SAINT OF THE DAY -- May 9 - Saint Catherine of Bologna
May 9
St. Catherine of Bologna(1413-1463)
Patron Saint of Artists, Painters and Temptations
"Whoever wishes to carry the cross for his sake must take up the proper
weapons for the contest, especially those mentioned here.
First, diligence; second, distrust of self; third, confidence in God;
fourth, remembrance of Passion; fifth, mindfulness of one's own death;
sixth, remembrance of God's glory; seventh, the injunctions of Sacred
Scripture following the example of Jesus Christ in the desert."-Saint Catherine, from On the Seven Spiritual Weapons St. Catherine died 9 March 1463 at Bologna, Italy. She was buried without a coffin or embalming and was exhumed eighteen days later due to the miracles occurring near her grave. An odor of perfume came from it. Her body was found incorrupt and currently resides in the cell in which she lived.
(see picture below.)
Some Franciscan saints led fairly public lives; Catharine represents
the saints who served the Lord in obscurity.
Catharine,
born in Bologna, was related to the nobility in Ferrara and was
educated at court there. She received a liberal education at the court
and developed some interest and talent in painting. In later years as a
Poor Clare, Catharine sometimes did manuscript illumination and also
painted miniatures.
At the age of 17, she joined a group of
religious women in Ferrara. Four years later the whole group joined the
Poor Clares in that city. Jobs as convent baker and portress preceded
her selection as novice mistress.
In 1456 she and 15 other
sisters were sent to establish a Poor Clare monastery in Florence. As
abbess Catharine worked to preserve the peace of the new community. Her
reputation for holiness drew many young women to the Poor Clare life.
She was canonized in 1712.
Daughter of a diplomat. Tradition says her father received a vision telling him of her birth. Maid of honour to the daughter of a marquis, receiving the same training and education as her mistress. Franciscan tertiary at age 14. Poor Clare nun. Mistress of novices. Established a Poor Clare convent at Bologna in 1456, and served as its abbess. Miracle worker. Prophetess. Mystic. Visionary. Painter and manuscript illuminator. Received a Christmas Day vision of Jesus cradled in Mary's arms.
Comment:
Appreciating
Catharine’s life in a Poor Clare monastery may be hard for us. "It
seems like such a waste," we may be tempted to say. Through prayer,
penance and charity to her sisters, Catharine drew close to God. Our
goal is the same as hers even if our paths are different.
Quote:Catharine
wrote a book on the seven spiritual weapons to be used against
temptation. "Jesus Christ gave up his life that we might live," she
said. "Therefore, whoever wishes to carry the cross for his sake must
take up the proper weapons for the contest, especially those mentioned
here. First, diligence; second, distrust of self; third, confidence in
God; fourth, remembrance of the Passion; fifth, mindfulness of one’s
own death; sixth, remembrance of God’s glory; seventh, the injunctions
of Sacred Scripture following the example of Jesus Christ in the
desert" (On the Seven Spiritual Weapons).
Prayer:
Dear saintly Poor Clare, so rich in love for Jesus and Mary,
you were endowed with great talents by God
and you left us most inspiring writings and paintings of wondrous beauty. You were chosen as Abbess in the monastery of Poor Clares at Bologna. You did all for God's greater glory and in this you are a model for all.
Make artists learn lessons from you and use their talents to the full.
Amen.
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
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The tremendous power of the Rosary can
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Miracles continue to the present day!
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?