Catherine Of Siena by Undset Sigrid

Author:Undset, Sigrid [Undset, Sigrid]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9781586174088
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Published: 2009-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

XIV

APPARENTLY CATHERINE soon won the love of the nuns of Montepulciano, for she writes of the happiness she feels here among these contemplatives, where the peace and silence of the convent is only broken by services and singing in the church. But she was not given much breathing space before the complications of this world and the uncontrolled passions of mankind once again demanded her service.

The Riformati government in Siena sent for her—they desired her presence at home. To judge from the letter of reply she sent them it seems as though rumour, always busy with Catherine’s comings and goings, had interpreted her visit to a strange town as unfaithfulness to her birthplace. Catherine does not defend herself against this interpretation—instead she tells the rulers of Siena that men who are to rule others must above all be able to rule themselves. How, she asks, can the blind lead the blind, or the dead bury the dead? “I have seen before, and I still see, that because you lack correct information you punish the innocent and let the guilty escape unpunished.” Her advice is always the same: break the chains of sin, cleanse yourselves by confession, be reconciled to God—then you will be real rulers, for who can really be master if he is not master of himself, if reason does not rule his senses? She names a certain case in which a worthy abbot has been persecuted, and this, after the government leaders have complained so bitterly about unworthy monks. Is there any point in such behaviour? Regarding her return, she has still several things to do in Montepulciano, so it is not possible for the moment. She regrets that they have lent their ears to false accusations; certainly she loves them and prays with sorrow and tears that the Divine Righteousness may not send them the punishment which we all deserve for our ingratitude, and that truth may make us all free. “Let all do the work which God has given them, and not bury their talent, for that is also a sin deserving severe punishment. It is necessary to work always and everywhere for all God’s creatures. God is not bound by places or people. He looks upon our honest and holy desires, which are the tools we must work with.”

Towards the end of the year 1374 Catherine was home again in Siena, and here she was visited by Alfonso da Vadaterra, a Spaniard who had once been Bishop of Jaen, but was now a hermit of St. Augustine. He had been spiritual director to St. Birgitta of Sweden, and one of her best friends. The Pope had sent him from Avignon to give Catherine the papal blessing, and to ask her to support his plans by praying for Holy Church and for himself.

One of his plans was to call all Christian princes to a new crusade. It was now almost two years since his first summons, and the Christian princes were still only concerned with quarrels among themselves.

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