In life, "even before the
temptations which we all suffer," we must never abandon "the hand of
God", "to realise the project that God has for each of us, because He is
the only firm rock on which we build our lives. "
This is the teaching
that comes from the life of Saint Catherine of Bologna, the woman of the
Middle Ages to whom Benedict XVI dedicated the last general audience of
2010.
Her life is "a strong call to always be guided by God and do
His will every day, even if it is different from our projects, to trust
in his Providence, which never abandons us."
"In this perspective Saint
Catherine speaks to us and her character is a very modern one. She
suffers from doubts and temptations as we do, she feels abandoned by
God, she experienced the dark night of the soul, but in all these
situations she clung on to the hand of the Lord and by holding on to the
Lord's hand she found the right path, the path of light, and so she
says to us: have courage, never let go of the Lord’s hand".
This "woman of great culture, but very humble," "generous in
sacrifice, ready to serve," the Pope told the eight thousand people in
the Paul VI at the Vatican, was born in 1413 into a noble family of
Ferrara. Her father was a doctor of law and public reader in Padua, in
the service of Niccolo III d'Este, who "although he led a far from
exemplary private life," was watchful of his subjects’ spiritual life.
In 1424, aged 11, Catherine joined the Este court as a maid in
the service of Margherita d'Este. She received the education of the time
studying music, painting, dance, Latin and poetry and became an expert
in the art of the miniature.
But she had "a singular modesty" and "her
spirit constantly turned to the things of Heaven."
"Catherine was not
affected by court life."
And in 1426, she left the court to join a group
of young women who were living together, dedicated to the spirit.
"She
states that she entered into service illuminated by the grace of God,
promising to acquire all the virtues she saw in others, not for pride,
but to gain greater favour before God”.
"She suffered great and terrible trails: from the devil's
temptations to despair, the dark night of the soul, to disbelief in the
Eucharist."
But the Lord gifted her the understanding of the Eucharistic
presence "that Catherine can not express with words."
However tensions
arise in community between those who want to follow the Augustinian
spirituality and those who prefer the Franciscan one.
Between 1429 and
1430 the head of the group decides to establish an Augustinian
monastery.
Catherine, however with some sisters decide to follow the
rule of St. Clare.
In the monastery of Corpus Domini, Catherine and her companions
receive "a proper spirtual formation and also meet Father Bernardino da
Siena.
In this climate, Catherine "makes a good confession and prays
hard to God to forgive her sins and punishment" and she receives an
"experience of divine mercy that marks her forever."
In 1431 she has a vision of the Last Judgement.
"The terrifying
scene of the damned, pushes her to intensify prayers and penance for
the salvation of sinners. The devil continues to assail her, and she
trusts herself totally to the Lord and the Virgin Mary. In her writings,
Catherine leave us some essential characteristics of this mysterious
combat, from which she emerges victorious through the grace of God. She
does so to instruct her sisters and those who intend to set out in the
way of perfection: she wants to warn against the temptations of the
devil, which often hides under deceitful appearances, only to then
insinuate doubts about faith, vocational uncertainty, sensuality. "
It is "The Seven Spiritual Weapons," a work of "great wisdom
and profound discernment”.
“The purity of her faith is reflected in her
writings," her "missionary zeal", her "passion for the salvation of
souls."
The "weapons" are "care and concern in doing
good", "believing that alone we can never do good things," "trusting in
God," "constant meditation on the events and words of Jesus' life and in
particular the Passion", "remembering that we must die ","keeping our
mind fixed on the final goal of Heaven" “familiarity with Sacred
Scripture."
"A fine program of spiritual life for us today."
In the monastery, Catherine "performs even the most humble
service with love and ready obedience," "disobedience she saw as a sign
of spiritual pride that destroys all other virtues."
On the death of the Abbess, the superiors thought of her for
the succession, but she urges them to turn to the Poor Clares of Mantua.
But in 1456 her convent is asked to create a new foundation in Bologna.
Catherine "does the will of God”, and goes to Bologna with 18 nuns: she
becomes the superior of the convent.
But even if that role “she is the
first in prayer and service. "
Although plagued by severe suffering, "she carries out this
service with generosity and dedication, calling all to the evangelical
life of patience, perseverance, brotherly love, love for the divine
Bridegroom to prepare the dowry for the eternal wedding."
At the
beginning of 1463 her illness worsens, "she gathers together the sisters
to announce her death and to recommend the observance of the rule."
"She ensures her help even from Heaven" and enters into her final agony,
"her face is becomes beautiful and luminous, she says the name of
Christ three times " and dies. It is March 9, 1463.
The city of Bologna,
in the chapel of the monastery of Corpus Domini, houses her incorrupt
body. She was canonized in 1712.
SIC: AN/INT'L