Saint Catherine of Siena - April 29 - Doctor of the Church

Saint Catherine of Siena
Seraphic Virgin
Doctor of the Church
(March 25, 1347 - April 29, 1380)

“Everything comes from love,
all is ordained for the salvation of man,
God does nothing without this goal in mind.”

Saint Catherine of Siena

Catherine was born in Siena, Italy on the Feast of the Annunciation, the 23rd child of the Benincasa family. At the age of six she had a vision of Jesus seated on a throne smiling at her. This vision had a great effect upon Catherine and at the age of seven, she promised herself to Jesus, through Mary, giving herself over to a life of chastity. Not knowing of this vow, her parents attempted to have her married, to which she refused cutting off her hair in defiance. It wasn’t until her father saw a white dove hovering over Catherine as she prayed, that her family gave up the idea of her marriage. Soon after Catherine joined the lay affiliate of Dominican women and lived in her family’s home confined to a small room, where she devoted herself to prayer and fasting.

After three years of solitary life, Catherine received a revelation from the Lord that He was calling her to a more active life. Uncertain of what she should do she asked Our Lord “I am but a woman and I am ignorant. What can I do?” Jesus replied: “In My sight there is not man nor woman, not learned nor unlearned. But know that in these last times the pride of the so-called learned and wise has risen to such heights that I have resolved to humble them. I will therefore send unlearned men full of divine wisdom, and women who will put to shame the learning that men think they have.” She was given a vision where she was mystically married to Jesus, Our Lady placed her hand in the hand of Jesus and He placed a ring on her finger which only she could see.

Despite her lack of formal education, God certainly did put learned men to shame through the writings and works of Catherine. During the remainder of her short life she visited hospitals ministering to the sick and dying, in some cases doing more for the sick than the doctor, her prayers and the touch of her hand bringing about miraculous recoveries.

Catherine received many mystical visions of heaven and hell during her lifetime recording much in her prolific writing. Committed to reform the Church and bring her back to the Truth, Catherine was lead to counsel church leaders by rebuking disloyal cardinals who had part in electing an antipope, and was instrumental in exhorting Pope Gregory XI to leave Avignon and return to Rome.

At 28, Catherine was graced with the stigmata, which she kept secret from most due to her humility. Eating very little during her life, with the exception of the Holy Eucharist each day, Saint Catherine died at the age of 33, living the same number of years as her Holy Spouse. One hundred years after her death her body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt.



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Art
Ecstasy of St. Catherine of Siena - Pompeo Batoni
St. Catherine before the Pope @ Avignon - Giovanni Di Paolo

Good Shepherd Sunday

Good Shepherd Sunday

Fourth Sunday of Easter

“The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down his life for his sheep, who died for his flock, he is risen, alleluia.” Communion Antiphon

The Gospel according John

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice;

I know them,
and they follow me.

I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me,
is greater than all,

and no one can take them
out of the Father’s hand.

The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30

The job of shepherd was deeply woven in to the history of God’s people so it is quite understandable that the term shepherd would be used symbolically in the bible to describe different people – kings and leaders (2 Samuel 5:2; Ezekiel 34:2), the Lord God (Psalm 23; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Ezekiel 34:10-16), Simon Peter (John 21:15-17), and Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-30).

A shepherd existed to meet the needs of his sheep, who were
considered to be not very intelligent, clumsy, and easily confused. It was the shepherd’s job to feed, care for, guide and protect their flock, a difficult and tiring job. Without a shepherd the sheep were “truly lost.”

It was a regular practice for shepherds to bring a number of flocks to a common sheepfold at the end of the day, where the flocks would be guarded by a hired gatekeeper allowing the shepherd a well deserved rest. In the morning each shepherd would return to sheepfold to call their flock, the gatekeeper would open the gate, and the sheep would come out of the pen following the voice of their individual master who would lead them out to pasture.

In John Chapter 10 Jesus is given the title the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. Jesus gave every one of His sheep free will and He will not force, cajole, or manipulate any of them to follow Him. Instead, as the Good Shepherd He waits patiently for His sheep to recognize His voice and return to His fold.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus wants His sheep not just to survive but to thrive, He “came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) He does not ration out nourishment to His sheep but brings them to “green pastures..safe waters… right path…[His] rod and staff give courage…[their] cup overflows with goodness and love….all the days of [their] life.” (Psalm 23) Jesus is the Good Shepherd and no one can “take them out of [His] hand.” (John 10:29)

Jesus the Good Shepherd comes to us and walks with us wherever we are on our journey. He carries us on His shoulders during our trials and seeks us when we have lost our way. He knows us better than we know ourselves, as He “formed [our] inmost being; knit [us] in [our] mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:13) and in spite of ourselves and our stubbornness He always loves us unconditionally.

In today’s Gospel Jesus is making a promise to his followers of eternal life, an offering of an abiding relationship with the living God and membership in His flock. Today may Jesus the Good Shepherd guide us into the pastures of peace and joy, for by following the risen Lord we are assured that goodness and kindness will follow us all the days of our life.

Jesus the Good Shepherd,

Help me hear and know your voice.

For devotional items related to the Catholic Church, please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures.