Outward - Catherine Of Siena - The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional

Outward - Catherine of Siena

1347–80

As a child, Catherine developed a survival tactic: “Build a cell inside your mind, from which you can never flee.” In that private space, she could sort through her problems and imagine them being solved. Modern psychologists tell us that this is common among abuse victims and other troubled children. In Catherine’s case, God met her in that mental retreat. From the age of five or six, she received visions from God, and this relationship developed as she grew. At age sixteen, she was pressured to marry the widower of her older sister, but she refused—partly because the man was a lout, but mostly because she had already pledged herself to Christ.

Later she reached a significant turning point, sensing that Christ was calling her out of her private “cell” and into the wider world. This unleashed a fury of charitable activity. She gave away food and clothing, visited the sick (in this time of plague, there were plenty of them), and spoke out about corruption in society, even among the clergy. Catherine became a prolific letter writer, and her fame as a Christian visionary brought her into the orbits of popes and princes. She had no problem telling them what to do.

Through all this, Catherine seemed to have a strong sense of the inward life and the outward life. Early on, she learned to retreat within herself and listen for God’s voice. Later, she spoke out for God and had a huge impact on the world. “You ought to help [your neighbor] spiritually, with prayer, counseling him with words, and assisting him both spiritually and temporally, according to the need in which he may be,” Catherine wrote, adding that the Christian who doesn’t do this “does himself an injury” because he’s not allowing God to show grace through him.

How would you describe your inward life or your outward life? Are they both present, vital, and in balance? Some Christians seem to focus on their personal growth, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But do you think God might be calling you out of that protective “cell”? Could he be asking you to engage with your neighbors, to share his love freely and creatively, to have an impact on the wider world?

If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:12

From the Book:

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The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional
By Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves
Tyndale
$7.99

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