Doctor
of the Church and Mystic
Catherine
is one of the Churches greatest Saints and is also a Doctor of the
Church, an amazing feet for someone who was nearly illiterate, let us
take a closer look at Catherine’s life.
Catherine
was born into an incredibly large family of 25 siblings later another
would be born into this family of wool dye merchants. They were
considered for those times to be lower middle class and therefore
prosperous though not wealthy, so Catherine’s Father, Giacomo Siena
was able to provide a decent upbringing in the year of Catherine’s
birth, 1347.
But
it was during this very year 1347 that the whole of Europe would be
struck down with the Black Plague, which attacked all the peoples
irrespective of position or wealth, for disease is no respecter of
Class distinction!
This
dreaded disease destroyed an estimated third of Europe’s
population, and was to change society structures both, Government and
also Religion. Many people due to lack of education blamed the Church
for failing to cure the peoples of this disease, the Black Plague,
which left many feeling disgruntled at the Church Hierarchy. The
Church was not helped in that many of the Priests, Monks and Nuns
whilst trying to help those who had been struck down with this
disease, ended up by being infected with it themselves, which led to
a decline in the Priesthood and Religious life, as many died of it.
So
Catherine’s birth was fortuitous and very timely during this period
of great upheaval for the Catholic Church. And God touched
Catherine’s heart and soul at a very young age, for she was to
experience Mystical events from her youth right through to adulthood.
This began for her at the tender age of 6 where she would see and
converse with her Angels, who taught the young Catherine to love
prayer and solitude.
Catherine’s
Mother, Monna Lapa was not so overjoyed at these mystical
experiences, and wished for her daughter to live a normal life, which
included the prospect of marriage. For though Giacomo provided for
his family it was Monna Lapa who ruled her family with an iron glove,
and who provided the discipline needed to look after her family of 26
children.
In
the end both parents united in trying to discourage Catherine from a
religious life by insisting that she do most of the household chores
and the responsibility of looking after her brothers and sisters,
alongside her Mother. But their efforts were to be in vein, for
Catherine was determined as she had already Consecrated her virginity
to her beloved Jesus, so though her parents planned a marriage their
obstinate daughter refused to accept this and after many wrangles the
parents of Catherine were able to acquiesce to their daughters wish.
It
was around this time that Catherine’s Father allowed her to join
the Third Order Dominicans, and his daughter then spent approx 3
years in her room which she described as her 'desert', where she
embraced a spirit of solitude, and began practicing austerities. It
was during this time when Catherine removed herself from the company
of her family that she experienced a vision of Jesus who then
betrothed her to Himself in a Mystical Marriage.
Upon
this event Catherine left her room of solitude and began visiting and
nursing the poor in her area, and due to her loving and compassionate
personality and also her great wisdom she attracted many friends of
like mind, to join her in this service of the poor.
The
years that Catherine spent in her room also prepared her to face much
opposition from those in authority in the Church, and Catherine began
having discourses with the Nobility and the Church Hierarchy about
the factions which were tearing the Catholic Church apart. Even
though Catherine was known for her passionate love of the Church she
also exhibited a spirit of great Joy and compassion which gained her
many followers and also just as many complaints and rumours.
But
Catherine was undeterred and displayed a fearless and determined
stand to unite the Schism which was threatening to destroy the
Church. She was known to write very forthright letters too many
Cardinals irrespective of their power which criticized their handling
of Church affairs.
This
was a tumultuous time in Church history and with the aid of her good
friend Raymond of Capua, Catherine wrote to Pope Gregory Xl and
convinced him with strong language to return the Papacy to Rome
instead of remaining at Avignon. Being fearless herself, Catherine
had no understanding of timidity and therefore she spoke plainly to
the Pope, "Be not a timorous child, but manly . . .", even
though Catherine was direct she was also respectful of the Holy
Fathers Position and peppered her letters with endearments. It was
also at this time that Catherine was encouraged to personally visit
the Holy Father in Avignon and plead for his return to Papal
authority. Pope Gregory Xl then departed Avignon to take his rightful
place in the Seat of Peter as the legitimate Pontiff, in Rome!
But
the troubles did not cease and Pope Gregory Xl was to die the same
year as his return to Rome in 1378, which led to further upheavals
within the Church and to the Papacy itself. Upon the death of Pope
Gregory Xl the Cardinals decided to elect an Italian as Pope in the
hope that the Papacy would be strengthened within Rome, therefore
Pope Urban Vl became the Supreme Pontiff. But this new Pope was to
prove to be problematic in that Pope Urban Vl was deeply suspicious
of everyone and anything fearing conspiracies in every hidden corner.
His temper and inconsistencies then led the very same Cardinals to
try and oppose him by electing a new Pope which was Pope Clement Vll.
It
was during these Church intrigues and upheavals that the firm and
steadfast spirit of Catherine was greatly needed, for she was to
support the claim of Pope Urban Vl as the rightful Pontiff and not
Clement Vll. So upon a request from Pope Urban Vl to help him unite
the troubled Church, Catherine spent days and nights pleading his
cause to all Cardinals and those in positions of authority.
But
this was to take a heavy toll on Catherine’s health, and through
her practice of austere disciplines including not eating food but
subsisting on the Eucharist alone, Catherine’s health became very
frail, it was also at this time that she dictated her 'dialogue' to
her friend Raymond of Capua.
In
the end Catherine’s health could not endure the extreme measures of
her austere life, and she suffered what was the first stroke, she
only partially recovered before she endured another stroke, which she
never recovered from. During these fateful months Catherine suffered
many agonies and also battled with demonic forces, until her strength
was entirely spent.
Catherine
died on April 29th, 1380; she was only 33 years of age.
St.
Catherine she was canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461.
St.
Catherine of Siena was proclaimed a Doctor of The Church on the 4th
October 1970.
Some
Quotes:
"They
do not sit in judgement on my servants or anyone else, but rejoice in
every situation and every way of living they see. . . . Even when
they see something that is clearly sinful, they do not pass
judgement, but rather feel a holy and genuine compassion, praying for
the sinner."
–
Saint Catherine of Siena.
"Whenever
you think God has shown you other people's faults, take care: your
own judgment may well be at fault. Say nothing. And if you do
attribute any vice to another person, immediately and humbly look for
it in yourself also. Should the other person really possess that
vice, he will correct himself so much the better when he sees how
gently you understand him, and he will say to himself whatever you
would have told him."
– Saint
Catherine of Siena
