+ The daughter of a humble tradesman, his 23rd
child, Catherine of Siena helped to
guide the Church during one its darkest periods: the fourteenth century. As a
child, prayer was her delight. She would say the “Hail Mary” on each step as
she mounted the stairs, and was granted in reward a vision of Christ in glory.
At the age of seven she made a vow of virginity, and later endured harsh
persecution for refusing to marry. Jesus gave her His Heart in exchange for her
own, communicated with her with His own hands, and stamped on her body the
print of His wounds.
At the age of 13 she entered
the Third Order of St. Dominic, but
continued to reside in her father’s shop, where she united a life of active
charity with the prayer of a contemplative saint. From this obscure home the
seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church’s cause. Armed with Papal
authority, and accompanied by three confessors, she travelled through Italy,
reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See, and winning
hardened souls to God.
In the face of whole world,
she sought out Pope Gregory XI at Avignon, brought him back to Rome and by her
letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the Papal cause. She was
the counselor of Pope Urban VI, and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who
had part in electing an antipope. Catherine long foretold the terrible schism
which began before she died. Day and night she wept and prayed for unity and
peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope, even to the
point of wanting to kill him. Their rage was subdued by Catherine’s prayers;
but the devils vented their evil by scourging the Saint herself, who gladly
endured all for God and His Church. She died at Rome, in 1380, at the age of
thirty-three.
St. Catherine of Siena
understood clearly both the yoke of
Christ, of the gospel passage today, but also its ease fashioned by the grace of Christ Himself. Once hearts
unite, once the peace of Christ pervades a relationship then no matter what the
assignment is, strength will be provided, and the Father’s Will will be accomplished!
We thank the daughter of Siena
today for her heroic acts of defending the Church, and the legacy of her
autobiography called The Dialogue,
four hundred letters, and a series of prayers – all of which contributed to her
being named a Doctor of the Church in 1970 – and also named Patron of Italy
along with St. Francis of Assisi.
Today let us defend the faith,
spread it, and be very proud to be a member of the True Body of Christ – for which an enormous number of men, women and
children have lived and died for God’s glory and the building of his kingdom.
O
bless the Lord, my soul.