Liturgical Calendar

Saint of the day

Saint Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

Saint Catherine of Genoa was beautiful, intelligent, and pious. She felt called to religious life, and attempted to enter a convent when she was 13. However, she was turned away because of her youth, and instead entered into an arranged marriage at the age of 16. She and her husband were unable to have children, and her husband soon became violent, unfaithful, and careless with their money. Catherine felt hopeless, and soon lost interest in her faith. While attending the Sacrament of Confession a while later, Catherine received a vision of God's love and her own sinfulness. She returned home renewed in her faith, and helped her husband let go of his self-destructive ways. The two lived chastely for the rest of their days, ministering to the sick and the poor. After her husband's death, Catherine became a Franciscan tertiary and recorded what she had seen and heard in her visions. Saint Catherine is the patroness against adultery, of childless people, and of widows.

Reflection

Saint Catherine worked hard to bring her husband to Christianity, even though he was a very cruel and unfaithful man. Do you work hard to love and share your faith with everyone, even those you do not like? Ask the Lord for the power to love everyone, even when they may seem unlovable.

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for giving me the power to love and the spirit to love those who seem unlovable, even myself at times. Help me always to show your spirit of love and the power of that love to my friends and even to strangers. (Taken from “Good News Day by Day: Bible Reflections for Teens.”)