Today starts the beginning of a regular feature on the thoughts and prayers of St. Catherine of Siena.  A woman who had a profound impact on others and the world around her, as she lived her life before God.

                                           A Prayer

     Godhead! Godhead! Eternal Godhead! I proclaim and do not deny it:  you are a peaceful sea in which the soul feeds and is nourished as she rests in you in Love’s energy and union by conforming her will with you high eternal will that will which wants nothing other than that we be made holy.  So the soul who considers this strips herself of her own will and clothes herself in yours.

     Oh most gentle love, it seems to me you are showing that the truest sign people are dwelling in you is that they follow your will not in their own way, but in your way.  This is the surest sign that people are clothed in your will: that they see the cause of events in your will rather that in human will, and that they rejoice not in material prosperity but in adversity, which they see as given by your will and motivated only by love.  So they love adversity just as they love all the things you have created, all of which are good and therefore worthy of love.  But sin is not from you and is therefore not worthy of love.  And I, miserable wretch, have sinned by loving sin.

     I have sinned against the Lord.  Have mercy on me!  Punish my sins, my Lord.  Purify me, eternal Goodness, ineffable Godhead.  Listen to your servant; do not look at my great many sins.

     I beg you to guide toward yourself the heart and will of the ministers of holy church, your bride, so that they may follow you, the slain lamb, poor humble, and meek, along the way of the most holy cross–  in your way, not their own.  Let them be angelic creatures, earthly angels in this life, for they must administer the body and blood of your only begotten Son, the spotless lamb.  Let them not be senseless beasts, for beasts are irrational and are not worthy of this.

     Bring them together now and wash them , divine Compassion, in the calm sea of your goodness, so that they may not dawdle any longer, losing what time they do have for  the time they do not have.

     I have sinned against the Lord.  Have mercy on me!  Listen to your servant; wretched as I am  I beg you to hear my voice crying out to you, most compassionate Father.

     I pray to you also for all the children you have given me to love with a special love through your boundless charity, most high, eternal, ineffable Godhead.

Amen.

Quote: Suzzane Noffke, OP, Translator and Editor, The Prayers of Catherine of Siena. pgs.18-20