his master sent him.
This was not the most unpleasant part of the discovery. The secret was not kept, and soon the cave of the pious solitary was known to everyone. There was a considerable influx: everyone wanted to see this man of God, this angel of solitude, this marvel of penance. People came from all parts to consult the friend of the Lord, to be edified by his virtues, and to ask for the help of his prayers.
One day when the solitary was absent—doubtless to go to church—a curious person entered the cave to visit it and examine its furnishings. A crucifix, and among some instruments of penance, a book of hours, that was all he encountered. This book did not fail to be examined; one found this inscription in it: Given to Catherine of Cardona by the Princess of Eboli. It was the refore a woman who i Catherine de Cardone Spanish noblewoman who became a recluse and was closely associated with the Carmelite Order. nhabited this cave, who l princesse d'Eboli Spanish noblewoman to whom Catherine was a lady-in-waiting. ed this austere life, and this woman was of the family of the Dukes of Cardona, of one of the most illustrious houses of Spain.
Origins and flight from the court
Destined for marriage and then a lady-in-waiting at the Spanish court, Catherine fled to live her vocation of solitude after a period with the Franciscans.
From the age of eight, Catherine Catherine Spanish noblewoman who became a recluse and was closely associated with the Carmelite Order. had felt drawn to the practice of the evangelical counsels. But, far from supporting her, her parents thought of marrying her off as soon as she was of nubile age. The humble young girl submitted as a true victim of filial obedience and everything was prepared for the wedding. But God, who read into the depths of her heart, delivered her from the hands of those who violated her freedom: the noble young man destined to be her husband died in the interval. After this catastrophe, no one was surprised to see her enter the Franciscans. Her family soon withdrew her from this pious asylum to take her to the Spanish court, where she was successively a lady-in-waiting to the Princess of Salerno and the Princess of Eboli. But her soul experienced unspeakable suffering in this worldly environment. One morning, a letter to Princess Eboli was found in he princesse Eboli Spanish noblewoman to whom Catherine was a lady-in-waiting. r room, in which Catherine thanked the lady for all her kindness and announced her resolution to go and live in solitude.
Carmelite life and passing
After twenty years of solitude, she ceded her hermitage to the Carmelites and ended her days in seclusion in 1577.
After twenty years spent in the cave where we saw her at the beginning of this account, she received so many importunate visits that she ceded her hermitage to th Carmes Religious order to which the cited blesseds belong. e Carmelites and entered a seclusion that these religious prepared for her near their convent. She lived there for another five years: Catherine ended her mortal career in 1577, at the age of sixty-three.
According to Abbé Chapin.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Religious vocation from the age of eight
- Forced marriage project interrupted by the fiancé's death
- Joined the Franciscans
- Lady-in-waiting at the Spanish court (Salerno and Eboli)
- Fled into solitude and lived as a hermit for twenty years in a cave
- Discovery of her identity through a book of hours
- Entered reclusion with the Carmelites for the last five years of her life
Quotes
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Given to Catherine of Cardona by the Princess of Eboli
Inscription in her book of hours