The Secret of St. Catherine’s Courage
We reached out to Congregations who have Saint Catherine as their patroness to share their reflections. We asked them: what is the Saint teaching us at this specific moment in history?
Here is the sharing from Sr. Valery Walker, OP (English Dominican Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena):
Pope Urban VI said of St.Catherine: “This little woman confounds us, for while we are afraid she stands without fear and by her persuasions she gives us courage.”
What was Catherine’s secret? It was her mystical union of love with Christ, given her from the age of six as an enduring center from which she lived her whole life in devotion and obedience to her Lover. Later, from her contemplative home life, Christ sent her out to do a great work of apostleship, but always in close and mystical union with Jesus and always as his servant acting by His power. Yes, she spoke with popes, advised them, even bullied them! but always aware that she was only a mouthpiece for Christ; aware that as one with Him she could speak out strongly because they were His words, not hers. She could suffer opposition and attacks with humility because she knew she spoke truth and she herself was just God’s instrument. A priest who was fiercely determined to ‘show her up’ was overcome by her response as she listened humbly to his accusations and finally begged him for his priestly blessing.
St. Catherine pray for our world, our Church, our Congregation and for peace between nations. Amen
