Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and Doctor of the Church
(Acts 5:34-42;
John 6:1-15)
St. Catherine
of Siena saw herself as married to Christ.
Undoubtedly for this reason she worked so hard for the Church, Christ’s
body. Catherine was instrumental in
bringing the Bishop of Rome back to the eternal city. Pope Gregory XI had been comfortably situated
in Avignon when Catherine urged him to fulfill his episcopal duty. She also had a major role in reconciling the
city of Florence with the pope.
Catherine
evidently never went to school. Some
biographers say she never learned to write.
Yet she left behind a legacy of letters and a brilliant spiritual memoir
called the Dialogues. She also
had a large following of both lay people and clergy. She was vaulted into prominence by mystical
experiences together with a zeal to work for the love of the Lord. Her work was both prophetic and social. She spoke out for truth and assisted the in
greatest need.
As a youth Catherine
joined the Dominican Order. At one point,
accused of being a fake, she was brought before the Dominican leadership. The charges, however, were dropped, and
Catherine was allowed to continue her wide-ranging ministries. We might hear the wisdom of Gamaliel from the
first reading today applied to Catherine’s life. Such an extraordinarily
ambitious person is bound to cause dissension.
But being from God, no one could stop her. Catherine is co-patroness of Italy and
Europe. She is also the model of anyone
who relies on a strong relationship with Christ to combat injustice.
