St. Catherine
The Dialogue
I’ve once again been reading St. Catherine of Siena lately since Garrigou-Lagrange refers to her so often in the Three Ages of the Interior Life. As a lay person I’m almost more comfortable reading her because she was essentially a lay-Dominican. Her teaching on prayer is excellent. Chapter 60 is especially good as regards the passive night of the senses - very solid doctrine. (The Dialogue is Catherine’s exchange between God the Father and herself.)
“There are others who become faithful servants. They serve me with love rather than slavish fear which serve only for fear of punishment. But their love is imperfect, for they serve me for their own profit or for the delight and pleasure they find in me. Do you know how they show their love is imperfect? By the way they act when they find they are deprived of the comfort they find in me. And they love their neighbors with the same imperfect love. This is why their love is not strong enough to last. No, it becomes lax and often fails. It becomes lax toward me when sometimes, to exercise them in virtue and to lift them up out of their imperfection, I take back my spiritual comfort and let them experience struggle and vexations. I do this to bring them perfect knowledge of themselves, so that they will know that of themselves they have neither existence nor any grace. I want them in time of conflict, to take their refuge in me by seeking me and knowing me as their benefactor, in true humility seeking me alone. This is why I give them these troubles. And though I take away my comfort, I do not take away my grace.” - The Dialogue, Chapter 60
September 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
i chose St Catherine of Sienna when i was confirmed age 11. i remember learning & memorising a lot about her in case the Bishop asked me about her..
September 14th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Oooooh that list line is the clincher for me. I think quite often I equate lack of spiritual consolations with the grace deprivation. It’s good to know that when I’m struggling & fighting my sinful heart, even when I fail (maybe especially when I fail), grace abounds and God is ever near.
September 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Great quote. Seems to speak to Blessed Mother Teresa’s life and how her love certainly didn’t falter despite suffering through the Dark Night.
I have not read any of St. Catherine’s writings, but greatly admire the saint. She was my mother’s patron saint and also my daughter’s. Someday will have to read about her, but am just trying to keep up with the many other good books you mention! I did take a break from the seriously spiritual books and started rereading some Chesterton.
September 14th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Jackie - When I was little I read about her too - she was holy from a young age. Although I was taken by the fact she used to lay in the sun to bleach her hair. I found that amusing.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
When I get time (Ha! What’s that?) I hope to read more of St. Catherine…she is our patroness this year at the parish I work at, because a quote of hers is our theme.
And boy, is she appearing EVERYWHERE to me, in all forms possible. And funny thing…I otherwise hadn’t seen her name for MONTHS if not over a year!
And I’ve always liked her.
September 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am
She is involved in the 54 day novena I am doing. Maybe she’s trying to tell me something…you know how saints are when they choose you.
Beautiful quote, BTW.