Theology 12: Life and Spiritual Teaching of SCOS

March 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?