In Praise of Feminine Genius and Influence

I am writing this post in honour of modern day Saint Catherine types working and serving in the Church. Women, young and older, of subtle but powerful influence; women of courage and tact; women of conviction and vision inspiring others –  by their example – to be more and do more; women diligently serving and leading in our parish communities, dioceses, schools, hospitals and social agencies. The Church appreciates you and the Church needs you.

Each year, on April 29^th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Catherine of Sienna. Catherine was born in 1347 to a humble family. She entered the Dominicans at the age of 19, then began an intense life of prayer and spiritual practices. Her reputation for wisdom and holiness spread quickly so that she found herself answering questions for some of Europe’s most influential leaders in the Church, in politics and the military. She is most well known for her counsel to Pope Gregory XI, urging him to return the Papacy to Rome. In the mosaic of great women in Church history, pride of place must be given to Saint Catherine.

British artist, Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, painted a wonderful piece that captured Saint Catherine providing counsel to five Cardinals in Avignon. Fortescue-Brickdale’s vision of Catherine’s ministry reveals four attributes worthy of adulation and imitation.

Photo Credit: Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, Golden Book of Famous Women, 1919 – Saint Catherine of Sienna

Subtle but Powerful Presence. Fortescue-Brickdale depicts Saint Catherine standing silently, in a posture of self-restraint and meekness among the Church leaders. Meekness is nothing like weakness. To be meek is to have a full measure of strength but under voluntary control. This imagery captures the subtle but influential presence of Saint Catherine. As John Maxwell has been teaching for years, leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. When the real leader speaks, people listen. When Catherine spoke, leaders listened.

Influence, not Authority. In Foryescue-Brickdale’s image, Saint Catherine is surrounded by red vestments, red being the color of power. Catherine is seen in a simple Dominican habit, probably tattered and worn. Saint Catherine had no title or position in the Church. Nothing of her accomplishments warranted kings, industry leaders and Popes to seek her wisdom and counsel, but many did. She possessed moral authority, not its shallow counterfeit, positional power. Catherine’s life was so yielded to God that the aroma of Christ flowed powerfully from her words and actions. She walked in the power of the Spirit. Yielding to God every moment of the day, Saint Catherine, walked with a special type of authority by living under God’s authority, completely.

Yoked to the Lord. Fortescue-Brickdale depicts Saint Catherine standing slightly separated from the Cardinals as if she is making room for the presence of her Bridegroom in the conversation. Saint Catherine was continually attuned to the Lord. Like the apostle John at the Last Supper, Saint Catherine would interact with others with one ear open to the person with whom she was speaking and one ear pressed into the Lord’s bossum, attuned to his Sacred Heart. Catherine was in a constant state of prayer, like all mystics, prophetically listening to the Lord and offering only what He was prompting to say and do. Catherine was following the example of Jesus Himself who “said only what He heard the Father saying” and “did only what the Father was doing.” Catherine’s ministry to Pastoral leaders of her time, was a consistent exhortation to be strongly connected to the invisible world, even more than the visible world. She would demand more than mere administration or superficial engagement from the leaders of her day.

Speak Integrity to Power. Saint Catherine was often invited into discussion and conversation with powerful men – industry leaders, prelates and nobles. These powerful men heard of her wisdom and holiness. Some were sincere when they approached Catherine for guidance, others approached her to “put her in her place.” Catherine was one of the first to live the motto: speak truth to power. More than that, she challenged leaders to live and lead in a manner faithful to and congruent with the Gospel. With grounded certainty, profound insight, simple wisdom and evident graces manifesting in her life, Catherine confounded her detractors and converted many critics. She spoke truth to power, demanding integrity from those who shaped the culture.

In summary, “With gravitas beyond her years, united to a disarming humility, Catherine accomplished her life’s mission and became a model for all Christians, both men and women, culminating in Saint Paul VI’s elevation of her as a Doctor of the Church” (Elizabeth Liv, Magnificat, 2022)

I have the privilege of being married to a woman that possesses the attributes witnessed in Saint Catherine’s life and ministry. Andrea (my bride of 27 years) has a powerful but subtle presence. Andrea has little positional power in society and no ambition for more. Andrea is a “just” a mom and school teacher but her influence is significant and like Saint Catherine, Andrea’s authority is a moral authority, not its counterfeit, positional power. Andrea is deeply yoked to the Lord. Her wisdom is both natural and supernatural. Her natural wisdom comes from living an intentional and examined life for 30+ years as a disciple, wife and mother. Her supernatural wisdom is infused by the Spirit of God, after many years of dedicated prayer, study, sacrifice and sacramental participation. Andrea speaks truth to power, she is unyielding in her desire to see Church leaders that are animated by the Spirit of Christ and fear the Law of God more than being committed to the best practices of a CEO and governed by the fear of man or culture. It can be tough living with someone so dedicated to pursuing the Lord, as it was tough for Pope Gregory XI to be counselled by Saint Catherine, but I, like Gregory, am most grateful and blessed.