Saint Catherine of Siena
Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Memorial
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
What a rich personality, this valiant woman became a doctor of the Church. A Dominican Tertiary, she was the leader in Siena of a kind of “charismatic movement” with an evangelical lifestyle. Though very pleasant and joyful, she was very sad to see the Church suffering because Pope Gregory XI with his cardinals had moved from Rome to Avignon, France, what eventually led to the so-called “Western schism,” that divided the Church for a long time with popes and antipopes. She went to the Pope, scolded him “for his shortsightedness” and convinced him to return to Rome. She died at the age of 33. In her we have a person who was an ascetic, mystic, charismatic, stigmatic, doctor.
Opening Prayer
All-wise and powerful God,
let us, like St. Catherine of Siena,
draw fortitude and wisdom and zeal
from intense contact with you
through sober living, deep prayer
and contemplation of the cross.
Make us bold enough to face
even the mighty of this world and of the Church
with a humble courage that seeks nothing else
than the good of the People of God.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Light and Sin
We received his message and announced it to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not live in the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we are in fellowship with one another; and the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim, ‘We have no sin,’ we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the righteous one.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18
R. (1) O, bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O, bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O, bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. O, bless the Lord, my soul!
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. O, bless the Lord, my soul!
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward his children's children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. O, bless the Lord, my soul!
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The Father and the Son
At that time, Jesus said:
“Father, LORD of heaven and earth, I praise you because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people.
Yes, Father, this was your gracious will.
Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we celebrate with bread and wine
the sacrifice of your Son Jesus.
May it always give us a deeper commitment
to the good of your Church,
that we may learn to see the Church
not as something outside us
but as a living part of ourselves.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we have listened to the words
of Jesus our teacher and Lord.
May we not be afraid
of any renewal for ourselves and for our Church
and let that renewal begin in ourselves
with a new youth for our faith,
a deeper life of prayer,
and the will to do what we see
to be your will and desire.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
REFLECTIONS
- "Set the World on Fire": Catherine is famous for saying, "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire". This reflects her belief that holiness is found in becoming the unique, virtuous person God created, rather than mimicking others.
- Mystical Union and the "Cell": Despite her active life, she taught that true spiritual life happens within the "cell of self-knowledge," a spiritual interior space where the soul meets God. She experienced a mystical marriage to Christ, choosing a crown of thorns over roses, signifying her dedication to sacrificial love.
- Theology of the Blood/Mercy: Her writings, especially The Dialogue, emphasise the "Blood of Christ" as the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy, grace, and sacrificial love, which cleanses the soul and fuels apostolic zeal.
- Love for the Church (Even the Messy Parts): Catherine deeply loved the Church, recognising it as the "Mystical Body of Christ" despite its human failings during her time (e.g., the Great Western Schism). She did not just criticise; she called for conversion with charity, famously urging Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome.
- Humility and Spiritual Authority: As an uneducated woman in the 14th century, she wielded unprecedented influence over popes and kings. Her authority stemmed not from status, but from her humility—considering herself a "mirror of misery" and God as "He who is".
- Eucharistic Devotion: Her strength came from deep devotion to the Eucharist, which she saw as the source of unity and nourishment for her tireless service to the sick and poor, particularly during the plague.