Today, the Church celebrates a very courageous saint—St.
Catherine from the Italian town of Siena.
St. Catherine was a member of a religious order called the
Order of Preachers—the order founded by St. Dominic—also called the Dominicans.
St. Catherine possessed many gifts and virtues. She had a
powerful intellect, she was a prolific writer, and for her great contributions
to Church teaching has been named a Doctor of the Church. Catherin wasn’t just
an intellectual though, she engaged in many great works of charity—she nursed
the sick and visited prisoners in prison.
She also had many mystical, miraculous aspects of her life:
she received the holy stigmata—the very wounds of Jesus’ crucifixion--on her
hands, feet, and heart. She also had what is called the mystical gift of tears,
she would weep in union with Jesus for the souls of sinners. For many years,
she ate nothing, except, once a day she would receive the Lord’s body and blood—the
eucharist.
Though she died in the year 1380—almost 650 years ago—her body
has not deteriorated, but remains incorrupt. I’ve seen it, multiple time. I
always go to visit the body of St. Catherine when I am in Rome.
But, I’d like to share with you today about St. Catherine’s
courage. In the 1300s the King of France exerted tremendous political pressure
upon the Church and convinced the Pope to move his residence from Rome to a
city in France called Avignon.
So, instead of living in Rome, the place of Peter’s
martyrdom, the Popes from 1309 to 1377 lived in France, during which time there
was great turmoil in Europe—factions and violent hostility.
Each day, holy St. Catherine would make a pilgrimage to St.
Peter basilica to pray for the Pope’s return to Rome, she wrote to the Pope and
pleaded for his return. For 20 years, she prayed and wrote, until in the summer
of 1376, she went to Avignon herself, and convinced Pope Gregory XI to return
Rome despite the pressure of the French Cardinals who elected him.
“I beg of you, on behalf of Christ crucified, that you be
not a timorous child but manly” she said…to the Pope. “Be a man”. Stand up and
do what is right for the good of the Church.
It takes a lot of Courage to say something like that to the
Pope, but she did so out of love for the Church, love for peace, love for
souls. Catherine was not in competition with the Pope, she wanted Him to become
the best man he could be. We must have the Courage to Encourage others.
Girls, ladies, please be like St. Catherine, encouraging the
men in your life to be the best men they can be. And all of us, need to be like
St. Catherine, who encourage each other to do what is right, even when we face
earthly pressure. May each of us cultivate courage born of true holiness, in
love of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
- - - - -
Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to
graciously hear our prayers and supplications.
For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy,
that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd,
leading the Church in the increase in faith, hope, and love.
For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen
Christ.
That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the
Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith
they have received.
For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be
turned to gladness through the Christian faith.
That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may
come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to
suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the
prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.
