Thursday, September 10 : Saint Catherine of Siena

Dearest Father in Christ, the gentle Jesus—I, Catherine, the slave of the servants of Jesus Christ, write to you in His precious blood, desiring to see you grounded in true and perfect charity. (…) This is one of the particular signs showing whether or not a soul dwells in charity. It despises no one but patiently bears the faults of others; it does not grow angry but is full of gentleness; it renders a man not unjust but just, leading him to give each person their due, whether he obeys or commands. He gives glory to God and praise to His name; he harbors hatred and horror for sin, while holding love and benevolence for his neighbor. If he is in a position of power and must administer justice, he listens to the great and the small, the poor and the rich alike. He does not stain his conscience by yielding to flattery, threats, pleasure, or displeasure; rather, he holds the scales straight, rendering to each what justice demands. He serves his neighbor with zeal, showing them the love he bears for God: he cannot render service to God directly, but he strives to serve what God loves so dearly—the rational creature, who is given to him as an intermediary. How sweet is charity, that tender mother! It is free from bitterness and always brings joy to the heart of the one who possesses it.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team