Spiritual Reflection

Today is the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena. Catherine was born in Italy as one of a very large family. She had many brothers and sisters. She was a twin, but her sister did not survive infancy.

When she was 16 years old, her older sister’s husband died. Catherine’s parents wanted her to take her sister’s place and marry her brother-in-law. She resisted and started fasting and then shaving her hair to mar her appearance so she wouldn’t be asked to be married.

She joined the Third Order of St. Dominic which allowed her to associate with a religious society and still live at home. Her association with the Dominicans taught her about loving God by serving the sick and the poor, which she did regularly.

She was recognized globally for her ministry and began to travel and sought to reform the Church and ask people to love God more totally. She was credited with helping to start a crusade to the Holy Land. She was recognized as a world Church Leader.

My inspiration from her comes from some words of her own. “This very day leave behind the world’s anxieties; leave worry to those who should be worrying and take that time for holy exercises in true solid virtue. Don’t wait for more time, since we have no assurance we shall have it. Love! Love! For you are loved indescribably much.”

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