SAINT FEAST DAY 15 SEPTEMBER: ST CATHERINE OF GENOA

SAINT CATHERINE OF GENOA, WIDOW

On September 15, one of the saints remembered by the Church is Saint Catherine of Genoa. She was born in the year 1447 and suffered depression after experiencing difficulties in her marriage. Her husband proved himself to be a weak character, a spendthrift and an unfaithful spouse.

GOD'S LOVE TOOK OVER

In 1473 St Catherine’s life changed when she felt in an intense way God’s love taking over her. The experience seems to have temporarily immobilised her, leaving her muttering, “No more sins! No more sins!”

"NO MORE SINS! NO MORE SINS!"

The impact of that first exhilarating awareness of God’s mercy remained ever with St Catherine, mixed with her own relentless sense of evil. She described her constant interior tension in her “Spiritual Dialogue”:

“Considering man’s sins, the Soul was astonished at the goodness of God, which together with its own defects it saw in a vision. And the Soul said: ‘O Lord, never more do I want to offend you, or do anything against your goodness, which has so bound me to you.’ Then turning toward her humanity and seeing all its defects and bad instincts, the Soul said: ‘Do you think you are clean enough to appear in the presence of God?’

"DO YOU THINK YOU ARE CLEAN ENOUGH TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD?"

The year 1473 also brought St Catherine’s husband first to bankruptcy, and then to conversion to an active Faith. The couple agreed to remain celibate and relocated to a small house close to the hospital of Pammantone, where they both tended the sick.

SHE FORGAVE HER HUSBAND'S MISTRESS

St Catherine eventually became the administrator of the hospital, one of Europe’s largest at the time. When her husband died, St Catherine looked after his illegitimate daughter, providing for her in her will, and also she forgave her husband’s mistress. St Catherine died of an undiagnosed illness in 1510.

Here are a few more of her words:

“Lord, I make you a present of myself,

I do not know what to do with myself.

Let me, then, Lord, make this exchange:

I will place this evil being into your hands.

You are the only one who can hide it in your goodness

and can so rule over me

that nothing will be seen of my proper self.

On your part you will grant your pure love.”

From: Spiritual Thought from Fr Chris

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Catherine may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

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