Inbox Inspiration: June 19, 2019: Saint Catherine of Siena

June 19, 2019

Saint Catherine of Siena

Dear Friends, 
Catherine was born in 1347 in the small Tuscan town of Siena.
From an early age, she sought to follow the way of Christ as fully as possible.
While never becoming a professed religious or living in a religious community, she was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic.
In effect, she lived as a secular Dominican.
I would say that Catherine was hundreds of years ahead of her times.
In a very patriarchal Church and culture, she was an influential spiritual leader.
A group of followers gathered around her – priests, religious, and lay.
She gave them spiritual instruction and led them in caring for the sick and the poor.
Catherine even got the respect of Popes.
She lived in the time of the Western Schism when Christianity was divided between two and then three claimants to the Papacy.
Catherine travelled to Avignon in France to persuade the Pope to return to Rome.
She spent the last two years of her life in Rome, working to restore peace and unity to the Church.
Catherine died in 1380.
Besides being canonized as a saint, she has been honored with the title of Doctor of the Church – one of only four women with that title.
This is in recognition of her keen spiritual insight and wisdom.
Perhaps women especially can turn to Catherine for inspiration in using their God-given gifts, even in situations where patriarchal ways continue.
Catherine of Siena’s feast day is April 29 in our Catholic calendar.

“Eternal God, eternal Trinity…You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.”
From The Dialogue on Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena.
 “All you holy men and women, Saints of God, pray for us.” 
Father Michael Schleupner

Inbox Inspiration: June 11, 2019: Saints and Other Holy Ones

Saints and Other Holy Ones

Dear Friends, 
I have decided to do a series of Inbox Inspirations on saints.
Saints have always played a part especially in our Catholic Christian tradition.
We call upon saints for their help and intercession with God at certain times –
for example, when we are sick,
or when we are dealing with something that feels hopeless,
or when we don’t know how to respond to a rebellious child.
We invoke the name of a particular saint and ask for his or her help.
We also see the saints simply as our companions.
They inspire us with the example of their own lives.
They accompany us on the journey of life.
They now live with God in eternity and, at the same time, are supporting us and wanting us to join them at the time God decides.
In the next four weeks, and then from time to time, I will reflect on some of our saints.
And, I will also include some of the holy ones who have not been officially canonized as saints but who also clearly inspire us in faith and can be our companions for the journey.    

“Of course some might argue (and some do argue) that all you need is Jesus. And that’s true: Jesus is everything, and the saints understood this more than anyone. But God in his wisdom has also given us these companions of Jesus to accompany us along the way, so why not accept the gift of their friendship and encouragement? And there’s no reason to feel as if devotion to the saints somehow takes away from your devotion to Jesus: everything the saints say and do is centered on Christ and points in his direction.”    
From My Life with the Saints by Father James Martin, S.J. (1960-. Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, author of many books and articles).
 “All you holy men and women, Saints of God, pray for us.” 
Father Michael Schleupner