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192.1
First Point
Converted
to the faith in her early youth, Saint Catherine found a solid way to
preserve her faith in the reading of the holy books, and she devoted
herself to this practice in a way that she mastered them perfectly. As a
result, when some persons wanted to dissuade her from practicing the
religion she had embraced, none of them ever succeeded. She was even so
strong in her faith that,
after
she was arrested by order of the emperor, and he saw how she spoke with
such energy concerning her religion, he assembled the philosophers and the
most learned people in Alexandria to refute her. But all they got out of
the arguments they had with her was the embarrassment of being overcome by
a young woman.
See how important it is for you to know Holy Scripture well, since
Saint Paul assures us that whoever ignores it will be ignored,[i]
and that this knowledge makes a person strong in the faith and in the
practice of good. For, as the same Saint Paul says, This is what
teaches salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, what is inspired by God
and useful for instruction, reproof, correction, and for training in piety
and justice, so that the man of God may be perfect and well equipped for
all sorts of good work.[ii]
This was the benefit Saint Catherine drew from reading Holy
Scripture, and it is important for you to obtain the same benefit from the
same source, for you are commissioned by God to instruct, reprove,
correct, and lead to piety the children who are entrusted to you. Read
Scripture frequently, then, and let this holy reading fill you so fully
with the Spirit of God that it will enable you to do all these things with
ease.
192.2
Second Point
Once
she had filled herself with the spirit of Christianity and had been well
grounded in the faith, Saint Catherine withdrew entirely from the world to
devote herself in a very special way to prayer. She spent much time at
this, applying her mind and heart to the meditation of the holy truths
which she had learned in the divine books, and training herself in their
practice. She looked upon the poor, whom she frequently served, as Jesus
Christ himself.
What an admirable thing it is, and of what great help to those who
wish to live in piety and in the practice of virtue, to meditate often on
the holy and exalted maxims contained in Holy Scripture! They are far
above all that the human mind can conceive by itself. Holy Scripture
enlightens the mind with that divine light[iii]
which Saint John says enlightens everyone who comes
into this world.[iv]
Because, according to Saint Paul, the precepts of the Lord are in
Scripture,[v]
meditation on them animates us to practice them.
Following Saint Catherine's example, make use of this means to
sanctify yourself. Often meditate on the words of Holy Scripture to
encourage yourself to do what is right and to be guided according to the
spirit of your state. For the word of God contained in Scripture has that
effect, according to Saint Paul, because it is living and effective,
and penetrates more deeply than a two-edged sword. It enters,
continues the same Apostle, and penetrates even to the most hidden
depths of soul and spirit.[vi]
Make use of it, then, for this purpose, since it procures such great
benefits.
192.3
Third Point
This
saint was accused of being a Christian before the Emperor Maximian, who
was then at Alexandria. Seeing that he had not been able to engage her by
argument to change her religion and to take up the cult of the false gods,
the Emperor wanted to try gentleness and promises to win her over and to
bring her to do what he desired. But as he found that all the means he
used were futile and incapable of moving the heart of this saint whose
constancy was unbreakable, he had her cruelly scourged, put her in prison
for twelve days, and gave her almost nothing to eat. He then had her put
on wheels which should have broken her body down to bits, but, since by
the help of grace she suffered no harm from all these tortures, the
emperor had her head cut off.
Seclusion, prayer, and reading Holy Scripture usually serve, as
they did for Saint Catherine, to prepare us to suffer with courage all
that God wills us to suffer. When we have prepared ourselves by these
three means, it often happens that we become, as it were, insensible to
sufferings, because we accept them as sent by God and as a means of
uniting ourselves closely to him and possessing him. Like this saint, you
will be contented and comforted by God in your sufferings if you prepare
yourself for them as she did.
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Catherine
(4th century?), according to the legend written about her, was beheaded
after an unsuccessful attempt to kill her on a spiked wheel (hence the
catherine wheel) during the reign of the Emperor Maxentius (306 - 312).
(In the third point of this meditation De La Salle places her
martyrdom during the reign of the Emperor Maximian.)
The story of her refuting 50 philosophers has led to her becoming
the patron of Christian philosophers and venerated as one of the Fourteen
Holy Helpers. She was popular among the Crusaders, who did much to spread
devotion to her. She is included in the Litany of the Saints. Saint
Gertrude (1256 - 1301) saw her on a throne in heaven. Saint Joan of Arc
(1412 - 1431) heard her voice.
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