FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-071   

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (April 29, 2026) – This edition of Fun with Maps honors a great theologian, mystic, spiritual author and Saint.

MOTHER OF A THOUSAND SOULS

April 29th is Saint Catherine of Siena’s Feast Day.  She is the patron saint of firefighters and nurses.  She is thought to protect against illness and miscarriages and is notable for her piety and medicinal service.

Catherine was the 25th child born to her mother and took a vow of poverty at age 7.  Her stigmata were visible only to her but did appear on her body after her death at age 33.

She wrote over 400 letters trying to influence the politics of the Vatican and realign the Church and its people.  She is considered among the greatest of spiritual writers.

Catherine is the patron saint of Europe and parts of her body are distributed over the continent.  Most notably is a foot in Venice and her head, which rightfully is housed in her hometown of Siena in the cathedral named in her honor.

This attractive map of Italy is by Peeters from 1692.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.