For the Love of Us All

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

Catherine lived

From 1337 to 1380

She was

The youngest of 20 children

And from an early age

Was devoted to a life

Of penance and prayer-despite parental opposition

She refused

To consider marriage

And became a Dominican tertiary

She began to mix with other people

And began to nurse the sick-in hospitals

Along with her disciples

Which included both men and women

She taught many to reform

Through a TOTAL love of God

She never learned to write

But wrote 383 letters

Expressing her philosophy

Through dictation

Her holiness

Was centered on Christ’s crucifixion

And she saw this

As the SUPREME love of God-for man

She received much criticism

Especially during the last 5 years

Of her life

When she became involved

In the politics

Of both state and church

She suffered a stroke

On April 21^st 1380

And died 8 days later

Her life story

Was written by Raymond Caputa

Her friend-and later

Master General of the Dominican order

This led

To her canonization in 1461

With the quality of her writings

And her membership

In the Dominican order

Bringing her much support

She became a figure

Of international importance and influence

Became Siena ‘s principal Saint ( along with Bernard of Siena )

And was believed to be responsible

For bringing the papacy

Back to Rome

Her common emblem

Is the lily

And she was declared

A Doctor of the church-in 1970

Her feast day is April the 29^th

Robert P. Wallman

5-3-12