This morning we drove from Venice to Siena...
Morning Prayer
Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, "Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled."
When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation she didn't just say "yes" straight away. She entered into dialogue... She wanted to understand what she was giving her consent to... In 1974 in "Marialus Cultis" Pope St Paul VI described it like this... The modern woman, anxious to participate with decision-making power in the affairs of the community, will contemplate with intimate joy Mary who, taken into dialogue with God, gives her active and responsible consent, not to the solution of a contingent problem, but to that "event of world importance," as the Incarnation of the Word has been rightly called.
Mary is the one who enters into contemplative dialogue and becomes for us in Church a model of discipleship. This is why, at the Second Vatican Council, the bishops decided that rather than a separate document on Mary that there should be a Chapter on her in Lumen Gentium the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Mary by her obedience to the Father, her docility to the Holy Spirit, and holding Jesus in her heart as her son and her Lord teaches us what it is to be a disciple. Mary is a contemplative in action.
In her footsteps today we meet Catherine of Siena. an incredible woman who from a young age had spiritual experiences leading her to a deep mysticism as her soul was united more and more to God. At the same time, like Mary, she responded to the needs, taking on even the Pope and setting the Church back on the right track.
She lived an incredibly short life, just 33 years, the same as the Lord she served, but she is honoured as a saint and a doctor of the Church.
Magnificat (Amazing Grace)
My spirit sings God’s praise;
God looks on me and lifts me up
and gladness fills my days.
All nations now will share my joy.
God’s gifts they are outpoured.
God’s little one has been made great;
I magnify the Lord.
God’s mercy is forever more;
God’s name I praise again;
God’s strong right arm puts down the proud,
and raises lowly ones.
God fills the hungry with good things;
the rich are sent away.
The promise made to Abraham
Is filled to endless day.
After visiting the amazing central piazza of Siena we went to the equally amazing Duomo...
The Siena Cathedral, or Duomo di Siena's construction began in the mid-12th century, with the intention of creating one of the grandest cathedrals in Christendom. Built primarily of white and greenish-black marble, the cathedral’s striking striped façade and intricate sculptures reflect the city’s wealth and artistic ambition during the Middle Ages.
The Duomo is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and features a stunning façade designed by Giovanni Pisano, adorned with biblical scenes, saints, and prophets. Inside, the cathedral boasts a breathtaking black-and-white striped interior, a magnificent marble inlaid floor—considered one of the most ornate in Italy—and masterpieces by artists such as Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini.
The cathedral also houses the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, with a bronze statue by Donatello.
Originally, there were plans to expand the Duomo into the largest church in the world, but the Black Death halted construction. Today, the Siena Duomo stands as a testament to medieval devotion, artistry, and architectural brilliance.
St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380), born Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa, was one of the most remarkable mystics and reformers of the medieval Church. She was born in Siena, Italy, the 24th of 25 children in a humble cloth-dyer’s family. From a young age, Catherine displayed extraordinary spiritual sensitivity. At age six, she had a vision of Christ seated in glory, which inspired her lifelong devotion. By age seven, she vowed perpetual virginity and began a life of intense prayer and asceticism.
Despite her parents’ attempts to arrange a marriage, Catherine resisted, eventually joining the Third Order of the Dominicans at age 16. Living at home, she devoted herself to prayer, fasting, and caring for the sick and poor. Her mystical experiences deepened, including a spiritual espousal to Christ and receiving the stigmata, though invisible during her life.
Catherine’s holiness attracted followers, and she became a spiritual advisor to people from all walks of life—nobles, clergy, and even popes.
During the Great Western Schism (1378–1417), the Church was divided by rival claims to the papacy, with multiple popes elected and competing for legitimacy. Catherine was deeply concerned for the unity of the Church, and she wrote passionate letters to Church leaders and traveled to Avignon to urge Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome, believing this was essential for restoring spiritual authority and peace.
Her influence helped persuade Gregory to relocate in 1377, ending the Avignon Papacy. After his death, Catherine supported Pope Urban VI, the Roman claimant, during the schism that followed. Despite opposition and political turmoil, she remained a steadfast advocate for Church reform and unity.
Her writings, especially the Dialogue of Divine Providence which was written during a period of deep mystical union with God. Composed around 1378, it records a series of divine revelations and conversations between Catherine and God the Father. The text explores profound theological themes such as divine love, mercy, justice, and the soul’s journey toward holiness.
Structured as a dialogue, it reflects Catherine’s intense spiritual insight and her desire to reform the Church and guide souls to salvation. She emphasizes the importance of humility, obedience, and love of neighbor, while also addressing the corruption within the clergy and the need for spiritual renewal.
The Dialogue is not only a theological treatise but also a passionate plea for unity and holiness. It remains a cornerstone of Christian mysticism and contributed to Catherine being declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 having been canonised in 1461 and named co-patron of Italy and later Europe.
Catherine died at age 33 in Rome, worn out by her sacrifices and fasting.
Mass was celebrated in a chapel backing on the reliquary holding St Catherine's head
Readings at Mass
1 John 1:5-2:2
and the message that we are announcing to you:
God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.
If we say that we are in union with God
while we are living in darkness,
we are lying because we are not living the truth.
But if we live our lives in the light,
as he is in the light,
we are in union with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
purifies us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin in us,
we are deceiving ourselves
and refusing to admit the truth;
but if we acknowledge our sins,
then God who is faithful and just
will forgive our sins and purify us
from everything that is wrong.
To say that we have never sinned
is to call God a liar
and to show that his word is not in us.
I am writing this, my children,
to stop you sinning;
but if anyone should sin,
we have our advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, who is just;
he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
and not only ours, but the whole world’s.
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.
It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
His wrath will come to an end;
he will not be angry for ever.
the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children’s children
when they keep his covenant in truth,
when they keep his will in their mind.
Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Reflection
Paul was a parishioner in my first parish; he was a simple man, a man the world would seem as rather odd, but for me he a mystic. He spent long hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. And in himself he just radiated the presence of God. I loved talking to him and words and nature were surrounded by an indescribable gentleness and holiness.
Catherine of Siena was a mystic... the mystics are those who enjoy and bathe in the closeness of the soul to God. They are the ones who have accepted the invitation of the Gospel - "Come to me," Jesus says... theyy come and they have no need for words - they just sit in the presence and their presence is transformed.
They are the ones who have shouldered the yoke, who have discovered that Christ is with them, helping them on their journey. They are the ones who want to journey from darkness to light... the irony often being they become even more sensitive to the darkness in their lives when often all they see is light.
The first step is presence - how do we make time to be with the Lord, just to sit in his presence, to speak at first and just settle into the balm of silence with him. For it is he who transforms us - not just the external transformation that often comes from our action. The real transformation of the mystic is when there is total surrender to God and his radiance shines in us, a work that belongs to God alone .
I don't know about you, but I have a long way to go... In the meantime let us find that time and space to sit before the presence of God and humbly ask him to transform our minds and hearts. And in doing so let us also pray for the grace and courage to be contemplatives in action for the life of others and our world.
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| St Catherine of Siena, pray for us |
Thank you, I love St Catherine. I was head of her house at St Dominic's.
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