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On this feast of the first woman doctor of the Church, St. Catherine of Siena, let me borrow her beautiful words as my prayer to you, O God our loving Father:
Eternal God, eternal Trinity, you have made the blood of Christ so precious through his sharing in your divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you.
From the Office of Readings, “On Divine Providence” by St. Catherine of Siena
Very often you send us men and women you use to change the course of history with their practicality and spirituality like Gamaliel the Pharisee - through him, the Apostles were finally set free to go with their mission after convincing the Sanhedrin that "if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God" (Acts 5:38-39).
You are indeed a mystery as deep as the sea using even enemies to work in our favor so that the more I search you, the more I find you, and the more I find you, the more I search you as you slowly reveal yourself in every unfolding of your works; if others would only allow your grace for them to desire you, dear God, then they would realize this wondrous gift and joy of living in you in Christ.
I have tasted and seen the depth of your mystery and the beauty of your creation with the light of my understanding. I have clothed myself with your likeness and have seen what I shall be. Eternal Father, you have given me a share in your power and the wisdom that Christ claims as his own, and your Holy Spirit has given me the desire to love you.
From the Office of Readings, “On Divine Providence” by St. Catherine of Siena
In your Son Jesus Christ's most precious gift of his presence in the Holy Eucharist, like the people at the wilderness with him, we have felt how you work in our midst, most of all how we must cooperate with Jesus to accomplish your work. Despite her being illiterate and lack of so much worldly credentials, St. Catherine eventually succeeded in bringing back the Papacy to Rome even long after her death while her writings and reflections have become a treasury of testament to how you work among us despite our many limitations. May we have the courage to allow you to do your work in us, in Christ. Amen.
