Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) – Part 3
Introduction
We continue our journey through the Middle Ages with stories of queens, abbesses, nuns, Beguines, sisters in monasteries, writers, godly wives, mothers, empresses, social reformers, and many other women who served Christ. God called and gifted many women to serve Him during this very interesting time in history. So far, our journey has taken us from Genovefa (423 – 502) through Angela of Foligno (1248-1309).
In the late thirteenth century and first half of the fourteenth century there were tremendous conflicts between Church and state which affected everybody since European culture was basically Christian. Sadly, in the 13thand 14th centuries, there began a “widening credibility gap between the institutional church and the conscience of the ordinary faithful.”[1] People were distressed that there was even actually war between popes and kings. By the fourteenth century church leaders were living as richly as kings. Many devout believers including Francis of Assisi and Saint Benedict sought to restore the Church to her original calling to follow Christ, who was poor and humble in service to others.
There were also many women who sought to encourage the church leaders to return to following Christ’s example of service. We have seen how godly women went about prayerfully, respectfully, and righteously confronted church rulers pleading for the true peace and love of the gospel. In our last several posts we have looked at the life of Catherine of Siena. We studied about her piety, her work with the poor, and her courage in confronting the evils of her day. This week let’s take a look at her writings.
Catherine’s Writings
I John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Catherine’s works rank alongside of other Italian classics. She wrote “The Dialogue” or “Treatise on Divine Providence”, nearly four hundred letters, and a series of “Prayers”. It is in Catherine’s letters that we gain much of our perspective on the life of this complex woman. She wrote to popes, sovereigns, rulers of other lands, leaders of armies, private citizens, both men and women, religious clerics and nuns, and her family. She gave all practical advice for living in this world while at the same time lifting her readers’ spirits. Catherine made time for everyone whether rich or poor. She never treated anyone as if their problem was trivial. This was due to her own humble spirit. And always she thought that it was not for her but for the glory of God. “Not unto us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1).
Catherine’s mystical experiences continued throughout her life and in 1377 she began writing her famous “Dialogue” which she said were her conversations with God. Catherine led a very active life – full of travels, counseling, and writing. She kept several scribes busy writing letters and several longer works. One work is the “Dialogue”. This was a theological work written in 1377-1378 as a conversation between the “Eternal Father” (God the Father) and a “human soul” (Catherine). Using this method of dialogue, Catherine gives us her theology. The “Eternal Father” exhorts the soul to prayer, works of charity, virtue, and obedience. In the following passage Catherine explains our need for an atoning Savior:
Wherefore I have told you that I have made a Bridge of My Word, of My only-begotten Son, and this is the truth. I wish that you, My children, should know that the road was broken by the sin and disobedience of Adam, in such a way, that no one could arrive at Eternal Life. Wherefore men did not render Me glory in the way in which they ought to have, as they did not participate in that Good for which I had created them, and My truth was not fulfilled. This truth is that I have created man to My own image and similitude, in order that he might have Eternal Life, and might partake of Me, and taste My supreme and eternal sweetness and goodness. But, after sin had closed Heaven and bolted the doors of mercy, the soul of man produced thorns and prickly brambles, and My creature found in himself rebellion against himself.
And the flesh immediately began to war against the Spirit, and, losing the state of innocence, became a foul animal, and all created things rebelled against man, whereas they would have been obedient to him, had he remained in the state in which I had placed him. He, not remaining therein, transgressed My obedience, and merited eternal death in soul and body. And, as soon as he had sinned, a tempestuous flood arose, which ever buffets him with its waves, bringing him weariness and trouble from himself, the devil, and the world. Everyone was drowned in the flood, because no one, with his own justice alone, could arrive at Eternal Life. And so, wishing to remedy your great evils, I have given you the Bridge of My Son, in order that, passing across the flood, you may not be drowned, which flood is the tempestuous sea of this dark life. See, therefore, under what obligations the creature is to Me, and how ignorant he is, not to take the remedy which I have offered, but to be willing to drown.
The “I” in the dialogue is God the Father explaining why man cannot reach Him without His provision. The provision is a “bridge” – the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul can only come back to God through Christ. It is interesting that Catherine also shows how sinful, ignorant men choose to go their own way and refuse God’s merciful provision. Only the humble soul will turn to God and accept God’s way for salvation.
Catherine’s writings included many other theological themes – the Trinity, Humanity, Self-Knowledge, and Humility to name a few. Catherine’s use of imagery, metaphor, and everyday scenes from life make her works easy to read. We can appreciate her writing all the more when we realize that she suffered slander, ridicule, and violence throughout her life. She was often weak from fasting, yet she persevered. She did not teach her followers anything that she was not ready to live up to herself.
For Catherine loving one’s neighbor was proof of one’s love for God. We cannot see God, but we do see our neighbor and serving should be the most important thing in a virtuous life. Catherine often taught, “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the Second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:38-40).
Catherine never gave up on trying to reform the papacy and some say that she even worked herself to an early death because of it. She died at Rome on April 29, 1380, only thirty-three years old. Her mother Lapa was at her daughter’s side. Catherine asked her aged mother for her blessing and in turn she blessed her mother. Catherine continued in prayer until the moment of her death. Her last words have been reported as, “Beloved, You call me, I come. Not through any service of mine, but through Your mercy and the power of Your blood …. Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” Her face was radiant with happiness.
In 1970 Pope Paul VI declared her, along with Teresa of Avila, the first two women “Doctors of the Church”. She was the first woman to be published in the Italian dialect. Her writings are still published and read by many in many languages.
Application
Catherine of Siena lived during a time of decline in the world. There were plagues, economic disasters, and political corruption. The Church was in turmoil. There were many scandals in the church including avarice, abuse of power, and lack of love and care for the poor. There are different scandals in the church today, but they have one thing in common – shepherds are not tending the flock as Jesus would have them do. Self-love and power are the motivations for false leaders.
Catherine’s theology is still relevant today. She identified with Christ and this gave her the courage to persevere in her calling. Her theology is grounded in her denial of self and total willingness to give God the glory for everything. We admire her for her courage, strong-willed determination, and obedience to God no matter what. Catherine calls us to lives of humility, grace, holiness, love and discipleship.
[1] Paul Lachance, O.F.M., Translator. Angela of Foligno: Complete Works (New York: Paulist Press, 1993). P. 28.
