St Catherine of Siena is Co-Patron of Europe together with St Bridget of Sweden, and St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_01101999_co-patronesses-europe_en.html
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA
Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Co patron of Europe - Feast in Europe
(1347-1380)
Catherine, the daughter of a humble tradesman, was raised up to be the guide and guardian of the Church in one of the darkest periods of its history, the fourteenth century. As a child, prayer was her delight. She would say the "Hail Mary" on each step as she mounted the stairs, and was granted in reward a vision of Christ in glory. When but seven years old, she made a vow of virginity, and afterwards endured bitter persecution for refusing to marry. Our Lord gave her his heart in exchange for her own, communicated her with his own hands, and stamped on her body the print of his wounds.
At the age of fifteen she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic, but continued to reside in her father's shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer of a contemplative Saint. From this obscure home the seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church's cause. Armed with Papal authority, and accompanied by three confessors, she travelled through Italy, reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See, and winning hardened souls to God.
In the face well-nigh of the whole world she sought out Gregory XI. at Avignon, brought him back to Rome, and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the Papal cause. She was the counsellor of Urban VI., and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who had part in electing an antipope. Long had the holy virgin foretold the terrible schism which began ere she died.
Day and night she wept and prayed for unity and peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope, so that some sought the life cf Christ's Vicar. With intense earnestness did St. Catherine beg our Lord to prevent this enormous crime. In spirit she saw the whole city full of demons tempting the people to resist and even slay the Pope. The seditious temper was subdued by Catherine's prayers; but the devils vented their malice by scourging the Saint herself, who gladly endured all for God and his Church.
She died at Rome, in 1380, at the age of thirty-three.
Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Co patron of Europe - Feast in Europe
(1347-1380)
Catherine, the daughter of a humble tradesman, was raised up to be the guide and guardian of the Church in one of the darkest periods of its history, the fourteenth century. As a child, prayer was her delight. She would say the "Hail Mary" on each step as she mounted the stairs, and was granted in reward a vision of Christ in glory. When but seven years old, she made a vow of virginity, and afterwards endured bitter persecution for refusing to marry. Our Lord gave her his heart in exchange for her own, communicated her with his own hands, and stamped on her body the print of his wounds.
At the age of fifteen she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic, but continued to reside in her father's shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer of a contemplative Saint. From this obscure home the seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church's cause. Armed with Papal authority, and accompanied by three confessors, she travelled through Italy, reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See, and winning hardened souls to God.
In the face well-nigh of the whole world she sought out Gregory XI. at Avignon, brought him back to Rome, and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the Papal cause. She was the counsellor of Urban VI., and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who had part in electing an antipope. Long had the holy virgin foretold the terrible schism which began ere she died.
Day and night she wept and prayed for unity and peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope, so that some sought the life cf Christ's Vicar. With intense earnestness did St. Catherine beg our Lord to prevent this enormous crime. In spirit she saw the whole city full of demons tempting the people to resist and even slay the Pope. The seditious temper was subdued by Catherine's prayers; but the devils vented their malice by scourging the Saint herself, who gladly endured all for God and his Church.
She died at Rome, in 1380, at the age of thirty-three.
A Living Sacrifice
Saint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D. (25 March 1347 in Siena – 29 April 1380 in Rome), was a tertiary of the Dominican Order and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France and to establish peace among the Italian city-states... ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena )
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Prayer of Thanksgiving to the Trinity (St. Catherine of Siena)
I TASTED AND I SAW - A prayer to the Blessed Trinity. From a dialogue On Divine Providence by St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
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. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.
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. You are my Creator, eternal Trinity, and I am your creature. You have made of me a new creation in the blood of your Son, and I know that you are moved with love at the beauty of your creation, for you have enlightened me.
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, Mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light and causes me to know your truth. By this light, reflected as it were in a mirror, I recognize that you are the highest good, one we can neither comprehend nor fathom. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love.
You are the garment which covers our nakedness, and in our hunger you are a satisfying food, for you are sweetness and in you there is no taste of bitterness, O triune God!”
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"Proclaim the TRUTH, and do not be silent through fear"
"Father, I am hungry: For the love of God give this soul her food, her Lord in the Eucharist."
(quotes by St. Catherine of Siena)
St. Catherine of Siena on the Eucharist
Drawn by Love -
The Mysticism of Catherine of Siena
http://www.drawnbylove.com/
Proper Gospel for the Feast of St Catherine of Siena - Matthew 11:25-30
Evanġelju
Int ħbejt dawn il-ħwejjeġ lil min hu għaref, u għarrafthom liċ-ċkejknin. Mt 11, 25-30
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mattew
[Mt:11:25] F'dak iż-żmien Ġesù qabad u qal: “Infaħħrek, Missier, Sid is-sema u l-art, talli inti, dawn il-ħwejjeġ, ħbejthom lil min hu għaref u lil min jifhem, u għarrafthom lil min hu ċkejken. [Mt:11:26] Iva, Missier, għax hekk għoġob lir-rieda tiegħek. [Mt:11:27] "Kollox kien mogħti lili minn Missieri, u ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Iben ħlief il-Missier, kif ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Missier ħlief l-Iben u dak li l-Iben irid jgħarrafhulu.
[Mt:11:28] "Ejjew għandi, intom ilkoll li tinsabu mħabbtin u mtaqqlin, u jiena nserraħkom. [Mt:11:29] Ħudu fuqkom il-madmad tiegħi u tgħallmu minni, għaliex jiena ta' qalb ħelwa u umli, u intom issibu l-mistrieħ għal ruħkom. [Mt:11:30] Għax il-madmad tiegħi ħelu u t-toqol tiegħi ħafif."
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu. .
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http://www.drawnbylove.com/
Proper Gospel for the Feast of St Catherine of Siena - Matthew 11:25-30
Evanġelju
Int ħbejt dawn il-ħwejjeġ lil min hu għaref, u għarrafthom liċ-ċkejknin. Mt 11, 25-30
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mattew
[Mt:11:25] F'dak iż-żmien Ġesù qabad u qal: “Infaħħrek, Missier, Sid is-sema u l-art, talli inti, dawn il-ħwejjeġ, ħbejthom lil min hu għaref u lil min jifhem, u għarrafthom lil min hu ċkejken. [Mt:11:26] Iva, Missier, għax hekk għoġob lir-rieda tiegħek. [Mt:11:27] "Kollox kien mogħti lili minn Missieri, u ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Iben ħlief il-Missier, kif ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Missier ħlief l-Iben u dak li l-Iben irid jgħarrafhulu.
[Mt:11:28] "Ejjew għandi, intom ilkoll li tinsabu mħabbtin u mtaqqlin, u jiena nserraħkom. [Mt:11:29] Ħudu fuqkom il-madmad tiegħi u tgħallmu minni, għaliex jiena ta' qalb ħelwa u umli, u intom issibu l-mistrieħ għal ruħkom. [Mt:11:30] Għax il-madmad tiegħi ħelu u t-toqol tiegħi ħafif."
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu. .
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29 ta’ April
Festa ta' Santa Katerina ta’ Siena
Verġni u Duttur tal-Knisja
1347-1380
“Iftaħli l-bieb, oħti: miegħi int werrieta tas-saltna tiegħi, u għax inti għaraft il-misteri tal-verità tiegħi, inti l-ħabiba tiegħi, imżejna bid-doni tal-Ispirtu tiegħi, u msaffija minn kull tebgħa bit-tixrid ta’ Demmi. Ħalli s-skiet u l-ġabra tal-kontemplazzjoni u oħroġ tqabad b’qawwa u ħeġġa biex tagħti xhieda tal-verità tiegħi.” – Antifona mil-Liturġija tas-Sigħat tal-Festa ta’ Santa Katerina ta’ Siena.
Tagħrif:
Katerina Benincasa, hija waħda mill-akbar nisa li qatt rat id-dinja. Hija twieldet fi Siena, fl-Italja, fl-1347. Kienet l-iżgħar fost il-25 ulied ta’ żebbiegħ minn Siena, fit-Toskana (l-Italja Ċentrali) u twieldet nhar l-Annunzjazzjoni, fil-25 ta’ Marzu, 1347.
Minkejja li ħajruha għaż-żwieġ, kienet għal kollox deċiża li ma tridx tiżżewweġ. Ta’ tmintax-il sena, ikkonsagrat lilha nnifisha ‘l Alla, u daħlet Terzjarja Dumnikana, u mal-ħajja kontemplattiva ta’ meditazzjoni u talb, bdiet ħajja l-aktar attiva, billi bdiet tmur fl-isptarijiet iddur bil-morda, u bix-xjuħ u tgħin lil kull min setgħet. Kienet tmur ukoll fil-ħabsijiet, u tkellem speċjalment lil dawk li kienu jkunu kkundannati għall-mewt.
Fl-epidemija tal-pesta, fl-1374, kienet tieħu ħsieb lil dawk li kienu jimirdu, iddur bihom u tgħinhom, u ġieli anke difnithom hi stess meta mietu.
Ħadmet u għenet ħafna l-Knisja meta kienet għaddejja minn wieħed miż-żminijiet tqal tagħha. Ġabret madwarha bosta dixxipli, il-“Katerinati” li kienu jgħinuha fil-ħidma kbira tagħha biex ikkonvertiet tant midinbin, u tat l-aqwa għajnuna lil dawk fil-bżonn.
Kellha devozzjoni kbira lejn l-Ewkaristija. Bħal San Franġisk t’Assisi, irċeviet l-istigmati jew il-pjagi, imma mingħajr ma jidhru bil-għajnejn, fil-knisja ta’ Santa Kristina ta’ Pisa, fl-1375. Ħadmet biex tikseb il-paċi bejn belt u oħra, biex tħeġġeġ l-insara għall-Kruċjata fl-Art Imqaddsa mnidija mill-Papa Girgor XI, iddefendiet lill-Papa ġewwa Siena, Lucca u Pisa, u marret Avignon għand il-Papa Girgor fl-1376, biex turih li bħala Papa, is-sede tiegħu kienet Ruma.
Il-Papiet (li kienu Franċiżi) kienu ilhom Avignon 74 sena, imma għall-kelma ta’ Katerina, Girgor XI irritorna Ruma fis-17 ta’ Jannar, 1377. Imma Girgor miet fl-1378, u meta floku laħaq Urbanu VI, kien hemm xi kardinali li dehrilhom li dik il-għażla kienet illegali, u malajr inħatar “Papa” ieħor.
Dan ġab il-firda fost il-Kattoliċi, li tissejjaħ ix-“Xiżma tal-Punent”, u li ntemmet biss wara 39 sena bl-elezzjoni ta’ Martinu V fl-1417. Katerina ħadmet bis-sħiħ flimkien ma’ Santa Katerina tal-Isvezja (ara Santa Katerina tal-Isvezja), li ltaqgħet magħha Ruma, u ma’ oħrajn, biex tiddefendi l-veru Papa (Urbanu VI) u ssalva l-unjoni fil-Knisja.
Imma ma damitx ma mietet. Tliet xhur qabel mietet, mardet u sofriet ħafna. Ħalliet difatti din id-dinja ġewwa Ruma fid-29 ta’ April, 1380, ta’ 33 sena. Ħalliet, anki bl-approvazzjoni tal-konfessur tagħha, il-Beatu Rajmondu minn Capua, Ġeneral tad-Dumnikani, il-ktieb famuż: id-“Djalogu ta’ Santa Katerina,” kitba mistika mill-aqwa.
Il-Papa Piju II (li kien ukoll minn Siena) ikkanonizzaha fl-1461, il-Papa Piju XII ħatarha Patruna tal-Italja (flimkien ma’ San Franġisk t’Assisi) fl-1939, waqt li l-Papa San Pawlu VI ddikjaraha duttur tal-Knisja (flimkien ma’ Santa Tereża ta’ Avila) fl-1970. Il-Papa San Ġwanni Pawlu II ddikjaraha ko-patruna tal-Ewropa.
Kontemplattiva f’ħajja ta’ attività kbira. Għalhekk hija rnexxielha tgħaqqad il-ħajja interjuri tat-talb mal-ħajja attiva ta’ għajnuna għall-oħrajn. Hekk kitbet, “Ftakar li kull wieħed għandu għalqa għalih magħquda ma’ dik tal-proxxmu bla ebda ħajt bejniethom li jifridhom minn xulxin; tant huma ħaġa waħda li ħadd ma jista’ jagħmel il-ġid jew id-deni lilu nnifsu bla ma fl-istess ħin jagħmlu wkoll lill-proxxmu” (Djalogu 24).
Lejn it-tmiem tad-Djalogu tagħha hija tesprimi l-għaqda mistika tagħha m’Alla, “Divinità eterna, int abiss, int baħar bla qiegħ! Int tajtni lilek innifsek: xi stajt tagħtini iżjed.” (n. 167) Santa Katerina kitbet ukoll madwar erba’ mitt ittra lill-Papiet, mexxejja ta’ pajjiżi u nies prominenti, li juru l-fond tal-ispiritwalità u tal-għerf tagħha; u kitbiet oħrajn.
Ħsieb: Ta’ min inkomplu nsemmu aktar dettalji dwar il-ħajja rikka ta’ din il-qaddisa tal-lum. Imsemmija għal Santa Katerina ta’ Lixandra (ara Santa Katerina ta’ Lixandra), kienet tifla ta’ intelliġenza u ta’ maturità ‘l fuq minn normal. Sa minn ċkunitha kienet tidher miġbuda ħafna lejn Alla u kienet tfittex il-ġabra għat-talb. Ħajjitha kollha kienet tagħmel penitenzi kbar speċjalment fl-ikel u fl-irqad. Tiekol u torqod mill-inqas u silenzju strett. Tifla ċkejkna kienet tiġbor it-tfal tamparha u tkellimhom fuq Ġesù.
Fl-età ċkejkna ta’ sitt snin kellha esperjenza mistika tixbah ħafna lil dik ta’ Santa Katerina ta’ Lixandra u li ħalliet il-marka tagħha fuq il-kumplament ta’ ħajjitha. Minn wara l-kampnar tal-knisja ta’ San Duminku fi Siena lemħet lil Ġesù fil-glorja li ħassitu jgħidilha tkun l-għarusa tiegħu, stedina li Katerina aċċettat bil-ferħa. Fis-skiet ta’ kamritha kienet tinġabar fit-talb, titkellem ma’ Ġesù. L-ikbar turment tagħha kien meta kienet tħoss lil Ġesù tant il-bogħod. Fil-fatt meta darba dehrilha lmentat miegħu u qaltlu:
‘Fejn kont Sinjur? Kemm fittixtek għalxejn!
Ġesù weġibha: ‘Kont f’qalbek nitgħaxxaq bik narak tiġri warajja!’
Ta’ 20 sena kellha dehra mistika oħra li tikkonferma dik id-dehra ta’ meta kellha sitt snin. Din id-darba dehrilha Ġesù Redentur, fil-kumpanija tal-Madonna, ta’ San Ġwann, ta’ San Pawl u ta’ San Duminku, ilibbisha simbolikament iċ-ċurkett tat-tieġ, sinjal taż-żwieġ mistiku tagħha miegħu. F’din id-dehra mistika Ġesù talab lil Katerina toħroġ mill-ġabra ta’ kamritha u taqsam mal-bnedmin l-imħabba kbira li kellha lejh.
Bil-ħeġġa kollha Katerina ngħatat għall-appostolat tal-Kelma. Mijiet kbar ta’ nies minn kullimkien kienu jfittxuha għall-Kelma u għall-parir tagħha, u grazzi lilha ħafna bnedmin reġgħu daru lejn Alla.
F’ħajjitha Katerina kellha diversi dehriet mistiċi. Spiss kienet tidħol f’estasi. Insemmu dik ta’ quddiem il-kurċifiss ġewwa l-Knisja ta’ Santa Kristina nhar l-1 t’April, 1375 meta rċeviet il-pjagi. Fuq talba tagħha stess ma kienux jidhru minn barra imma hi kienet tarahom u kienet tħoss weġgħat tassew kbar.
F’waħda mill-ittri tagħha ssemmi l-każ ta’ ċertu Niccolo di Toldo, aristokratiku peruġin, li kien arrestat u kkundannat għall-mewt għax kien tkellem kontra l-gvern ta’ Siena. Siena u Perugia dak iż-żmien kienu fi gwerra bejniethom. Katerina marret iżżuru fil-ħabs. Sabitu ddisprat u bl-ebda mod ma ried iħejji ruħu għall-mewt anzi b’dagħa offensiv kien jilqa’ lil kull qassis li kien jipprova jersaq lejh. Imżejna bid-doni tal-persważjoni u tal-ħlewwa, Katerina rnexxielha tikkalmah u tippreparah għall-mewt. Qaltlu: ‘Tfarraġ ħija għażiż, dalwaqt tasallek il-festa tat-tieġ. Int se tmur maħsul bid-demm tal-Iben t’Alla, fl-isem ħelu ta’ Ġesù, li ma nixtieqek qatt tinsa. Jiena nkun hemm fil-post tal-eżekuzzjoni, nistenniek.’ U hemm kienet tassew Katerina kif wegħditu u talbet għalih hi u tarah imut.
Minn dawn ir-rakkonti kollha nagħrfu li Santa Katerina hija mudell ta’ dedikazzjoni fil-kuraġġ u fl-umiltà. Il-kitbiet tagħha jolqtu l-Misteri fundamentali tal-Fidi tagħna: it-Trinità, l-Inkarnazzjoni u r-Redenzjoni. L-Imħabba tagħha għall-verità tgħinna biex nitgħallmu nagħżlu s-sewwa mill-gidba fil-ħajja tagħna ta’ kuljum.
Katerina kienet tfittex u ssib lil Alla dejjem u kullimkien, u kienet tingħaqad miegħu tassew minn qalbha b’rabta ta’ mħabba. (Ant. Tal-kant. Ta’ Marija prop.) U int?
Talba: O Alla, int ħeġġiġt bl-imħabba tas-sema lill-verġni Santa Katerina ta’ Siena fil-kontemplazzjoni tal-passjoni tal-Mulej u fis-servizz li tat lill-Knisja tiegħek: agħmel, bit-talb tagħha, li l-poplu tiegħek, miġbur xirka waħda fil-misteru tal-Ġisem mistiku jikseb ferħ għal dejjem fid-dehra tal-glorja ta’ Ibnek Ġesù Kristu Sidna. Ammen. (Talba mil-Liturġija tas-Sigħat)
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