THIS SAINT KICKS BUTT!!!

     My eyes droop as I glance over a list of female saints. Most of them were quiet, meek, and quite frankly, rather boring women. Most of them never even left a convent. I groan in disbelief. Choosing a patron saint would be tough. Of course I could just pick a nun-saint at random and get it over with. But I want more than that. I want somebody who did something, someone who was a hero, someone who conquered something, did something with their lives besides pray. (Not that there is anything wrong with prayer. I’d simply rather pick a more exciting saint.) A simple solution presented itself. Pick a man. A man? Once again, I groan. Who wants a man? Sure, they did cool things like save Ireland and kill dragons, but honestly, if I just gave up and chose a man, I’d be letting down every female saint in the entire history of the church. That would be like slapping woman-kind in the face, saying that they didn’t measure up with men. My search would continue! Finally my quest for an “active” female saint was rewarded. Saint Catherine of Sienna!


     Saint Catherine of Sienna was an energetic Italian saint of the 1300s. Man, that girl had attitude! I mean, c’mon, she had guts! In an era when women were disregarded, she went to the Pope and kicked his butt for being a ‘fraidy cat and leaving the Vatican in a time of crisis. She was an extremely powerful counselor, advising all of the prominent artists, architects, musicians, and church leaders at the time. She had a ton of gumption! A bit of a tom-boy, she hated wearing dresses and having her hair curled. When she was five, she had the grit to run away from home with nothing but a loaf of bread and jug of water. (She prudently returned a week later, thinking better of her impulsive decision. Smart child.) Upon returning home, she became Cinderella-Incarnate, her “evil” stepmother cutting off her hair and forcing her to be the maid. Despite her stepmom’s attempts to break her spirit, Catherine remained strong. Catherine’s dad finally persuaded her stepmom to end her cruelties to their youngest child, after he received a vision in which he learned that Catherine was holy, not a juvenile delinquent like everyone figured. Worn-out, exhausted, and understandably upset at her parents, she took a little time-out in her room. Make that a long time-out. She didn’t come out of her bedroom for three years. And you thought you knew how to give out the silent treatment! This girl didn’t speak to a human being (besides her confessor, of course) for three entire years, eating practically nothing! During this time do you think she sat around doing nothing? I don’t think so! She definitely didn’t waste her time! (Several people thought about mailing petitions to the Vatican to proclaim her the patron saint against procrastination, but for some reason, never got around to it.) This girl prayed twenty-four-seven and grew in holiness. After being caged up for 1095 days, (I did the math.) she was ready to get out there and change the world! 


     Told in a vision to “get with it and get out there,” Catherine abandoned her bedroom and entered public life. Kind of like a precursor of Mother Teresa, she cleaned and cared for the destitute and afflicted. The amazing thing is, she didn’t eat ANYTHING except Holy Communion for the REST of her life. (That means NO food except a TINY little host on Sundays!) Talk about a miracle! In this era, a tragic civil war would break out, one that, fortunately Catherine would end. Now, here is what I love about this woman: She went out there as a diplomat, (in a time when women weren’t even recognized as people) and saved her country from self destruction via civil war between church and state. She persisted in healing the wounds of her nation, despite everyone making fun of her and condemning her, eventually restoring peace to Italy. She advised popes and princes, people that even high-ranking men weren’t even allowed to talk to! Although she never picked up a weapon, she proved that women, despite the popular belief, were NOT dumb or ignorant of political matters. She proved women were as smart as their male counterparts, not to mention diplomatic. She saved her entire country, for crying out loud!
      Some saints do one great big thing (like saving their country) and end right there (via martyrdom or retirement to a monastery.) Not Catherine! She didn’t even allow the Stigmata (which she received shortly after saving her nation) to slow her down. Instead she asked God to make it invisible so people wouldn’t want to come pay money to gape at her and she could get on with her career of greatness. (God did make it invisible, by the way. All pain, no fame. Talk about humility!) Shortly afterwards, the Great Schism had broken out in the Church. From the outset Catherine enthusiastically supported Urban VI, whom she considered the true pope. By this time, Catherine’s energy was faltering. She spent what remained of her life, strenuously working to return Pope Urban to the Seat of Peter where he belonged. The reconciliation of Pope Urban VI with the Roman Republic in 1380 was her last political work, accomplished practically from her death bed. (Talk about sticking to it till the end!) In addition to saving the church and saving her country, she also wrote a book called Dialogue, over four hundred letters and a collection of prayers. Her writings which sported historical importance, spiritual fragrance and literary value made her one of the most prominent writers of her era. Catherine died on the 29th of April, in the year 1380, a life well-spent. Did her legacy end there? I don’t think so!
     She was canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461, and in 1970 became one of two women to be named Doctor of the Church. This little firebrand of a woman began receiving visions when she was only six years old and lived a life packed full of mysticism and hilarious practicality, dying exhausted at 33. She was a wit, a charmer and a holy hand of God, touching the lives of millions of people. Even today, her body remains incorrupt, as a legacy of her holiness. 
     I chose Saint Catherine of Sienna, because, unlike many other female saints, she had a spark of creativity, spunk, and of course attitude. That spark lightened up my “drooping eyes,” as I saw her list of accomplishments. Now, here was a woman who was not afraid to break rules, step over boundaries or do a man’s job. I consider Catherine of Sienna an exemplary patron saint for impulsive teenagers such as myself, as she was history’s greatest counselor. In fact, after selecting Catherine of Sienna as my patron saint, my mother confided in me that she had actually prayed to St. Catherine to help me find the perfect confirmation name, even before I announced St. Catherine as my patron! I can’t gush enough over this woman, this young, energetic girl who saved her country, her church, wrote a book and innumerable letters, received the stigmata, was incorrupt and finally became a Doctor of the Church! She accomplished it all in 33 short years of hard work and willpower. Now that’s somebody I want looking out for me! Saint Catherine of Sienna, Pray for us!