A saint, according to the definition of the church, is someone who shows heroic virtue. St. Catherine of Sienna lived in a time when there was great corruption in the church, and great conflict in the world with many wars going on. She had to walk a very fine line because she chose to try to advise military leaders, religious leaders, even the Popes. And while she was encouraging, and sometimes even correcting the great men of her time, she had to maintain the highest level of respect and virtue.