Today, April 29, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor, we are invited to first reflect on a passage from the book of Sirach (39: 4-10), entitled "The wisdom of a man who is learned in the Scriptures". Our treasure, which follows, is from the Dialogue On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena.
Saint Catherine was born at Siena in 1347. While still a young girl, she sought the way of perfection and entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic. On fire with love of God and neighbor, she is renowned for her profound holiness, mystical experiences, and influential role in both religious and political affairs. She was a Dominican tertiary, known for her ascetic lifestyle, visions, and the power of her writing, especially her letters and "Dialogue of Divine Providence". Catherine also played a crucial role in mediating peace between warring Italian city-states and persuading the Pope to return to Rome.
The Dialogue of Divine Providence is a spiritual treatise written by Catherine of Siena, Italian mystic and saint. The book presents a dialogue between a soul who "rises up" to God and God himself. Contemporaries of Catherine are united in asserting that much of the book was dictated while Catherine was in ecstasy.
The Wisdom of Ben Sira derives its title from the author, "Yeshua [Jesus], son of Eleazar, son of Sira". The title "Sirach" comes from the Greek form of the author's name. The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the wisdom tradition, and also for the law, priesthood, Temple, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer of life he addressed himself to his contemporaries with the motive of helping them to maintain religious faith and integrity through study of the books sacred to the Jewish tradition.
The book contains numerous well-crafted maxims, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that reflect the religious and social customs of the time.
