Page "Catherine of Siena" Paragraph 17

She was buried in the cemetery of Santa Maria sopra Minerva which lies near the Pantheon.

After miracles were reported to take place at her grave, Raymond moved her inside the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where she lies to this day.

Her head however, was parted from her body and inserted in a gilt bust from bronze.

This bust was later taken to Siena, and carried through that city in a procession to the Dominican church.

Behind the bust walked Lapa, Catherine's mother, who lived until she was 89 years old.

By then she had seen the end of the wealth and the happiness of her family, and followed most of her children and several of her grandchildren to the grave.

She helped Raymond of Capua write his biography of her daughter, and said, " I think God has laid my soul athwart in my body, so it can't get out.