Wisdom from our Patroness

I want to take a break from our examination of the Roman Canon. Today is our Patronal Feast and it seems fitting to say something about the patroness of our parish, St. Catherine of Siena. There are many things that could be said about her. However, for a look at her life I would simply recommend the biography written by Sigrid Undset that is simply titled "Catherine of Siena." It is wonderfully written by Sigrid, who after her own conversion became a Third Order Dominican, with a mind to drawing out a lot of spiritual meaning to the life and actions of our beloved Catherine. The audiobook is available via our FORMED subscription—click here to go to their home page and click "Find Your Parish Subscription" in the top bar, and search for St. Catherine's at 170 S University St to listen.

With that said, I want to share with you the Second Reading from the Dominican Propers of her feast in the Office of Readings, taken from a letter she wrote to the novices of the Order of St. Mary of the Mount of Olives.

“My dearest children in sweet Jesus Christ: I, Catherine, servant of the servants of Jesus Christ, write to you in his precious blood. I wish to see you obedient unto death, learning from the spotless Lamb who was obedient to the Father even to the shameful death on the cross.

Mark well that he is the way and the rule that both you and all other creatures ought to follow. I would like you to place him always before the eyes of your mind. Look at how obedient this Word is! He did not refuse the work that he had received from the Father because of its weight. On the contrary, he ran forward with the greatest desire. This was most evident at the Last Supper, when he said: I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you, before I die. To eat this Passover is the same as to fulfill the will of the Father and the desire of the Son. Since he saw very little time remaining (for he saw that he was about to offer the ultimate sacrifice to the Father on our behalf), he rejoiced and was glad and said with joy: I have greatly desired this.

This was the Passover of which he spoke: to give himself as food and to offer the sacrifice of his body in obedience to the Father. Jesus has eaten the Passover on other occasions with his disciples, but never in the same way as he did now. O love beyond measure, most sweet and most burning! You are not thinking about the torment at all, nor about your shameful death. The Word sees that he was chosen by the Father and took humanity as a spouse. He sheds his blood for us so that the will of God might be fulfilled in us, that we might be sanctified in his blood.

So I pray for you, my sweet children in sweet Christ Jesus, never be afraid of anything, but always rely on the blood of Christ crucified. Do not separate yourselves from him in temptations and error. You can neither persevere with fear, nor are you able to maintain obedience and the Order with terror.

Therefore, I never want you to fear. Let all servile fear be taken away from you. With sweet Paul may you lovingly say, “Be strong today, my soul. I can do all things through the crucified Christ. He who comforts me is within me in love and desire.” Love, love, love! The one who is in the world finds that the sea crashed upon his ship, but whoever is in holy religion sails in a vessel of another, that is, of the Order.

Take courage! You will find the spring of charity in the side of the crucified Christ. I want you to make ready your place and your house. Rise up with great and fervent desire; hurry, enter and stay in this sweet house. Neither demons nor any creature can take this away from you, or stop you from reaching your final goal, which is the knowledge and love of God. I shall not say any more: abide in the holy and sweet love of God. Love, love one another.”