Studied by 53 peopleMarch 25th, 1347
When was Catherine born?
6
When did Catherine have her first vision?
Jesus dressed in papal vestments surrounded by the gospel writers
What did she see in her first vision?
perpetual virginity and consecrated her life to Christ
After her first vision, at age seven, Catherine made a vow of...
cut her hair off
What did Catherine do in order to demonstrate her firm resolve to lead a life dedicated to Christ?
pray inwardly
Even after being punished by her parents for not marrying and cutting her hair off, Catherine continued to...
inner cell
The Holy Spirit taught Catherine to build an ____________ even after her parents prevented her from praying.
that she would one day wear the Dominican habit
What did St. Dominic tell Catherine in her second vision?
dove sitting on her head
After Catherine's father saw a ____________, her family assisted her and allowed her a cell where she could pray.
16
When did Catherine become a member of the Dominican Mantellate?
mantellate
refers to the fact that women used to wear a mantle or outer cloak as part of their habit
desert fathers
Her desire to live in a cell was influenced by the...
Catherine's face turn into the face of Christ
What did Raymond of Capua, her spiritual director, see while having doubts about Catherine's visions?
a ring only she could see
What did Jesus give Catherine during her "mystical marriage" to him in 1368?
her seclusion, because Jesus was calling her to a more public life
What did her "mystical marriage" end?
suffering from the plague
After her "mystical marriage" Catherine cared especially for those...
stigmata
marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ
that it remain invisible
What did Catherine request of God after she received the stigmata in 1375?
attend mass
When Catherine fell ill, what did she still continue to do?
April 29th, 1380 at age 33
When did Catherine die, and how old was she?
1461
When was Catherine canonized?
co-patron
Pope Pius XII declared her, with St. Francis of Assisi, __________ of Italy
words of encouragement
What was Catherine able to communicate to the people who surrounded her?
Raymond of Capua
Who was her spiritual director?
exuberent, fond of play and adventure
What was Catherine like as a child?
at an early age
When did she feel drawn to devote herself entirely to Christ?
Mantellate
What was the name of the lay Dominican group of women that she joined at age 16?
the Dominican Church of Siena
What or who influenced Catherine's spirituality?
choosing to love her neighbors as she had been loved by God
When Catherine realized that God loved us first and that this love was unconditional, how did she respond to God with "something of the same generous, unconditional love"?
care for the sick, needy, and poor
What did Catherine do for part of the day for the next three years after her reclusive period?
to leave her cell
What was Catherine told by her "Eternal Spouse" (i.e., Jesus) during her ecstasy that she must do?
instead of living close to the diocese of Rome, the pope resided at Avignon in France
Explain the scandal involving the pope at this time.
return to Rome
What did Catherine succeed in getting the pope to do?
Doctor of the Church
What title was Catherine given in 1970 by Pope Paul VI?
unceasing, vocal, and mental prayer
List the three kinds of prayer that Catherine speaks about in one of her letters.
unceasing prayer
a holy constant desire which prays in the sight of God
vocal prayer
saying the office or other prayers aloud
mental prayer
contemplation reached through the use of vocal prayer with prudence and humility
to never give up
What advice does Catherine give to her niece about struggles in prayer?
to test the courage and constancy of our soul and so that we may know ourselves
According to Catherine, what are the reasons for which God permits struggles?
heaven
Catherine said to Niccolò, "Courage, my dear brother; we shall soon be at the wedding-feast." What is the wedding-feast?
to protect him
What does Catherine pray to Mary for after Niccolò dies?
Niccolò looking back at her
What does Catherine see immediately after Niccolò's death?
they would be following the will of God
According to Catherine, what will be the consequences if the two hermits come out of their wood?
they would not be in harmony with God's will
What will be the consequences if the two hermits do not come out of their wood?
the body of the crucified Christ
What are the three stairs formed from?
three stages in the spiritual life
What do the three stairs correspond to?
the feet of Christ (which symbolize the affections)
What does the first stair symbolize?
the soul is purified
What happens at the first stair?
the heart of Christ
What does the second stair symbolize?
the soul is illuminated
What happens at the second stair?
the mouth of Christ
What does the third stair symbolize?
the soul reaches complete union with god
What happens at the third stair?
purgative, illuminative, and unitive way
What are the three ways?
purgative way
childhood or the way of the beginner
illuminative way
adolescence or the way of the proficient
unitive way
adulthood or the way of the prefect
everyone
Who must pass along the bridge to reach eternal union with God?
a stormy river
What is found under the bridge?
the corruption of sin and the deceit of the world
What does the river represent?
sinners, weariness and troubles
Who travels in the river and what does it bring them?
so that we could walk on the bridge to Heaven
Why was Jesus sent "to be lifted onto the wood of the cross?"
we were made by God, and made to serve Him
For whom were we made? Why were we made?
stones of true solid virtue, representing protection of the faithful (to walk on the bridge without fear)
What do the walls of the bridge consist of and what do they represent?
Christ's divinity mixed with the blood of His humanity
What is mixed into the mortar that holds the stones together?
Blood of Christ
What is the key that opened heaven?
God's mercy, to protect from the rain of God's justice
What does the roof represent and what does it do?
hosterlry
an inn, the body and blood of Christ are kept here and given to travelers on the bridge
original sin destroyed it, but truth repaired it
What happened to the road to heaven?
eternal truth, sea of peace, the way, the life
What are some names or words that the Eternal Father uses for His Son?
If we use the pleasures and conditions of the world to the best of our ability to serve God, we can be lifted up to Heaven. But if we use these things apart from serving God, we will be grounded and not be able to see the light of heaven.
Explain this passage:
Such are the pleasures and conditions of the world. Those whose love and desire are not grounded on the rock but are set without order on created persons and things apart from me (and these, like water, are continually running on) run on just as they do (27).
truth and falsehood
What are the two ways?
those who choose to cross through the water instead of taking the bridge (which was built for them)
Who are the "foolish and blind"
light in darkness and life in death
What do those who travel on the road find?
they are fools who will live in hell
What does the Eternal Father say about those who keep "to the way beneath the bridge" (28)?
the Ascension (when the Lord returned to God for forty days after his resurrection)
When was the bridge "raised high above the earth" (28)?
the Holy Spirit; brought God's power, Son's wisdom, and His mercy
Who is the "Teacher" and what did He bring with Him?
Jesus' teachings and God's virtues
The Eternal Father says that the Holy Spirit "came to make even more firm the road my Truth had left in the world through his teaching" (29). Although the Son was no longer with us, what remained?
they testify to the truth and make known the way
The Eternal Father states, "The way that he taught and about which I have told you has been verified by the apostles and proclaimed in the blood of the martyrs" (29). What have the doctors, confessors, and evangelists done with respect to the way that Jesus taught?
they make the path more secure; lamps on a lampstand
What purpose do all these people serve in the Church? What metaphor is used to help describe what they do?
His teachings
What is "still there like a boat ready to rescue souls from the stormy sea and carry them to the port of salvation" (29)?
it is held together by the power of God, the wisdom of the Son, and the mercy of the Holy Spirit (leads to the height of heaven)
What does the Eternal Father say about the "roadway" (29)?
to pray to God for them
What does the Eternal Father ask that we do for those who travel underneath the bridge?
love of God expressed through love of neighbor
What is a reoccurring theme in Catherine's writing?
practical
Catherine's love for other was very _________, caring for the poor and sick, peacemaking, accompanying a prisioner to his execution, and others.
Blood of Christ
What is the MOST important theme in Catherine's writing?
God's great love for us
The fact that Christ shed His blood for us was proof of...
grace
In Catherine's writing, what does blood represent?
Blood of Christ
What is the key that has opened the gates of heaven for us?
a house, vineyard, city, spouse of God
What are some images Catherine uses in her writing for the soul,
Note 
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