Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena, Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, 1919. The Golden Book of Famous Women, Eleanor Foretescue-Brickdale.

Questions

-What do you see going on in this painting? Why do you think that?

-How does the attitude and body language of the men and woman differ? How does that inform how you understand what is going on in this painting?

-Thinking of Church teaching and what is going on in the Church right now, where do you find yourself in this painting? Why do you feel that way?

Reflection

I have always enjoyed this painting of Saint Catherine of Siena. Going through RCIA at college, I was taught by Dominican friars who were employed at the school. Being surrounded by such academic minds and being brought into the Church with a solid theological understanding was a great gift. Before my husband and I started dating, he was discerning with the Dominicans. So needless to say, this religious order has been a gift to both my husband and I in becoming who we are today. It was my husband that gave me the book that made me truly fall in love with St. Catherine of Siena - "Saint Catherine of Siena: Mystic of Fire, Preacher of Freedom". Wow. What a title of a book. What descriptors of a woman. I knew that I needed to know more about her, learn why this woman is so strongly regarded, and how she became a Doctor of the Church.

Saint Catherine came from a large family, one of 25 children, although at least half of them died in infancy. She was the 23rd child born to her parents, so her family had saw a great deal of suffering, pain and death before Catherine came into their lives. She had a twin sister that died when they were still newborns. She had a great love of God from a young age, often receiving mystical visions and experiences of Christ. Her family urged her to take better care of her appearance and dress well, which she tried to entertain and try. This did not last long and in a moment of rebellion she cut off her hair and vowed to never marry. She had long hair and to cut it off was to refuse physical beauty. This angered her family and they tried to restrict her solitude which was her time to be with the Lord. Eventually though, they saw her dedication to the Lord and allowed her to live this spiritual lay life. At the age of 16 she joined a group of pious women who were devoted to Dominican spirituality, which would eventually be formalized as the Third Order of the Dominicans.

St. Catherine was so strong willed and knew what the Lord was calling her to. Nobody could convince her that her path was not towards her most beloved spouse, Jesus Christ. As a mystic, she had several visions such as her mystical marriage to Christ, receiving the stigmata, receiving communion from Jesus Himself, and choosing a crown of thorns over a crown of jewels. Her love and experience of Jesus led her to serving those most in need but the Lord had bigger desires and plans for her. The political and social tensions were mounting in Italy and across the Church as a whole. The height of this disagreement was the election and division of multiple 'popes'. Pope Urban VI was elected, but several cardinals did not recognize his legitimacy. This led to Pope Clement VII being elected and even more confusion ensued. This whole event is incredibly confusing and multi-layered, so I want to focus more so on St. Catherine's response.

St. Catherine could have chosen to be quiet and live a faithful life, serving the poor and spending time with Christ. But she didn't. She saw the brokenness and hurt in the Church and she could not ignore it. Her mystical spouse, Jesus Christ, laid down His life for the salvation of humanity. Catherine could not stand by and watch her Church crumble and struggle - she had to lead them to Christ. As the Church became more divided, Catherine wore herself down for its unification. She sided with Urban as the rightful pope (which he was) and exhausted herself in writing letter upon letter to the princes and leaders of Europe. She even wrote to Pope Urban himself, instructing him to control his temper and giving him further counsel. This was more than just desires it was counsel, chide remarks, and commands. She had a way of commanding respect and gaining the ear of the most important of secular and church leaders. Pope Urban even summoned her to Rome so that he could receive more of her advice and consultation. Although she did not necessarily want to leave her home, she went to the Holy City as well as other places across Italy to talk with theologians, philosophers, cardinals, political leaders, Church leaders, and the most influential of men. Their hard questions and mistrust was quickly melted away as they were often humbled by her wisdom, faith, and intellect.

This painting shows the power of St. Catherine. She died when she only thirty-three on April 21, 1380. She was quickly canonized in 1461, but it was not until 1970 that she became a Doctor of the Church. In her very short life, she became a saint. How? By following in the footsteps of her Beloved Christ and suffering for the Church, not letting issues be ignored. She stepped up and filled the gap that she saw. Catherine knew the person that the Lord made her to be, saw her gifts that she had, and gave the world the gift that she herself could only give. She knew the truth that Christ was setting forth and would not let it be silenced. God graced her with the words to say and write that would go on to proclaim the truth, beauty and goodness of the Church. She truly was a Dominican in the way that she preached and shared the Gospel. She saw how the Scriptures must be lived out in her present time and we can still live them out today. It was through her relationship with Christ that she knew her gifts and saw her unique, individual, personal mission that God gave her. We all have a specific mission due to our unrepeatable existence, perfectly handcrafted by God Himself. It is through prayer and relationship with Him that we can better see and understand ourselves in light of His Creation. Catherine did not receive her visions when she was perfectly holy and a saint, she received them when she dedicated herself to being in relationship with Christ and serving those around her. Our holiness and sainthood is a result of our relationship with God and suffering for His Church, not the other way around. We must remember that it is a path and continual increasing in being united with Christ that makes us holy.

Look at the variety of the cardinals that she is talking to. Their reactions could vary from confused, angry, questioning, frustrated, and in awe. I am sure that they did not know how to take what St. Catherine said, or quickly could have dismissed her. Even if they were not swayed in the moment, the course of history would see her genius and know her holiness. It does not matter where the Church is at in this moment or how much darkness we see because we know that Christ will prevail and the Church is His Body, forever triumphant and perfect. Here she seems at peace and very still. It is as if she spoke what she must and now is perfectly reserved to listen to the discussion and rebuttals, but not allowing her grace and poise to fall. She has surrendered herself to Christ and is the vessel in which He works.

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the whole world on fire."

St. Catherine of Siena truly did set the world on fire that destroyed heresies and brokenness, cleansing the world to be pure for God. I think that we should all be inspired to do the same, purifying ourselves and then also bringing others will us to heaven. She was a mystic of fire because His love was lit brightly in her heart. This was evident to all who met her and heard her talk with the passion and directness that she did. She knows that her wealth and true success is in heaven. So even though she does her best to set straight these leaders and the whole Church, she has abandoned herself to His Will.

Information

Eleanor Fortesque Brickdale was an artist and illustrator of the late 19th-early 20th centuries. She was a British artist and part of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. This movement wanted to go against the British Royal Academy's push towards idealized and conventional definitions of beauty and art. They movement received their name because they wanted to go back to the art that was created before the Renaissance and the artist Raphael. The Renaissance brought a lot of idealism that moved passed naturalism. The Pre-Raphaelites wanted to focus more so on nature as well as a high level of realism, instead of idealized human bodies. Medieval subjects and moody atmospheres were another common aspect of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The medieval time period before the Renaissance represented to them a time before idealism and focus on civilized society, beauty, drama and nature. This style of art also focuses on small details and very impactful colors. We can see it in this painting with the dazzling reds of the cardinals clothing, as well as the detailed cityscape that lies behind St. Catherine and the cardinals. The men are old and look like they could be real instead of being conventionally beautiful and perfect.

Eleanor produced paintings in oils and watercolor, as well as doing book illustrations and designing stained glass. She was a part of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolors as an associate in 1901 and then fully elected as a member in 1919. She was also the earliest female member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, elected in 1902. More than just painting she was also a great illustrator, illustrating books of poetry by Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning. She also designed posters for World War I government posters. Her stained glass window designs can be seen in over 20 churches. Her faith was very important and influential in her life and in her work.

This painting of St. Catherine is included in her book The Golden Book of Famous Women, which was published in 1919. This lovely book includes several women that range from historical figures, literary characters, saints, and Biblical women. She illustrated and painted several of these women, showing aspects of their life that she thought were important. Her paintings are accompanied by short writings either poems, history, or a story to expand on the understanding and encounter with these women. This fits the timeline as the suffrage movement in Britain was starting to increase and women were getting more focus. Eleanor had a great skill in evoking the character and personality of her subjects and giving a beautiful snapshot in the story of their lives. This book and Eleanor herself have fallen off the edge of history, with the book not being in print and there being very little information about this painter out for all to find. I think this is a real shame because there are so many important women that shape our lives in the Bible, literature, history and our lives that deserve to be identified, remembered and celebrated. Women artists in general have gotten less focus and attention, especially in academia, meaning that we have lost key aspects of history and the understanding of women throughout the centuries. Nevertheless, it is always a gift to find a beautiful painting of a strong, holy woman that was created by a faithful woman.

More Questions

-What is a specific gift that the Lord has given you to use in His Church?

-What homily or preaching on the faith have you heard recently that has been impactful to you?

-What women would be in your book of 'Famous Women' that have been influential for you? Could be family, saints, friends, people you see online, community members, or fellow parishioners.

-How does this painting of a woman (St. Catherine) being painted by a woman (Eleanor) affect how you see this painting?

Let us pray -

Lord, thank you for the gifts that you have given each one of us. We are truly your children and most wonderful creation. May we appreciate how intricately we are created and how personally you wish to communicate with us. When we see brokenness and need in the world, may we rush to serve and give of ourselves. Help us to model ourselves after you, laying down your life for your Church. Thank you for raising up great saints like St. Catherine of Siena. Thank you for her model of suffering, perseverance, and great love for you. Set us ablaze with your graces and the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Help us follow in St. Catherine's footsteps and use our gifts for the benefit of your Kingdom. Make our hearts burn with passionate love for you, Jesus.

St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!

Amen.