Paperback: This book is also known as 'The Life of St Catherine of Sienna' and is an inspiration for us all. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) had her first vision of Christ at age six and dedicated her life to his service as a Dominican. She produced an extraordinary series of Letters on spiritual education and the public affairs of the Church, as well as the Dialogue. She also served as an advisor to Pope Gregory XI and his successor, Urban VI. In 1970, Pope Paul VI named Catherine Doctor of the Church. In 1999, Pope John Paul II proclaims her Patron of Europe.
"Catherine was educated as a child that belonged to God. As soon as she began to walk alone, she was loved by all who saw her, and her conversation was so discreet, that it was with difficulty her mother could keep her at home; her neighbours and relatives would bring her to their houses in order to listen to her childlike reasonings, and enjoy her infantine sweetness. They found so much consolation in her company that they did not call her Catherine, but Euphrosyne, which signifies joy, satisfaction. Perhaps they were ignorant of this meaning, and did not know what I learned later, that Catharine had resolved to imitate St Euphrosyne; and it may be, also, that in her childish phases she uttered some words resembling Euphrosyne, and those who repeated her words gave her this name. Her youth realized the promises of her early infancy: her words possessed a mysterious power which inclined the soul to God. As soon as one conversed with her, sadness was dispelled from the heart, vexations and troubles were forgotten, and a ravishing peace took possession of the soul, so extraordinary indeed that one could only imagine it to resemble that enjoyed by the Apostle: on Mount Thabor, when one exclaimed: "It is good for us to be here." One day while she was praying in her little chamber Jesus appeared to her, and announced to her the kind of new miracle that He was going to operate in her.
Learn, my sweetest daughter, that henceforth thy life will be filled with prodigies so amazing that ignorant and sensual men will refuse to believe them. Many even of those persons who are attached to thee, will doubt them and fear an illusion caused by excess of love to me. I will diffuse in thy soul such an abundance of grace, that thy body itself will experience its effects and will live no longer except in an extraordinary manner. Thy heart shall become so ardent for the salvation of thy neighbour, that thou shalt forget thy sex and its reserve; thou shalt no more avoid as formerly the conversation of men, but thou shalt expose thyself to every species of fatigue in order to save their souls; thy conduct will scandalize many who will contradict thee and accuse thee publicly.
Jesus Himself was and is a sign of contradiction, and His saints often are contradicted. Saint Catherine was warned of this eventuality and yet faithfully followed her Crucified Saviour as should we. Catherine had much to suffer in her reputation, and in this especially appeared her admirable patience. What more precious than the reputation of a maiden, and what more delicate than the honour of a consecrated Virgin! It was in consideration of this that God would have his Mother, the Queen of Virgins, protected by no husband in the eyes of the world and on the Cross, he confided the virginity of his mother to the virginity of St John.
This book was written by Saint Catherine of Sienna's confessor, Blessed Raymond of Capua.
About the author: Blessed Raymond of Capua, OP, was a leading member of the Dominican Order and served as its Master General from 1380 until his death. He was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1899. First as Prior Provincial of Lombardy and then as Master General of the Order, Raymond undertook the restoration of Dominican religious life. For his success in this endeavour, he is referred to as its "second founder". Raymond worked also for the return of the papacy to Rome and for a solution to the Western schism. The important mystic and author, St Catherine of Siena, accepted him as a spiritual director because of his burning passion for the Church and for the revival of religious life. (Wikipedia)
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