Catherine of Siena: Seize and Unload

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Mark 10:25

“Humility is not alone but has the handmaid of contempt of self and of the world, which causes the soul to hold herself vile, and not to desire honor but shame. Thus dead to himself, should he who is old enough enter the ship of a religious order, but however he may enter it (for I have told you that I call souls in diverse ways), he should acquire and preserve this affection, hurrying generously to seize the key of the obedience of his order, which will open the little door which is in the panel of the door of Heaven.

Such as these have undertaken to open the little door, doing without the great key of general obedience, which opens the door of Heaven, as I have said to you. They have taken a little key, passing through a low and narrow opening in the great door. This small door is part of the great door, as you may see in any real door. They should keep this key when they have got it, and not throw it away.

And because the truly obedient have seen with the light of faith that they will never be able to pass through this little door with the load of their riches and the weight of their own will without great fatigue and without losing their life, and that they cannot walk with head erect without breaking their neck; whether they wish to or not, they cast from them the load of their riches.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 177.

Whether you are joining a monastic order or choosing to follow Jesus, the only way to enter the proverbial ship is to walk in the way of obedience.

And that journey includes unloading riches.

I was speaking with John Stanley, a mentor and friend to me, yesterday about this and he reminded me that this includes that the way of humility requires us to let go of all kinds of riches, and money may be the easiest one.

For example, are we willing to let go of the riches linked to honor? Or are we willing to unload the riches of our will or reputation? John’s right, isn’t he. We have to let go of these “priceless” things.

All these we need to unload to join a monastic order or to choose to follow Jesus.

This explains why “Humility is not alone but has the handmaid of contempt of self and of the world.” Our trust is only in Jesus. Only with contempt of self and the world, we locate the key to heaven.

Catherine and I want you to hurry “generously to seize the key of the obedience” which can only be grasped with humility and only be used by unloading riches.

Have you seized the key? If not do it today. Do you need to unload riches? If so, what are you waiting for, because they won’t fit through heaven’s door.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:14

“Oh! blessed obedience! You voyage without fatigue, and reach without danger the port of salvation, you are conformed to My only-begotten Son, the Word, you board the ship of the holy cross, forcing yourself to endure, so as not to transgress the obedience of the Word, nor abandon His doctrine, of which you make a table when you eat the food of souls, dwelling in the love of your neighbor, being anointed with true humility, which saves you from coveting, contrary to My will, his possessions.

You walk erect, without bending, for your heart is sincere and not false, loving generously and truly My creatures, you are a sunrise drawing after you the light of divine grace, you are a sun which makes the earth, that is to say, the organs of the soul, to germinate with the heat of charity, all of which as well as those of the body produce life-giving fruit for yourself and your neighbor.

You are even cheerful, for your face is never wrinkled with impatience, but smooth and pleasant with the happiness of patience, and even in its fortitude you are great by your long endurance, so long that it reaches from earth to heaven and unlocks the celestial door.

You are a hidden pearl, trampled by the world, abasing yourself, submitting to all creatures. Yet your kingdom is so great that no one can rule you, for you have come out of the mortal servitude of your own sensuality, which destroyed your dignity, and having slain this enemy with hatred and dislike of your own pleasure have re-obtained your liberty.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 168-169.

I don’t know if I have ever shared this with you, but I love Catherine of Siena so much, when it was time to name our German Shorthair Pointer dog, I suggested Grace St. Catherine.

Her Dialog celebrates the importance of cultivating virtue, continually praying, and the need for obedience. And she articulates this vision with so many cool words.

Today, these words stood out to me: obedience, humility, cheerful, and liberty. Obedience leads us the “port of salvation.” What a great and appropriate word picture!

Then humility saves us from coveting possessions. It helps us keep our desires in order. Humility has a been a topic of discussion with my mentor this week. I will share more about humility next week.

Next, we appear cheerful with our faces never “wrinkled with impatience, but smooth and pleasant with the happiness of patience.” Do you have wrinkles? Or more pointedly, is impatience distorting your countenance?

Lastly, after coming out of the “moral servitude” of our own sensuality (or once our desires no longer rule over us), we celebrate liberty or freedom.

Notice that only through abasing ourselves in obedience and humility do we find the cheerfulness and liberty God designed us to enjoy. Have you grasped these realities personally? If not, pray this prayer.

Jesus, forgive my selective obedience which is really disobedience rooted in pride. I surrender. I want my life characterized by obedience, humility, cheerfulness, and liberty. Make it so Lord. Amen.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

“Do I not, however, often cause one who gives alms to multiply in temporal goods? In return for what do I this? In return for the gift of his own will. This is the one for which I repay him a hundredfold. What is the meaning of the number a hundred? A hundred is a perfect number, and cannot be added to except by recommencing from the first…

See, therefore, that these little ones receive a hundredfold for one, and also eternal life, for here they receive the fire of divine charity figured by the number of a hundred (as has been said). And because they have received this hundredfold from Me, they possess a wonderful and hearty joy, for there is no sadness in charity, but the joy of it makes the heart large and generous, not narrow or double.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 182.

The header photo features my cabin this week in Wisconsin. I am fly fishing and spending time with my mentor John Stanley and another newer friend, Kent Bergemann. They are both dear brothers in Christ.

John and I were talking about generosity of spirit. That came to mind when I read these words from Catherine. Specifically, she describes generous people as having received the “fire of divine charity.”

I love this expression as it implies a drive to give with love that only comes from God. And it is powered by the hundredfold blessing that comes from someone sharing what they have generously.

God repays the person, as illustrated in today’s Scripture, in hundredfold blessing in both people and possessions so the person can continue to live, give, serve, and love generously.

Notice also with the hundredfold blessing comes the promise of eternal life. So why don’t more people choose the path of giving alms to multiply goods? I think Catherine reveals the problem.

Rather than having large and generous hearts they have narrow and double hearts. Narrow leaves little place for God and others. And double means they try to embrace the world’s thinking along with the Word.

Have you received the fire of divine charity? Do you have a large and generous heart? Giving to those in need is the pathway to this. You get hundredfold blessing and life eternal. Don’t miss this deal!

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

“I have not observed Your precept, with which You commanded me to seek always to give You honor, and to spend myself in labors for my neighbor, while I, on the contrary, have fled from labors, especially where they were necessary. Did You not command me, oh, my God! to abandon all thought of myself and to consider solely the praise and glory of Your Name in the salvation of souls, and with this food alone, taken from the table of the most holy Cross, to comfort myself?

But I have sought my own consolation. You did ever invite me to bind myself to You alone by sweet, loving, and fervent desires, by tears and humble and continuous prayers for the salvation of the whole world and for the reformation of the holy Church, promising me that, on account of them, You would use mercy with the world, and give new beauty to Your Spouse; but I, wretched one, have not corresponded with Your desire, but have remained asleep in the bed of negligence.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 195.

Building on the last two days. Catherine urges you and me to persevere in virtue. She adds to that the need to direct our faith and virtue toward our neighbor.

Today she speaks honestly of failures related to herself. She has not observed God’s precepts. She has fled from necessary labor. She has sought her own consolation.

I can relate. Perhaps you can too? The drive to pursue comfort and our own needs leads us to fall asleep in the bed of negligence. What a powerful word picture.

It mirrors the messages from the Scriptures today. We forget to do good. We fail to share generously. And notice that when we do good good and share, God celebrates our sacrifices.

So where are you today? If there was a continuum with sleeping not the left and sacrificing on the right, where do you find yourself? Where do you want to be?

Ask God what step you need to take today to help you move in the right direction.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

“When she has discovered the advantage of this unitive love in Me, by means of which, she truly loves herself, extending her desire for the salvation of the whole world, thus coming to the aid of its neediness, she strives, inasmuch as she has done good to herself by the conception of virtue, from which she has drawn the life of grace, to fix her eye on the needs of her neighbor in particular.

Wherefore, when she has discovered, through the affection of love, the state of all rational creatures in general, she helps those who are at hand, according to the various graces which I have entrusted to her to administer; one she helps with doctrine, that is, with words, giving sincere counsel without any respect of persons, another with the example of a good life, and this indeed all give to their neighbor, the edification of a holy and honorable life.

These are the virtues, and many others, too many to enumerate, which are brought forth in the love of the neighbor; but, although I have given them in such a different way, that is to say not all to one, but to one, one virtue, and to another, another, it so happens that it is impossible to have one, without having them all, because all the virtues are bound together.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 82.

Yesterday we opened the exploration of what is needful in this classic work, and Catherine pointed us to preserving in virtue. Today she adds another dimension to it. I pray it blesses you.

As you grow closer to God, or as Catherine put it, when you discover the advantage of the unitive love in God, you start to see the neediness around you and you desire for the salvation of the whole world.

So, what you do after that? Catherine would say exercise the virtues for the good of your neighbor. By this way, your faith works itself out in love of God and neighbor.

Here’s an idea. On this Lord’s Day, do something for your neighbor that might help meet a need you discern they have. Take time with the Lord to journal after this experience. What did you learn? Or discuss it someone close to you.

God help me persevere in virtue as a way of living out my love for you. Help me discern and meet the needs of a neighbor and teach me about your unitive love in the process. Amen.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

“There are two goals, and, for the attainment of either, perseverance is needful—they are vice and virtue. If you desire to arrive at life, you must persevere in virtue, and if you would have eternal death, you must persevere in vice. Thus it is with perseverance that they who want life arrive at Me who am Life, and with perseverance that they who taste the water of death arrive at the Devil.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Dialog (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) 82.

This week we turn our attention to what is needful for us to live, give, serve, and love generously in the thinking of Catherine of Siena from her classic work, Dialog.

And our Scripture today comes from the second letter of Peter. He writes it to “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.” That includes us.

He says “make every effort” to add this list of qualities to add to your faith. The first one in Greek is aretēn which means virtue. Essentially it means add actions consistent with your faith. Are you doing that?

Another one of the qualities to add is perseverance. Catherine says that perseverance is needful, but specifically perseverance in virtue if we want someday to attain to life eternal.

Catherine might say this to you and me. Show your faith by your perseverance, by not growing weary in doing good, but choosing to be generous at all times and on all occasions. You will be eternally glad you stayed the course!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

“This is the work of power done by priests, who with purity of heart and hands and in the strength of good works offer the holiest of sacrifices… and the most glorious of their works is to show mercy, always offering generous help for every grief and distributing alms to the poor with a gentle heart while saying with their whole soul, ‘This is not my property, but that of Him Who created me.’ And this work, inspired by God, is before His eyes in Heaven, when by the teaching of the Church it is done among the faithful on earth.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990) 170-171.

Today marks the seventh and final post from this classic work at this time. In today’s Scripture the apostle Peter describes the people of God as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”

We are here for a purpose: to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” We get to share truth with love. And we offer generous help with humility.

How do we get to this place so we shine like lights in a dark world? One way to develop this missional focus with humility relates to disciplining the posture of our heart.

We do this by saying, “This is not my property” when we give. Try it over the next few weeks and see what happens. This practice will shape your heart which will impact your service as part of the royal priesthood of God.

You are chosen, a priest, a holy (set apart) person, and God’s special possession. Now go steward your gifts, goods, the ground (creation), and the gospel. This is the way of the Lord brought to our remembrance by Hildegard.

God, thank you for your love for me. Help me discipline the posture of my heart to remember that “This is not my property” when I give, so that my service as part of your royal priesthood brings you glory. Amen.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

“Now the just, who will receive the words of the most equitable Judge, have indeed done many good works, but while they lived in the world they did not act with fullness of perfection, and therefore their deeds must now be judged. And the unjust, who will suffer a severe judgment against them, have
indeed done much evil; but they did not act in ignorance of the Divine Majesty, in the wicked unbelief that would damn them without judgment. And so they will not escape the Judge’s sentence, for all things must be weighed equitably.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990) 402.

What is needful in the thinking of Hildegard is to prepare to be judged. Are you ready to meet Jesus? You can’t slip into heaven like you slip into a service in the back row at church.

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers will give an account of their lives. Why must we all appear? This is not a judgment for salvation or condemnation, but for rewards.

Christ will evaluate their motives, actions, and faithfulness. Errant deeds are burned away, while faithful service receives eternal crowns and divine commendation.

Regardless of what everyone else it is doing, it is needful to aim at the fullness of perfection or maturity. You will be glad you did when you meet the most equitable Judge.

As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15

“Liberality; she is of childlike simplicity, with no over-subtlety or hardheartedness with respect to human suffering. Together with Abstinence she withdraws herself from all harshness and takes the right path to God; for when Abstinence decides on a work, Liberality begins to carry it out.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990) 402.

Yesterday you learned that “self-denial is the prerequisite for generosity toward God and neighbor.” Hildegard uses the term abstinence when encouraging self-denial. Notice that is a prerequisite for the right path.

In old English, it is common to translate generosity as liberality. It’s the right path on the way of the Lord after you practice self-denial. Your deny yourself so you can act as Christ would have you act.

And you avoid hardheartedness and harshness. The people of God in the Old Testament rebelled frequently. Over and over they acted like they knew better. Is that you?

The remedy for hardheartedness and harshness is openhanded liberality with childlike simplicity. And God loves to see it. Will he see it from you?

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4

“What does this mean? Divine grace had woken miraculous abstinence in [John the Baptist], and by that grace he had a defense of his virtue, for in his mind he had despised honor and earthly riches, and in his body he had tamed the wanton urges through the restraints that, to mortify vice, he had put on the pleasures of the flesh. For, advancing through hard and rough ways and trampling down earthly lust, he built greater towers of virtue than his predecessors. How?

Because, vigorously performing many works of virtue, he ardently loved chastity and showed the way of healing to those who devotedly sought it. Therefore, all monks who make profession should follow John in his way of life, who shone by his lofty works of blessed virtue amid the great darkness of the world; they should flee from the meaningless expanse of worldly things, restrain their wandering minds and so force their bodies to renounce evil desire. Thus they will outshine by more excellent means those who before their time walked simply in the way of the Lord and made their simple habitations; they will take the steep and narrow path by firmly treading underfoot those things that are the pleasures of the world. How?

Because, despising themselves and subjecting their bodies to the service of Christ in the work of the virtues, they will shun wantonness by austere behavior and so shine brightly for others by their good examples. For they faithfully imitate the angelic choir. How? By renouncing worldly things; for, as the angels do not seek or long for the things of earth, these people follow them miraculously in despising all fleeting things.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1990) 211.

John the Baptist set an example that monks after him chose to follow. Remember what Jesus said about him.

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11

Don’t you love that? Jesus speaks of him as the greatest guy who as ever lived, and then adds the powerful truth that the greatest on earth is the least in the kingdom. It means John got to serve everyone.

He did a great job. What about you? You may not be a monk but you can ‘shine brightly’ by renouncing worldly things. This is not easy. But it is good.

Someone asked me recently how has the discipline of writing Daily Meditations has impacted me over nearly 17 years. They continued, “You are so busy. Where do you find the time?”

I replied that I can’t not do it. I have found that the best use of my time is to block an hour a day with Jesus and it transforms me, teaches me things to share, and gives me clarity, energy, confidence, and joy.

Using Hildegard’s language, I think the daily office for the monk – that includes you and me – is the place to locate the well of miraculous abstinence. When we drink from there we never thirst again. Why?

It satisfies. It’s the only thing in the world that satisfies.

If the secret to his miraculous abstinence was divine grace imparted to him by separating himself from others to be with God, then let us make that our prayer today.

Is God whispering to you to block time with him daily?

You don’t need to wear camel’s hair and a leather belt or eat locusts and wild honey, but you do need divine grace to have miraculous abstinence to choose Jesus over everything else.

God give us divine grace in abundance and help us live lives of miraculous abstience. Amen.