Saint Catherine of Siena and Unity in the Church

Saint Catherine of Siena is celebrated in the church as a mystic, spiritual writer, healer, counsellor, and for her service to the poor and the sick. However, it was her work for peace and reconciliation within the church that struck me on Saturday July 8 as I viewed the busts of several popes that were installed under the portico of her house in Siena. It was a bright yet quiet day in Siena. The mood was prayerful. After I completed my visits to the chapel and Catherine’s cell, I saw the figures of the popes. While Catherine’s holiness was recognized by her contemporaries long before the church’s hierarchy took notice of her, the figures of these popes at her house were a sign to me of how much Catherine loved the church and her tireless efforts to bring about unity in a church in which women held no ecclesiastical power. Thus, she worked from a place of marginality in her time.

Below the portico of Catherine’s house, we can observe the figures of Pope Pius II, who canonized her on 29 June 1461 and Pius IX announced her as co-patron saint of Rome for her courageous efforts to persuade Pope Gregory XI to return the seat of the papacy from Avignon to Rome. Pius XII declared Catherine patron saint of Italy on June 19, 1939 and, on the occasion of the five-hundredth anniversary of her canonization in 1961, Pope John XXIII encouraged all Christians to celebrate her. In 1970, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Catherine a doctor of the Church. Saint Catherine together with Saint Teresa of Avila were the first of only four women on whom this title has been bestowed to date. The final figure is of Pope John Paul II who declared her patron saint of Europe in recognition of her work for peace there and her efforts to persuade the leaders of her time to follow Christian values.

The visit to Siena was a dream come true for me because Catherine is patroness of my religious congregation. I admire her spirituality and love for the Dominican way of life. I am inspired by her care of the sick and the poor, her wisdom and gift of counsel. Catherine did not receive a formal education but her ability to negotiate with popes, bishops, clergy, kings and other leaders indicate that she was politically astute and had a keen sense of people. She was clever and courageous.

Saint Catherine, woman of faith, lover of the church, pray for us.

Carla Thomas

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