The Impact of St Catherine of Siena
St Catherine of Siena dramatically impacted the Catholic Church and influenced the teachings and principles that were so thoroughly understand and abide by in modern day Catholic Christianity. Although she faced many obstacles in her lifetime, like many saints, Catherine knew and understood the meaning and hardship of great suffering. Europe in those days was being consumed by the plague known as the Black Death. St Catherine had no hesitation working alongside the victims as she believed they all needed attention. When a priest who was in charge of a hospital caught the illness and was close to death, St Catherine came bursting into his room. “Get up Father”, she said. “Have something to eat. There’s work to be done. there is no time for you to be lying in bed”. The priest was so surprised; he got up and discovered he was no longer ill. St Catherine felt there were long intervals during which she felt abandoned by God. "O Lord, where wert Thou when my heart was so sorely vexed with foul and hateful temptations?" she asked, when after such a time of agonizing he had once more manifested Himself. She heard a voice saying, "Daughter, I was in thy heart, fortifying thee by grace". St Catherine enlightened by these words continued to demonstrate love and deep compassion towards the sick and everyday people which had started to become noticed and appreciated and began to make a difference and had an influence on a vast majority of the people.
St Catherine of Siena's holiness began to spread, she became the renowned hero of an intense activity of spiritual guidance for people from every walks of life: nobles and politicians, artists and ordinary people, holy men and women and religions. Thanks to St Catherine of Siena for entering the Catholic Churches religious way of life she was sought out as a spiritual director. St Catherine lived in a time when the Church was in the gravest crisis of history because there was more than one claimant to the Papacy. The strength of the Catholic Church depended on the Papacy. The significant impacts that St Catherine continues to have on the Catholic Church and modern Christianity was that she was highly successful in urging the Pope Gregory XI , who like several of his predecessors had been living in France. Gregory XI energetically and effectively return to his proper residence in Rome, Italy. Which is where the present Pope, Pope Francis resides and is where the following Pope will live due to St Catherine's persistence and determination to restore tradition.
The teaching of St Catherine of Siena, who learned to read with difficulty and learned to write in adulthood, is contained in the Dialogue of Divine Providence, a masterpiece of spiritual literature, in her Epistolario and in the collection of her Prayers. Her teaching is endowed with such excellence that in 1970 Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church, She was also proclaimed one of the two patron saints of Italy, alongside St. Francis of Assis.
St Catherine's legacy lives on through numerous Churches, religious orders, Primary and High Schools scattered all over the world. Each organisation strives to be a Catholic community inspired and challenged by the example of St Catherine of Siena. The foundation of their teachings is based on the life and ways of Jesus Christ. each community seeks to model this truth in word and action. Her prayers "Novena Prayer in honor of St. Catherine of Siena" and "St Catherine of Siena Prayer as well as her letters and teachings have provided insight for people today as they demonstrate the core understanding of reliance and determination and how they can be applied in everyday life.
St Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. She remains a greatly respected figure for her spiritual writings, and political boldness to "speak truth to power" it being exceptional for a woman, in her time period, to have had such influence in politics and on world history.
St Catherine of Siena dramatically impacted the Catholic Church and influenced the teachings and principles that were so thoroughly understand and abide by in modern day Catholic Christianity. Although she faced many obstacles in her lifetime, like many saints, Catherine knew and understood the meaning and hardship of great suffering. Europe in those days was being consumed by the plague known as the Black Death. St Catherine had no hesitation working alongside the victims as she believed they all needed attention. When a priest who was in charge of a hospital caught the illness and was close to death, St Catherine came bursting into his room. “Get up Father”, she said. “Have something to eat. There’s work to be done. there is no time for you to be lying in bed”. The priest was so surprised; he got up and discovered he was no longer ill. St Catherine felt there were long intervals during which she felt abandoned by God. "O Lord, where wert Thou when my heart was so sorely vexed with foul and hateful temptations?" she asked, when after such a time of agonizing he had once more manifested Himself. She heard a voice saying, "Daughter, I was in thy heart, fortifying thee by grace". St Catherine enlightened by these words continued to demonstrate love and deep compassion towards the sick and everyday people which had started to become noticed and appreciated and began to make a difference and had an influence on a vast majority of the people.
St Catherine of Siena's holiness began to spread, she became the renowned hero of an intense activity of spiritual guidance for people from every walks of life: nobles and politicians, artists and ordinary people, holy men and women and religions. Thanks to St Catherine of Siena for entering the Catholic Churches religious way of life she was sought out as a spiritual director. St Catherine lived in a time when the Church was in the gravest crisis of history because there was more than one claimant to the Papacy. The strength of the Catholic Church depended on the Papacy. The significant impacts that St Catherine continues to have on the Catholic Church and modern Christianity was that she was highly successful in urging the Pope Gregory XI , who like several of his predecessors had been living in France. Gregory XI energetically and effectively return to his proper residence in Rome, Italy. Which is where the present Pope, Pope Francis resides and is where the following Pope will live due to St Catherine's persistence and determination to restore tradition.
The teaching of St Catherine of Siena, who learned to read with difficulty and learned to write in adulthood, is contained in the Dialogue of Divine Providence, a masterpiece of spiritual literature, in her Epistolario and in the collection of her Prayers. Her teaching is endowed with such excellence that in 1970 Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church, She was also proclaimed one of the two patron saints of Italy, alongside St. Francis of Assis.
St Catherine's legacy lives on through numerous Churches, religious orders, Primary and High Schools scattered all over the world. Each organisation strives to be a Catholic community inspired and challenged by the example of St Catherine of Siena. The foundation of their teachings is based on the life and ways of Jesus Christ. each community seeks to model this truth in word and action. Her prayers "Novena Prayer in honor of St. Catherine of Siena" and "St Catherine of Siena Prayer as well as her letters and teachings have provided insight for people today as they demonstrate the core understanding of reliance and determination and how they can be applied in everyday life.
St Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. She remains a greatly respected figure for her spiritual writings, and political boldness to "speak truth to power" it being exceptional for a woman, in her time period, to have had such influence in politics and on world history.