Memorial of Saint
Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church
(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)
The Internet has enabled hundreds of millions of people
to stay in touch. People see the faces of
loved ones through Skype and follow their thoughts on Facebook. Fifty years ago no one dreamed of such immediacy. However, those who have developed a deep
spirituality may have always been more closer to the Lord.
In today’s first reading Peter and John have returned
from their confrontation with Jewish leadership. They pray to God who is intimately present to
them because of the Holy Spirit. They do
not ask for protection but for boldness to proclaim Jesus. The Spirit confirms that God hears their
prayers by causing the ground to shake.
The same Spirit enabled Catherine of Siena to feel intimately
Christ’s love for her. She described her
relationship with him as a marriage. She
and Christ were bride and bridegroom. As
a wife considers her husband’s body her own, Catherine worked tirelessly for Christ’s
body, the Church. In times of political intrigue
and ravishing plague, Catherine strove to keep that body from falling
apart. Her success has resulted in her
being named the patron saint of both Italy and all Europe.
