Life of Saint Catharine of Sienna/Part 3
THIRD PART
Chapter I
Concerning The Witnesses Present At Catharine'S Death, And WHO RELATED THE ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE AUTHOR.
The ancient synagogue, when contemplating the elevation of the holy Church, and the flight of the soul that God had selected for Spouse, exclaims in admiration: Quce est ista qucs ascendit de deserto, de deliciis a/fluens, innixa super dilectum suum ? (Cant. viii. 5) This passage may be aptly applied to the conclusion of this Memoir. The happy death and the last actions of Catherine, worthily crown all that preceded. The perfection of her virtues leads us to say, with astonishment; Who is this ? that abounding in good works mounts to heaven with accelerated flight; who is this, coming up from the desert leaning on " her beloved," united to God by love, for all eternity."
As she approached the term of her mortal career, she made increased efforts to merit the crown she solicited. Her soul, as it were, naturally ravished in ecstasy, rushed onward to heaven. This impetus arose from the fire which acted and continually mounted upward, I mean that fire which the Saviour of the world came to bring on earth, and which he desired to see enkindled. She will be seen in the last days of her life, becoming likened to her Spouse by suffering, uniting her soul to his, and reclining on him as a support for quitting the earth victoriously and soaring to heaven joyously and triumphantly; she appeared to die, because the gross sense of mankind did not descry her glory, but she rests peacefully with the cherished Spouse of her soul and brilliant prodigies have manifested the honors bestowed on her in heaven.
When the blessed Catherine, in accordance with the command of the Supreme Pontiff, Gregory XI., repaired to Florence, [1373] her mission was to establish peace between the shepherd and his flock; she was subjected there to several unjust persecutions. A satellite of the demon precipitated himself upon her, sword in hand, in tending to kill her, and God alone prevented him from it. Notwithstanding all kinds of menaces and dangers, she did not retire until the successor of Gregory XI., Urban VI., had concluded peace with the Florentines; as soon as it was signed, she returned to her home and occupied herself actively with the composition of a book which she dictated under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. She had recommended her Secretaries to be present during her ecstasies, and carefully commit to writing whatever she might then dictate; they did this with fidelity, and collected a whole volume of great and useful truths. She dictated this work while her soul was detached from her senses, and her body in complete insensibility. God designed to prove to us that this work does not resemble that of men, but emanated from the Holy Ghost himself.
The Sovereign Pontiff, Urban VI., [1378] who had seen Catherine at Avignon, when be was Archbishop of Acerenza, and who entertained a high esteem for her lights and virtues, commanded me to write to her to repair to Rome. I obeyed, but she, with her usual prudence answered me thus: "Father, several persons of Sienna, and some of the Sisters of ray Order find that I journey too frequently, hence they are greatly scandalized, and say that a Religious ought not to be thus ever on the wing. I do not think that these reproaches should give me any trouble, for I have never journeyed in any direction, except by order of God and of his Vicar, and to promote the salvation of souls; but to avoid as far as I can an occasion of scandal to my neighbor, I do not think of removing hence; nevertheless, if the Vicar of Christ wills me to go, his intentions must be accomplished not mine. In that case, be so obliging as to make known his order to that effect by a written document, so that those who are scandalized may know that I do not undertake the journey from my own impulse."
Having received this reply, I went to the Sovereign Pontiff, and humbly communicated it to him. He charged me to bid Catherine come in the name of holy obedience; and Catherine, like a submissive daughter, speedily arrived at Rome with a numerous suite; she would have had many more followers had she not opposed it. Those who accompanied her assumed the livery of poverty, by voluntarily relying on Divine Providence, preferring a mendicant life with the Saint, than abundance in their own houses and the deprivation of her pious and captivating conversations.
The Sovereign Pontiff was most happy to see her, and requested that, in presence of the Cardinals, she would give them an instruction, and that she should especially speak concerning the incipient Schism. She did so, learnedly and at some length, exhorting every one to fortitude and constancy. She showed that Divine Providence watches over all, but in a particular manner over those who suffer with the Church, and concluded there from that the threatened Schism ought not frighten any one, but that they should do God's work and dread nothing. When she had finished, the Sovereign Pontiff, quite encouraged, resumed her discourse, and said to the Cardinals: "Behold, Brethren, when we yield to timidity how we become guilty before God. This humble woman confounds us; I call her humble, not in contempt, but on account of the weakness of her sex: she should naturally fear, even though we were of good heart; and yet where we are fearful, she is tranquil, and inspires us with courage. Is not this a motive for confusion to us all ?" And he continued: "What should the Vicar of Jesus Christ dread, though the whole world were to oppose him; is not Christ, the all-powerful, stronger than the world ? He can never forsake the Church. " The Sovereign Pontiff, encouraged himself and his Brethren; he praised the Saint in God, and accorded her many spiritual favors for herself and her companions.
Jeanne, Queen of Sicily, at the instigation of the devil, declared herself openly against the Church and favored the Schism to the extent of her power. Urban VI thought of sending to her Catherine and another Virgin called Catherine, daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden, who was recently inscribed in the catalogue of the Saints, by Pope Boniface IX . He hoped that these two persons with whom the Queen was acquainted might induce her to forsake he. evil ways. When our Blessed Catherine knew it, she did not shrink from the charge it was intended to impose on her, and she even offered to go, directly. But Catherine of Sweden did not like to undertake the voyage, and refused in my very presence, the mission that was proposed to her. I acknowledge that through imperfection and want of faith I also did not approve the project of the Sovereign Pontiff. I thought that the repudiation of persons consecrated to God, is so precious, that we must beware of tarnishing it by the appearance of evil or by the least breath of suspicion. She to whom the Virgins were to be sent, might follow the counsels of Satan's agents by whom she was surrounded, and cause these two devout women to be insulted on their route and prevent them from arriving. I presented these observations to the Sovereign Pontiff who reflected some time and concluded by saying: " Your views are correct, it is more prudent for them not to go." I communicated this conversation to Catherine who was at the time quite ill. She turned to me and said; " Had Agnes, Margaret, and a multitude of other Virgins indulged all these reflections, they would never have obtained the crown of martyrdom I Have we not a Spouse who can deliver us from the hands of the impious and preserve our honor amidst a throng of debauchees ? All these reasonings are vain; they spring from a want of faith rather than from genuine prudence." I then blushed interiorly at being so remote from her lofty perfection, and in my heart I admired her constancy and her faith. But, as the Sovereign Pontiff had decided that she would not go, I did not dare to converse longer on the subject.
In the mean time, it appeared advantageous to the Sovereign Pontiff to send me into France, because he had been informed that it would be possible to detach the King of France, Charles V. from the schism excited by himself. The instant that I became acquainted with this project, I went to take counsel from Catherine: — notwithstanding the affliction that my absence would occasion her, she advised me to obey the orders of the Sovereign Pontiff without delay. She said to me: "Hold it as certain, father; that he is truly the Vicar of Jesus Christ; I desire that you would expose yourself to sustain him as you ought for the Catholic Faith itself" I entertained no doubt on this subject; but, that saying from Catherine encouraged me so to combat the schism, that I consecrated myself from that moment, to the defence of the rights of the Sovereign Pontiff: and I continually recalled it to mind, in order to fortify myself amid my difficulties and trials. I acted therefore in accordance with her counsels, and bowed my head beneath the yoke of obedience.
Some days previous to my departure, being acquainted with what would happen, she wished to converse with me concerning the revelations and consolations that she had received from God, and she did not allow the persons present to join in the conversation. After having spoken to me during several hours: she said to me, " Now go, whither God calls you. I think that in this life we sh all never again discourse together as we have just now done. " Her prediction was accomplished. I departed and she remained. Before my return she went to her heavenly home, and I had no more the privilege of relishing and profiting by, her salutary instructions. It was for this reason, no doubt, that desiring to bid me a last farewell, she went to the place where I was to embark, and when we were setting out, she knelt and after praying, made over us with tearful eyes, the sacred sign of the Cross, as if she would say; " Go, my son, in safety, shielded by the protection of this blessed sign; but in this life thou shalt ne'er again behold thy Mother." Although the sea was infested by pirates, we arrived happily at Pisa, and then had an equally prosperous voyage to Genes; notwithstanding the numerous galleys of schismatics pursuing their route to Avignon. We afterwards continued our journey by land as far as a town called Ventimiglia. Had we gone farther we should have inevitably fallen into the ambuscades of those especially who had designs on my life; but by the permission of God, we stopped there a day and a Religious of my Order, who was a native of that place, forwarded me a letter in which he said; ' ' Beware of passing Ventimiglia, for ambushes are prepared for you, and were you to fall into any one of them, no human aid could save you from death."
On this advice, after having taken counsel of the companion whom the Sovereign Pontiff had given me, I returned to Genes; I sent word to the Holy Father of what had happened, and asked what step I should take. He commanded me to remain at this place and preach a Crusade against the schismatics. This mission delayed my return, audit was at that moment the Blessed Catherine concluded her pilgrimage and crowned it by an admirable martyrdom. Therefore, from this date, I can no longer describe events as having seen them personally; but all that I shall commit to writing, I know by the letters which she then addressed me and very frequently too; and from persons who assisted her in her latest moments, and who witnessed the prodigies which the Almighty effected by the intercession of his servant. But lest in indicating these witnesses in general, I may appear to suppose them, I intend naming them in order, that others may credit them more thoroughly than they do myself; they are assuredly more worthy, for they imitated better than I, the examples offered by Catherine: they consequently comprehended them more clearly.
I will begin by the females who were her faithful companions. Alessia of Senna. Sister of Penance of St. Dominic, appears to me to be entitled to the highest rank among the disciples of Catherine, not by her seniority, but b J the perfection of her virtues. After losing in her youth, a husband equally noted for his nobility and learning the despised all worldly pleasures, and became so wedded to our Saint, that in the end she had not courage to leave her: she renounced her wealth and according to our Redeemer's counsel distributed it to the poor. In the full imitation of her whom she had chosen for Mistress, she afflicted her body by fasts, vigils, and every variety of mortification: prayer and contemplation occupied her continually; she persevered with so much constancy and perfection that Catherine, in the latter portion of her life, made her, I think, depositary of all her secrets, and wished, that after her own death, Alessia should become the superior and model of her companions. I found her also at Rome, when I returned there and she gave me many pieces of information; but a short time after she went to rejoin in heaven her whom she had so tenderly cherished in our Lord. She, is my first witness of what happened during my absence.
My second witness is Francoise of Sienna. Her soul was always tenderly united to God, and to the Blessed Catherine. As soon as she became a widow, she clothed herself with the holy habit of the Sisters of Penance: she consecrated her three remaining sons to God in the Order of Preaching Friars; and before dying, she had the consolation of seeing them depart for the home of the just — for they piously terminated their career at the period of the Plague, and God assisted them in a special manner, by the intercessory prayers of Catherine. Francoise survived Alessia a short tine; but she also recounted to me a number of circumstances. The third companion of Catherine that I shall cite, is Lysa who still lives; she U well known in Rome, especially by the citizens who reside in the district In which she dwells. I abstain from giving her eulogium because she is yet alive: her relation of sister-in-law to Catherine might render her testimony suspected; but I know that she always spoke the truth.
After the demise of Catherine, I found several holy men who had been witnesses of her last moments: I will only name four among them, all commendable by their merits and their virtues. Two have already followed Catherine to heaven; two yet live, and these I have selected for the conviction of the incredulous.
The first of the four is he, whom we styled Brother Saint, both on account of his name and his life; he was from Teramo; he forsook his parents and his country and fixed his residence at Sienna, where he led during more than thirty years, a very solitary life, never inciting others to speak of him, and obeying the direction of some devout and learned Religious. He found in his old age the precious pearl of the Gospel, in Blessed Catherine. For her, he quitted his peaceful cell and his style of living, in order to labor not solely for himself but for the good of others; he affirmed that he found greater tranquillity, and more profit to his soul in following Catherine and listening to her, than he ever enjoyed in his solitude; above all he made great progress in patience. He suffered much from a disease of the heart and our Saint taught him to support his continual anguish, not only with resignation, but with joy: he related to me several circumstances which transpired during my absence; but a short time after having quitted her he went again to join in celestial mansions her whose disciple he became.
The second witness is a Florentine who had enriched his early years by the wisdom of old age, and has adorned them with all the virtues: this was Barduccio. He left parents, brothers and country to follow Catherine to Rome, and he remained there until his death. I have since learned that our Saint particularly esteemed him, and, I suppose it was on account of his angelical purity. What is there to excite surprise in one Virgin cherishing another I In her last moments, Catherine enjoined him to attach himself to me and place himself under my direction; she did it without doubt because she was aware that he would not live long: in effect, a short time after, he was attacked with a phthisic, and although he appeared at first to be convalescent, it soon became evident that he was beyond hope. Fearing that the air of Rome was hurtful to him, I sent him to Sienna where he slept peacefully in the Lord. Those who witnessed his death, declare that at his last moments, he looked up to heaven smiling, and rendered up his soul with such lively tokens of joy, that death itself could not obliterate their impression from his countenance: he probably saw her whom he had loved during life, with the greatest purity of heart, come forth to meet him, in the glory of triumph. Barduccio told me many things which happened during my absence, and I credit his informations because I knew the solid virtues that adorned his soul.
My third witness is a young man of Sienna, Etienne Maconi, of whom I have already written. I will not dilate in words of praise concerning him, because he is yet on the road in which praise is perilous; I will simply say, that he was one of the secretaries of Catherine, and that he wrote the greater portion of her letters and in book that she composed: he was so attached to our Saint, that, in order to follow her everywhere, he quitted his family and his native land. At the moment of dying, Catherine called him, and said to him: " My son, the will of God is that you renounce the world and become a Carthusian." The son pursued religiously the order of the mother, and everything proved that the command came from God himself, for I do not remember having seen any one advance so rapidly in the religious life. Scarcely did he make his profession when he was named Prior, and he acquitted himself so perfectly of that charge, that he has ever since preserved it. He is now Prior of Milan, and Visitor of a great number of Convents of his Order. He committed to writing what happened at Catherine's death, and related to me all the particulars with which he was acquainted. He perused also, nearly all that I have written in this history, and I can say with the Evangelist, St. John: Ele seit quia vera dicit. (John xix. 35)
The last witness that I name, among those who have given me hints, documents, or other means of information, is Neri, or Ranieri, son of Landoccio of Sienna. After Catherine's death, he embraced the solitary life which he is still leading. He wrote (with Etienne Maconi and Barduccio) the letters and the book of the Saint; but k • was the first that followed the Spouse of Christ — quitting his father, who still lived, and all that he possessed of earthly riches — as he was longer than any other a witness of the admirable actions of Catherine, I invoke his testimony relative to this biography, with that of Etienne the Carthusian.
The several Religious and Sisters whom I have named above, have acquainted me, either in manuscript, or by the living voice, with all that occurred during my absence, before and after the death of Catherine. Hence, dear reader, you are in possession of my reasons for believing them confidently.
Chapter II
Of Circumstances Which Happened A Year And A Half Before The Death Of The Blessed Catharine, And Of The Martyrdom That Satan Caused Her To Undergo.
As I have said above, after that, (in a accordance with the order of the Sovereign Pontiff,) I had quitted the Spouse of Christ, who remained at Rome, several circumstances occurred which merit narration. I have only cited some of them; but now, with the grace of God, I will declare facts which display the splendid sanctity of her happy death, and which were so many preludes to her entrance into eternal bliss. The Blessed Catherine saw the Church of God, that she so ardently loved, rent by the miseries of schism, and the Vicar of Jesus Christ surrounded by difficulties and persecutions; tears had become her bread by night and by day, and she never ceased crying to God, supplicating him to restore peace to the Church. God gave her some consolations: thus, a year previous to her death, the very day on which she was to quit the earth, he granted a double victory to the Church and to the Sovereign Pontiff. The Schismatics, hitherto masters of the Castle of St. Angelo, disturbed the peace of the city, and ravaged the entire country: they were completely vanquished, the chiefs were taken, and many perished. The Pope could not reside near the Church of the Holy Apostles, on account of the vicinity of the Castle of St. Angelo. Catherine advised him to go, barefooted, to the august Basilica. All the people followed him in great-devotion, and rendered to Almighty God, solemn thanksgiving for all his benefit?. The holy Church and her Pontiff began to breathe a little, and our Saint enjoyed, at last, some consolation in their relief.
But her anguish was soon renewed. The old serpent, who could not succeed by this method, attacked her by others more dangerous and more rude. What he could not effect by foreigners and schismatics, he attempted by means of those who had remained faithful to the Holy See; he created a division between the people of Rome and the Sovereign Pontiff, and things attained such a point, that the populace openly threatened the life of the Supreme Pontiff. When Catherine was informed of it, she was deeply affected; she had recourse as usual to prayer, and ardently implored her divine Spouse never to permit such a crime. At that time Catherine wrote me a letter, in which she told me, that she had seen, in spirit, the city of Rome filled with demons, who excited the people to Parricide; they uttered horrible cries against the Saint, and said to her: "Cursed be thou that wouldst arrest us; but we will put thee to death in a frightful manner. "She answered naught, but she continually prayed with fervor, and implored God, that for the honor of his Name and the salvation of the Church, then rocked by rude storms, that he would deign to subvert the schemes of hell, in order to save the Sovereign Pontiff, and not allow the people to commit such an abominable offence. The Lord once answered her: " Suffer that nation which daily blasphemes my name, to fall into that crime, and when it will be committed, I will execute vengeance and destroy it, because my justice demands that I no longer support its iniquities." But she prayed with still increased fervor: "0 most clement God, thou knowest how deeply the Spouse that you have redeemed by thy precious blood, is outraged throughout the broad universe; thou knowest how few defenders she has, and thou canst not be ignorant how ardently its enemies desire the humiliation and death of thy Year. If that misfortune happen, not only people of Rome, but also all Christians and the Holy Church will suffer deeply from it. Therefore let thine anger be appeased, and despise not thy people for whom you have paid so heavy a ransom."
This contest with God endured several days and night« and her feeble body had much to endure. God opposed his justice to her prayers, and the demons continued their vociferations against her. Her fervor was then so great that if God, to use an expression familiar with her, had not encircled her members, she must have sunk back, weighed down upon herself. But at length, in this obstinate combat in which her body was perishing through protracted sufferings, Catherine triumphed and obtained her petition. When God alleged his justice, she replied; "Lord because thy justice must be satisfied, despise not I entreat thee the prayers of thy servant; inflict the chastisement that this people merit on my body: yes, for the honor of thy Name and that of thy holy Church, I will cheerfully drain that chalice of suffering and death; thy Truth knows, that I have ever ardently desired it, and that thy grace has continually inflamed my soul with that desire." At these words which she pronounced in the intensity of her heart, the interior voice of God was no longer heard and she understood by this divine silence that her prayer had prevailed. In effect from that moment, the popular sedition gradually calmed and at last was completely appeased; but the Blessed like a pure victim supported its expiation. The powers of hell had permission to torment her virginal body, and exert their rage on it with such cruelty, that those who witnessed it, declared to me that it would be impossible to conceive an idea of it without having seen its evidences.
Those cruel sufferings increased daily; her skin adhered to her bones and her body appeared like one issuing from the tomb; she walked, prayed and worked without intermission; but those who saw her, would have believed her to be a phantom rather than a living soul: her tortures multiplied and visibly consumed her body. Far from interrupting her prayers, Catherine increased their length and their fervor; her spiritual family who were surrounding her at that time, saw very distinctly the exterior signs of the tortures heaped upon her by hell; but no one could apply a remedy. The will of God opposed it, and besides, notwithstanding the wasting of her corporeal frame, her soul rose joyfully and courageously above trouble: the more she prayed, the more she suffered: I was informed by the spectators, and indeed she wrote to me herself, that in the midst of her martyrdom, she heard the devils shriek: "Cursed, you have always pursued us, and thou continuest thy pursuit: now we intend satiating our vengeance: thou designest to force us to go hence, but we will take thy life." And while saying that, they redoubled their blows.
Catherine suffered thus, from Sunday of Sexagesima until the last day of April on which she died, and her sufferings continually increased until her spirit winged its heavenward flight. She wrote me a very remarkable circumstance which took place about that time. Hitherto on account of pain in her side, and other infirmities which (lever forsook her, she deferred hearing Mass until the hour of Tierce; thus she continued during the entire season of Lent, and went every morning to the church at St. Peter's. She heard Mass, prayed longer than formerly and returned home at the hour of Vespers: those who then saw her extended on her bed could not have believed her capable of rising; on the morrow however, at the dawn of day, she arose, set out from her house, via del Papa, entered the Minerva and the Campo di Fiore, and went with a hasty step to St. Peter's; this course was capable of fatiguing any one in good health. Some days before she was called to Heaven, she found herself unable to rise; finally, on Sunday April 29, 1380, on the festival of St. Peter, martyr of the Order of Preaching Friars, about the hour of Tierce, she yielded her beautiful soul to its loving Spouse and Redeemer.
Many remarkable events transpired then, which I will narrate in the following chapters.