Coffee & Saints

Born: March 25, 1347, Siena, Tuscany [Italy]—died April 29, 1380
Died: April 29, 1380, Rome, Italy

What I appreciate about St. Catherine of Siena:
She was a determined woman who desired to follow the Will of the Lord so deeply that she was not afraid to ruffle some feathers!

Coffee Order:
I picture Saint Catherine of Siena enjoying a plain coffee because to me, she comes across as someone who would appreciate coffee as is.

Think about the women in your life – how do they show their strength to you? My sister-in-law is physically strong and moved an entire couch out of my parents house recently with very little help! But women are also mentally strong. The things that a woman can endure and then continue to move through life while lovingly caring for children, friends, and strangers is mind-blowing!

To me, Saint Catherine of Siena is a beautiful example of the strength that women have inside of them. She did not “follow the masses”; she forged her own way, determined to follow God’s Will above all else. This determined woman made great things happen and has been a source of intercession for many men and women who have sought her out in prayer.

When I picture Saint Catherine of Siena meeting me for coffee, I picture her picking a small coffee shop that focuses their energy on the actual product and not solely on the vibe of the atmosphere. In my mind, she was a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to work for it, so when ordering coffee she would have gone for a no frills cup of java. When my husband tries a new pizza restaurant he only chooses cheese; not because he does not like more interesting pizza’s, but because in his mind, if they are truly good at making pizza then the plain cheese will be the tell-all. I think Saint Catherine of Siena would feel this same way about coffee. A deked out coffee cannot show how good the actual coffee itself is, you have to have it plain.

Catherine was born to a family of twenty-four children! As a mother myself, I am in awe of the strength of her mother to have been pregnant so many times. And once again, I can recognize the mental strength of women because half of the babies that her mother bore did not survive infancy. Judging by how devoted to the Lord her daughter way, Saint Catherine of Siena’s mother must have been a very strong Christian to have faced so much hurt and yet still praised God – which trickled down to her children.

Growing up in such a large family, it must have been hard to stand out; however, Catherine was so devoted to the Lord at a young age that she did in fact get noticed. Beginning at the age of five, she would climb the stairs of their family home on her knees and recite a Hail Mary on each step. I am lucky if my own almost five year old can say one full Hail Mary! As I picture myself sitting with Catherine of Siena in a quaint coffee shop, I see a smile in her eyes as she reminds me that all children are different. My daughter still learning the Hail Mary is beautiful in its own way.

Traditionally, the women of her times would be married off by their parents. When Catherine of Siena’s parents approached her about marriage, she spoke boldly to them that she did not feel called to that life. She was so serious about this that she began fasting and praying fervently as a teenager, begging God to help her follow His plan. She even chopped off her hair so that she would appear less attractive to suitors. Her parents finally relented, and approved of her vocation.

With her parents blessing, she entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic which was for lay people who lived in their own homes, instead of a cloister, and took care of the sick. This was a life of seclusion and prayer for Catherine of Siena and I can see her smile as she tells me about caring for so many and trying her best to do the Will of the Lord.

Her face lights up as she tells me that she had a dream at the age of twenty-one that Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and King David with a harp appeared to her. Jesus placed a ring on her finger and departed, when she woke up the ring was there and only she could see it. The ring remained there for the rest of her life. I can see her smiling at her ring finger, a shy smile on her lips, as she looks at the mark of her beloved.

Catherine of Siena lived through difficult times in our world and Church. When the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) hit Siena, she cared for the sick and poor tirelessly. When controversies arose between Church and State, she did not sit idly by, she wrote letters to Kings, Queens, nobility, religious, and the pope. She began to fast from food and drink, only accepting the Eucharist daily to satiate her as she offered her suffering for the Church. Like some other Saints, she did receive the stigmata – it was invisible until she died where it appeared on her corpse!

One story that I truly love about Saint Catherine of Siena is that she wrote letters to the pope urging him to return to Rome. The papacy had moved to France which caused chaos as anti-popes were elected and brought a ton of confusion. She was not writing sweet letters asking; she was straightforward and firm in her words to the Holy Father, telling him to stand up and end the confusion.

Saint Catherine of Siena lived a holy life devoted to the Lord. While many of us picture the Saints as sweet people with nice smiles who followed God’s plan, I appreciate that she was a strong-willed woman who spoke with a firmness. She trusted God’s Will and was determined to make a better world for us all. She was not only canonized a Saint, she is a Doctor of the Church, a huge honor! Her legacy lives on and she desires to pray for each of us as we follow our burning love and desire for the Lord. Take some time this week to reflect on your relationship with Jesus Christ, and ask for Saint Catherine of Siena’s intercession to see nothing but love in His eyes as he gazes upon you.

Prayer:
Saint Catherine of Siena, you fell in love with the Lord, entering a Mystical Marriage that would satiate you for the rest of your life. Pray for each of us as we strive to follow the Lord’s plan. Even when we are faced with difficult circumstances, may we have the courage to speak openly with those who we recognize need spiritual help. Pray for us to have the wisdom to help lead others closer to Christ, even when the rest of the world is against us. Amen.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this Saint! The artwork above was created using AI and my own imagination – this is how I picture what it would be like to sit with Saint Catherine of Siena in a coffeeshop today. I would love for you to share your own thoughts in the comments. How do you picture Saint Catherine of Siena? What do you think she would have ordered at a coffee shop? Let me know below!

Cheers! ☕
Maggie