By CAROLE BRESLIN
St. Catherine of Siena lived in the 14th century, a century of great upheaval and confusion in the Church. The Church celebrates her feast on April 29. She not only was a great saint, but her writings and her example were so extraordinary that she is one of the few persons who have been given the title “Doctor of the Church.”
From the day of her birth on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, she seemed to be a special child, being the 23rd of 25 children.
At the age of six, Catherine saw a vision of Christ during which she promised herself to Him. Although her family and friends recognized her holiness, when she became of age to be married they expected her to prepare for it without hesitation. When Catherine resisted, she became the victim of her mother’s rage and resentment. She was forced to give up her prayer cell and serve the family as a slave.
Catherine did not give in nor did she tell her parents why she would not marry. Finally, she told them of her vow of chastity and they relented, allowing her to return to her little cell and eventually join the Third Order Dominicans.
During her young life, she had many visions which were unusual even for the recognized mystics. In one of these visions she became the bride of Christ. For this mystical marriage He gave her a beautiful pearl and diamond ring which no one but she could see. She also received the stigmata which was not visible until after her death. Our Lord took her heart and replaced it with His. Her fellow sisters in Christ attested to the scar on her chest below her heart.
Throughout this time many miracles were attributed to her. Hardened criminals and nefarious noblemen who ridiculed her were converted by her many fasts, prayers, and penances.
For many years she was a recluse enjoying her time of quiet and prayer, but this was not to last. Our Lord had other plans for her. When He told her she most go out in the world to save souls, she responded, “I am a woman.” To which the Lord responded, “You shall humbly do my will” (Catherine of Siena, Sigrid Undset, p. 51).
This young woman, still in her 20s, would travel to various papal states settling disputes among civil authorities and between noblemen. She even went to France to convince Pope Gregory XI that he must bring his household back to Rome. He did so; however, following his death in 1378, his successor, Urban VI, faced a rival claimant to the papal throne, thus beginning the Great Schism.
In Rome, Catherine campaigned valiantly on behalf of Urban. He even masqueraded as a peasant so he could visit her in the middle of the night for consultation.
Such success did not come without a price. Catherine, like all saints, suffered much persecution. There were the skeptics who did not believe she was really having visions. One woman plunged a hat pin into her foot at such a time. Catherine did not react. However, when she came out of the ecstasy and tried to stand, she collapsed in pain.
Others tried to trick her and prove her a charlatan, but came away converted by her wisdom and even more by her humility.
It was a great sorrow for her to leave her quiet times of prayer and go out into the world but she learned to retreat into an inner room, a place in her heart close to Jesus. During her sufferings she remained calm and serene, knowing and showing the love of Christ.
Her lasting legacy is printed in The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, which she dictated just before her death. It is the dialogue she had with God the Father during her last ecstasy, containing four treatises: Divine Providence, Discretion, Prayer, and Obedience.
Since the Church was experiencing such troubles just as the Church of today is, it is worthy to note this message from God the Father when He agreed that the sins of priests should displease her:
“I have told you all this, dearest daughter, that you may the better recognize the dignity to which I have called My ministers, so that your grief at their miseries may be more intense. If they themselves considered their own dignity they would not be in the darkness of mortal sin, or defile the face of their soul.
“They would not only see their offenses against Me, but also, that, if they gave their bodies to be burned, they would not repay the tremendous grace and favor which they have received, inasmuch as no greater dignity exists in this life.
“They are My anointed ones, and I call them My Christs, because I have given them the office of administering Me to you, and have placed them like fragrant flowers in the mystical body of the holy Church. The angel himself has no such dignity, for I have given it to those men whom I have chosen for My ministers, and whom I have appointed as earthly angels in this life. In all souls I demand purity and charity, that they should love Me and their neighbor, helping him by the ministration of prayer, as I said to you in another place.
“But far more do I demand purity in My ministers, and love towards Me, and towards their fellow-creatures, administering to them the Body and Blood of My only-begotten Son, with the fire of charity, and a hunger for the salvation of souls, for the glory and honor of My Name. Even as these ministers require cleanness in the chalice in which this Sacrifice is made, even so do I require the purity and cleanness of their heart and soul and mind” (translated by Algar Thorold, The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, which appears on EWTN’s website).
Shortly after completing her dictation, she died at the age of 33.
Dear Lord, by the intercession and example of St. Catherine of Siena, grant us the grace to fast, pray, sacrifice, and do penance for the glory of your name and the good of all of your Holy Catholic Church. Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
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