St. Catherine of Siena

Today is the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, a Doctor of the Church. Born into a very large family, from a young age she dedicated herself to Jesus. As a teenager, she became a Third Order Dominican (not a professed religious sister, but official aligned with the order, while living outside of a convent). Several aspects of her life are hard to understand in our own society - her severe asceticism was demonstrated in living only on the Eucharist for extended periods of time, she was gifted with the stigmata, and for several years, she lived in a small room, alone except to go to mass. Although she died at age 33, her influence was impressive: during the time of confusion (the Great Schism) about which man was the 'authentic' Pope, she counseled, cajoled and convinced Urban VI to return to Rome from his exile in France. For much of her life, she did not how to write, but dictated powerful letters and reflections borne of her deep prayer life.

Here is a selection from a 2008 posting in "Godzdogz", a blog of English Dominican students:

The connection between mystical experience and involvement in the concerns and affairs of the world is very clear and very striking in Catherine's case. In 1363, at the age of 15 or so, she emerged from a period of intense solitude to get involved again in the affairs of her family. In 1366, at the age of 19, she experienced a spiritual espousal or 'marriage' to Christ after which she became involved in the life of her city, Siena. In 1370, at the age of 23, she experienced a mystical 'death' and we find her getting involved in the affairs of Tuscany and of Italy generally. Finally in 1375, at the age of 28, she received the stigmata and we see her becoming a figure on the European stage. She becomes the ambassador of Florence to the papal court at Avignon, entreats the Pope to return to Rome, and becomes in turn the ambassador of the Pope to Florence.

Rarely has any Christian, at one and the same time, been so completely immersed in political and pastoral activity while living a life of profound, mystical contemplation. Her mystical experiences are recorded in her Dialogue while her letters show her to be a pastoral theologian and spiritual director of exceptional wisdom and compassion. The eminent Irish Dominican, Archbishop William Barden (the centenary of whose birth we celebrate this year), regarded Catherine of Siena as the greatest of all Dominicans, women or men, perhaps, he suggested, even greater than Saint Dominic himself!

In essence, Catherine reveals to us that contemplation and action form the seamless garment of faith, which all the baptized receive in the Sacrament of Baptism and which we are called to exercise in our daily discipleship as Catherine did through her tireless prayer and work on behalf of peace in the Church and in society.

Catherine of Siena, pray for us!