St. Catherine of Sienadominicanlaity.ca/DominicanLaity/Formation/4Catherine.pdfSpiritual Crisis • Temptations to • Stop penances • Take a spouse and have children • Resume

St. Catherine

of Siena

1347 - 1380

St. Catherine

of Siena

OUTLINE

1. Life 2. Teaching3. For our time?4. Discussion

St. Catherine of Siena

Life – Early Biographies

• Raymond of Capua OP• Spiritual director/friend from 1374• Legenda Major written 1384 – 1395

• Tommaso Caffarini OP• Libellus de supplemento - uses Tommaso della Fonte (1st confessor and brother of her brother-in-law)

• Legenda Minor• Processus of Venice (1411-1414): disciples’ testimony

• Miracoli (by anonymous Florentine)• Letters/poems of disciples• Cristofano di Gano Memoirs• William of Flete (teacher and disciple)

Early writings coloured by times but add to Catherine’s own works, prayers and 400 letters


Life - Family

•Caterina di Giacomo di Benincasa

•Born March 25, 1347•23rd / 24th child (of 25) (twin)• Parents Giacomo (Jacopo) and Lapa di Puccio Piagenti

•Family of cloth–dyers

• Implications of family life


Life - Church


Life - Church

In the shadow of San Domenico…


Life - Church

•San Domenico Church and cloister – a center of learning and preaching


Life - Church

• San Domenico Church and cloister –a center of learning and preaching

• Tommaso della Fonte, her first confessor/director, lived with her family (from 1349) and joined the Order when she was about 9y old.

• Mantellate in Siena (Dominican laywomen - widows)


Life – St. Dominic

•St. Dominic•An apostle in the world

•Sower of God’s Word

•Dispelling darkness and

giving light

• (quote from Dialogue)


Life – JesusMilestones – ages 6-9


Life – JesusMilestones – age 6

Vision: Jesus the King enthroned in the company of Sts Peter, Paul, and John the Evangelist blesses her.

“Oh, if you but saw what I am looking at, you would never try to take me away from a sight so delightful”

From that moment onwards the little one began to grow up spiritually in a remarkable way: in virtue, in conduct and in sound sense. (like one much older)

The flame of love had been enkindled in her heart.



Effects of the vision:• Influenced by Egyptian Fathers and saints • Self-flagellation, eating less, seeking hidden places

• Taught her friends to pray and follow her example.

• Loss of desire for things of the world• A “holy and all-absorbing love” for Jesus and his Blessed Mother

• “taught by none other than the Holy Spirit, she came to understand that she should serve her Creator with an unblemished purity, holy in both body and soul. With all her heart she longed to make virginal purity her possession.


Life – JesusMilestones – age 6-7

Experience in the cave:

• Levitation for several hours

• Our Lord spoke to her for the first time

• His plan did not include penances at that time

• It was not the way he wished her to leave her father’s house



Vow of virginityPrayer to Mary to ask her Son’s guidance on

• what would be most pleasing to him and

• what would be most fruitful for salvation of souls

“Give me as my Spouse the One I long for from my inmost heart, your own all-holy and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and I promise him and promise you that to no other spouse will I ever give myself, but in my own humble measure I too will keep my virginity for ever spotless for him.”



• Growth in holiness

• Ongoing interest in saints

• Great respect for Dominicans and

desire to join the Dominican Order

• St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria



Cutting her hair

Alessandro Franchi

1893-6



• Age 12 – Home to prepare for marriage• influence of her sister Buonaventura(died 1362) (the “sin”)

• Deeper devotion to Our Lord, prayer, mortification, speaking of her vow

• Help from a Dominican friar• Age 15 – cut her hair

• Consequences



The interior cell

[She] “made for herself a secret cell within her own heart, and made up her mind never to go forth from it no matter what the business on which she was engaged. The result was that she who formerly had been sometimes inside and sometimes outside the walls of that material cell which she then possessed, now remained uninterruptedly within the walls of that inner cell of the heart which no one could take from her.”



The interior cell - teaching

1) The cell made with the help of Jesus“in the voluntary exercise of removing every occupation of the mind which is far from the thought of God.”

2) A spiritual dwelling place, to be carried constantly within oneself –“the cell of true self-knowledge of the goodness of God in you.”

Two cells in one



Catherine receiving the habit / Giovanni di Paolo 1460-61



• Age 16 – St. Dominic’s promise • Her father supports vow not to marry • Catherine requests a tiny room

• Lapa and the sulfur baths

• Receives the Mantellate habit at San Domenico

• Vision of the fruit tree and the thorns• Retires to her cell



In the cell• Denial of food, drink, rest, sleep• Self-flagellation for her sins, for sins of the living and the dead

• Divine visitation for spiritual guidance

• Out only for daily Mass and confession• Occasional visits from friars (Tommaso dellaFonte, Dominici)

• Basis for her teaching developed at this time.

Riquadra con Santa

Caterina de Siena

Lorenzo di Petro

detto il Vecchietta

(1445)



Spiritual Crisis• Temptations to

• Stop penances• Take a spouse and have children • Resume a normal life

• Demons flee• Appearance of Christ on the cross• Increased visitation and intimacy

“my daughter”


besieged by demons (anon)

(lesser Poland ca 1500)



Teaching• Importance of knowing oneself and knowing God: “You are she who is not and I AM HE WHO IS”

• Think of God and God will instantly think of you• True and false visions• Love God first, love others in God• Root out self-love and have holy self-hatred of one’s lower nature

• Love of God is shown by accepting suffering with joy and perseverance

• God is always present, hidden in the heart, guarding from enemies


Life – JesusMilestones – age 20/21

Mystic marriageShrove Tuesday 1367

Giovanni di Paolo (1460-61) Bartolimmeo (1511)

“I will espouse you to me in faith”

“That faith will be ever kept untarnished until the day whenyou will celebrate with me the everlasting wedding-feast inheaven.”

“So now, daughter, do manfully. From now on you must neverfalter about accepting any task my providence might layupon your shoulders. Remember, you have been confirmed infaith, and will prevail over all your enemies.”

• Ring of 4 pearls: purity of mind, heart, word and works • Kiss of Christ – the 3rd stair of the bridge. • Spouse of Christ – to bear children in the Spirit / virtues

• NOTE: in Miracoli she is espoused to the infant Christ in the cave.



Coming out of the cell• First to family• Difficult – Obedience to the Lord• Charitable works for the poor• Nursing the sick• Virtues: charity, humility, patience, faith, hope

• The gift to see the beauty/ugliness of souls

• Devotion to the Eucharist, ecstasies

Saint Catherine of Siena

Francesco Vanni (1563-1610)



In Siena• Andrea – a test

• Test of care – flesh against spirit • Accusation of unchastity • The crown of thorns• Fighting pride/disgust – attitude to Christ

• Drinking at Christ’s opened side: complete communion of friendship and affection

• Transformation: a living flame of love• sweetness, love, clarity, knowledge• Other mystical events• Grace and boldness for action and way of life

Caterina beve al Costato di Cristo

Sano di Pietro (1405-1481)



In Siena• Alive, friendly, joyful, affable, comforting• Miracles:

• A Mantellata who fell through roof• Raymond and Dominici (plague)• Girl exorcized of evil spirits

• Gift of prophecy• Excellent theological knowledge –

countered critics• “Eating” souls

• Exchange of hearts with Christ (1370)

Saint Catherine of Siena exchanging her heart with Christ Giovanni di Paolo (1460)

Echange des coeurs Ventura Salimbeni (1568-1613)



• Ongoing Eucharistic ecstasy• Aug 1370 - Received one wound as pledge of salvation of souls including Raymond of Capua

Stigmatization

of St. Catherine

Domenico di Pace

Beccafumi (1486-1551)



• Catherine’s Sins: very sensitive • to any untruth

• to any distraction in a vision

• to any distress about others’ love

• Catherine’s followers• Men/women/young/old/priests/lay

• Mantellate (mainly nobility)

Catherine receiving the stigmata

Giovanni di Paolo (1460-61)


Life - JesusMilestones – age 23-28

• Mystical Death (late summer) • Union with Christ’s suffering

• 4 hour separation of body and soul

• Vision of afterlife: glory of saints and

punishment of sinners

Purpose: to fuel her thirst for souls and do

God’s work:

• leaving her home

• Promise of the Spirit for wisdom

• Mission to Rulers of Church and nations

The mission began 5 years later


LifeMilestones – age 28-29

• Letter-writing (mainly from 1374)

• Travels • 1374 – to Florence, possibly to General

Chapter of Dominican Order

• 1375 – to Pisa – by invitation • Received invisible stigmata

• 1376 Vision – Christians & non-believers

enter the side of Christ. Catherine given

the olive branch and cross to carry to all.

• Florence under papal interdict – Catherine

travels there then to Rome for audience

(with Gregory XI). Confronts Pope & Curia.

• Authoritative but humble

Die Hl. Katharina empfängt die

Wundmale, mit Hl. Benedikt

und Hl. Hieronymus

Domenico di Pace Beccafumi

(ca 1515)


LifeMilestones – age 29

St. Catherine before

the Pope at Avignon

Giovanni di Paolo

(ca 1460)


LifeMilestones – age 29

Sep 1376 – Return of Gregory IX from Avignon to RomeDec 1376 – Catherine returns to Siena

Return of Pope

Gregory XI to Rome

from Avignon

Giorgio Vasari

(1511-1578)



• 1377-1378 • Catherine pleads with Pope for both Siena

and Florence (anti-papal rebellion)

• Begins dictating Dialogue

• December: sent by Pope to Florence to sue

for peace

• 1378 – Gregory IX dies in March, Urban VI

elected in April.

• Catherine almost killed by mob; peace

restored between Florence and Pope

• Sept: Anti-pope Clement elected; Urban

calls on Catherine

• Dec: Catherine arrives in Rome

St. Catherine of Siena dictating

her Dialogue.

Giovanni di Paolo (ca 1447-9)



1380 • Letters in support of the true Pope and

pleading for unity of the Church

• Prayers recorded

• Physical condition worse – no food/drink

• Spiritual ecstasies and trials

• Jan 29-30 offers her life for the

Church

• Feb 26 paralyzed, confined to bed

• April 29 – dies

St. Catherine of Siena writing

Rutilio di Lorenzo Manetti

(1630s)


After Death

• June 29, 1461 – canonized by Pope Pius II

(Piccolimini)

• March 8, 1866 – copatron of Rome (Pius IX)

• June 18, 1939 – copatron of Italy, with

Francis of Assisi (Pius XII)

• October 4, 1970 – Doctor of the Church,

with Teresa of Avila (Paul VI)

• Oct 1, 1999 – copatroness of Europe with

Bridget of Sweden and St. Teresa

Benedicta of the Cross (John Paul II) The death of St. Catherine of Siena

Girolamo di Benvenuto (1470-1524)


Teaching• Conversation• Letters (4 volumes)• The Dialogue

• 1 year Oct 1377- Nov 1378• Dictated to secretaries• Edited herself• Dialogue with God• Pattern of petition, response and thanksgiving (Cavallini 1968)

• Petitions are for herself, reform of the Church, the whole world and divine mercy

• Topics addressed include the way of perfection, the bridge (metaphor of spiritual journey), tears, truth, mystic body of Holy Church, divine providence and obedience.

• Prayers


Works - Resources

• Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue. Transl Suzanne Noffke. Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press, Mahwah NJ 1980.

• The Prayers of Catherine of Siena. Ed/trans Suzanne Noffke. Authors Choice Press, Lincoln NE, 2001.

• The Letters of Catherine of Siena (4 volumes?). TranslSuzanne Noffke. Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Tempe AZ 2000.

• O’Driscoll, Mary. Catherine of Siena. Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity. New City Press NY, 1993 (republished 2013) (selected spiritual writings)

• McDermott, Thomas. Catherine of Siena. Spiritual Development in her Life and Teaching. Paulist Press, Mahwah NJ, 2008 (good history, focus on spiritual development)


A Woman for Our Time?

Considerations: • Signs of the times

• Political• Ecclesial

• Catherine herself• Family, Person, Personality• Spiritual approach, mysticism

• God’s way of communicating• God’s plan


Other Thoughts?

Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire!

Documents

St. Catherine of Sienadominicanlaity.ca/DominicanLaity/Formation/4Catherine.pdfSpiritual Crisis • Temptations to • Stop penances • Take a spouse and have children • Resume