St Catherine of Siena

Matthew 11:25-30

Today we celebrate the feast of St Catherine of Siena. You’ll see her depicted wearing the habit of a nun, but she was in fact a Third Order Dominican. She’s of particular note for her fearless resolve and ability to speak truth to power, and especially to Popes. The Church has recognized her as a Doctor of the Church. She stands alongside Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen. All four women are recognized for their holiness, depth of insight and contribution to Catholic teaching and thought.

There’s one thing which unites these women and that’s the intimacy of their relationship with God. Our Gospel text today speaks too of intimacy. The Father chooses to make himself known not to the learned and the clever but to ‘mere children.’ What is required here is an open heart and an ability to be in the moment. This is what we mean by being contemplative. We are each born with this capacity. It’s not the preserve of Religious or even of mystics.

From an open heart flows the desire to collaborate with and work for the things of God. All four Doctors of the Church did this in a unique way. Each of the women suffered in some way as they drew closer to God. They held fast and were able to respond to the invitation:

‘Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’

Recognising someone as a Doctor of the Church is the Church’s most formal way of acknowledging the power of God at work in a person’s life. This is for the few. There are, however, so many women who have given us light for our paths by their depth of insight and quiet holiness.

Thank God for those women who have walked with you along the way and shown you the face of Christ.