Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 4th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 12:24-13:5a and John 12:44-50]"Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me." [John]
APRIL 29, 2015 ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, O.P.
Today the Order of Preachers celebrates the feast of one of its greatest saints, Catherine of Siena. Whatever one may think of the trajectory of her life and accomplishments (and there are some folks who dismiss them), she remains one of the major figures in the history of the Church in the 14th century and remains influential through her writings, especially THE DIALOGUES. Her sheer courage in confronting major political and religious figures, especially the popes in Avignon and Rome, was astounding for the time. She served as an emissary for some of them!
In our day when women are struggling to have a greater voice in the preaching of the church and a role in its governance, Catherine of Siena is an iconic figure. Those who looked to her did indeed see the God who sent her even when Dominican friars and others thought she should not be a public person.
In the first scripture for today, the church at Antioch made the fateful decision to let Saul and Barnabas go to preach the word of God wherever they could. Maybe it's time the church said that to all the faithful women who could indeed help people to see and believe. AMEN