St. Catherine of Siena was a truly extraordinary human being; a mystic of the highest level while at the same time, one of the most influential persons in Europe of her day.
Her story is extraordinary; wouldn’t you say? Some might say strange or even crazy. But that was certainly not the case. Through it all people perceived her as a really attractive personality, full of joy, whose words were compellingly true and whose presence radiated Christ.
In some ways St. Catherine of Siena seems out of our league! She seems to have perceived and known deeper levels of reality that the great majority do not know, as we are limited by our 5 senses! She saw much more! Why? Why would the Lord raise up someone like that?
She saw into and deeply experienced God, who and what he is, and so she came to know who we are and what God wants for us. She said:
"In your nature, eternal Godhead, I shall come to know my nature. And what is my nature, boundless love? It is fire, because you are a nothing but a fire of love. And you have given humankind a share in this nature, for by the fire of love you created us."
“By the fire of love you created us!” Catherine was given this profound experience to tell us! Truly God is love. Truly God loves us. Truly God loves you.
God wants to heal us from the wounds of sin, all those hurts we cause to others and ourselves, and draw us into Himself. He wants to renew the face of the earth. Will we let our faith be strong enough to accept this love?
