Blessed Hosanna Of Cattaro

Biography

Blessed Hosanna of Cattaro, also known as Catherine Cosie, Catherine Kosic, Catherine of Montenegro, Hosanna of Kotor, Ossana of Cattaro, and Ozana Kotorska, was born on 25 November 1493 in Kumano, Montenegro. She was born to Greek Orthodox parents and was baptized in that tradition.

As a young shepherdess, Catherine spent her solitary hours in prayer and began to have visions of the Christ child. At the age of 12, she felt a strong desire to travel to the town of Cattaro, Dalmatia (modern Kotor, Montenegro) where she believed she could pray better. Her mother arranged for Catherine to become a servant to a wealthy Catholic woman in Cattaro, who allowed her ample time for church visits. It was in Cattaro that Catherine converted to Roman Catholicism.

In her late teens, Catherine felt a calling to live a life of deep spirituality as an anchoress. Despite her young age, her spiritual director supported her decision and had a walled-up cell built near Saint Bartholomew's church in Cattaro. Later, she moved to a cell at Saint Paul's church and became a Dominican tertiary, taking the name Osanna in memory of Blessed Osanna of Mantua. She faithfully followed the Dominican rule for the next 52 years.

Catherine's devotion and holiness attracted a group of Dominican sisters who sought her guidance, prayers, and considered her their leader. The number of devotees grew so large that a Dominican convent was eventually founded for them. In her tiny cell, Catherine received numerous visions, including apparitions of the Christ child, the Virgin Mary, various saints, and even encounters with demons who sought to disrupt her prayer life. One notable vision involved Satan appearing in the guise of Mary in an attempt to lead her away from her religious life. Catherine, guided by her discernment, recognized the deception and resisted the temptation.

During a period when the city of Kotor was under attack by the Turks, Catherine's prayers were credited with the town's deliverance. Additionally, tradition holds that her intercession saved the city from a devastating plague.

Blessed Hosanna of Cattaro passed away on 27 April 1565 in Kotor, Montenegro, due to natural causes. She was interred in the Church of Saint Paul in Kotor, but in 1807, her remains were moved to the Church of Saint Mary after the French army repurposed the Church of Saint Paul as a warehouse.

Blessed Hosanna of Cattaro was beatified on 21 December 1927 by Pope Pius XI, with her cultus confirmed. This was further reaffirmed by Pope Pius XI in 1934. While there is no specific representation mentioned in the given details, her life and spiritual journey serve as an inspiration and example of deep devotion and mystical experiences within the Catholic faith.