Women Saints and Their Cats

Today I realized that there are at least 3 female saints who are traditionally pictured with cats.  I love this idea.  I think cats lend themselves to both company and contemplation.

We cat people are in good company.

Our first saint is Saint Claire of Assisi.  She was one of the first followers of St. Francis, who, of course, is the patron saint of animals.  St. Claire founded the Poor Ladies or Poor Claires, a monastic order for women.

A legend tells us that Claire was often ill,  but insisted on doing her share of the work.  One day, the bolt of cloth she was working with rolled away from her bed, too far for her to reach.  The monastery cat got it for her. Although I've had a few cats who might take it upon themselves to do something like this, my current cat is not nearly this helpful!

You can purchase the icon (left) and read more about St. Claire here.

Julian of Norwich is also pictured with a cat.  Julian was a mystic, living as a anchoress at St. Julian's church and would give advice to people who stopped by her window to ask.

She was the first woman to write a book in English, entitled The Revelation of Divine Love. (Click on the hotlink to read for free online.)  She wrote of God's love and mercy that was His whole being during a time in the Church and in society when God was seen as sometimes vengeful and angry. She is pictured with her cat, her only companion after voluntarily confining herself to her monastic cell.

To find out more information about Julian of Norwich, check out The Friends of Julian of Norwich where you will find information and items to purchase (including the icon to the right, which, sadly, seems to be out of stock.)

St. Gertrude of Nivelles is the patron saint of cats and cat people. Her feast is March 17, eclipsed as it is by St. Patrick in the church calendar and green-wearing, beer-drinking people in the U.S.

Gertrude was born in Belgium in 626, and died 33 years later in Nivelles.  She was known for her hospitality and generosity to Irish missionary monks, so it is appropriate that she died on March 17, a day when gardeners see good weather as a sign to begin planting.

She is also the patron saint of travelers and those afraid of mice. She is often pictured with cats or with mice.

Love--The True Purpose of Jesus' Fiery Preaching

Excellent article I wanted to share from Sojourners Magazine titled "Beyond Fire & Brimstone".

Afterlife or Not? 

It beings by talking about how the traditional Jewish thought of the Sadducees didn't include a theology of an afterlife, focusing instead on how to live life on earth.  Later, the more "liberal" Pharisees became interested in the idea of an afterlife that they received from neighboring cultures.

Jesus, was obviously in the latter camp--He believed and preached about a life after this earthly one. When He preached a "fire and brimstone" sermon, Jesus' purpose was not the same as the stereotypical television preacher of today. Jesus took the pervading idea of heaven and hell and turned it on its head.

Who Goes Where?

The Pharisees preached that those who were well-educated in religious matters, were scrupulous about following them, and financially successful would go to heaven. Those who were poor and uneducated in matters of religion, would go to hell.

Jesus--Radical Love

Jesus' Good News was exactly the opposite.  He preached that the poor and destitute, the uneducated, physically unclean, social outcasts who were notorious public sinners would be welcomed by a loving and merciful God. Those who were "rich in this life", especially those who did not remember the poor, or treat those less fortunate with God-inspired mercy would be the ones who went to hell.

A second way that Jesus used fire and brimstone language was to warn people who were set on an angry, violent and vengeful path.  He told his listeners that if they turned to violence (for example, against the Romans) instead of non-violence and forgiveness that "no stone would be left on another" and the very thing they valued the most--the Temple--would be destroyed.  In 70 AD, his prophetic warning came true.

Jesus used fire and brimstone language not because he valued punishment, but to inspire his hearers to repent--to make a 180 degree turn in their beliefs and in their lives.  He wanted them to realize that God is an eternal, loving and merciful God who does not see people in the black and white categories that we humans often do.  He is always ready to forgive us and welcome us home. Jesus asked us to do the same to our fellow man--love even those who do not love you.  Otherwise, anger, violence and destruction become your path.

Jesus invites us to turn away from that all-too-easy, wide path and go down the narrow path of Godly love.

The Ignatian Examin--Praying Backwards Through Your Day

I wanted to recommend an article on the Ignatian Examin (or Examination of Conscience).

I've tried examines that basically ask you to focus on the sins committed during any particular day and found that to be difficult and discouraging for someone prone to depression as I sometimes am.

This particular style of examin asks you to pray backwards through your day by looking at it through the feelings it brings up.

Dennis Hamm, S.J., the author of the article, breaks this examin up into 5 sections.

After asking for inspirational light from the Holy Spirit, you then give God thanks for what you are grateful for throughout your day.  I have recently done a month of gratitude on Facebook (during the month when America celebrates its Thanksgiving holiday) and found it to be a very rewarding and attitude-changing experience.  Starting with the positive aspects of each day is a good way to encourage you to continue this practice.

Next you go through the day and note what feelings come up--both positive and negative.  This leads to the next step, giving those feelings to God through prayer.  Focus on one particular feeling that comes up and pray from that feeling.  Give it to God and let Him know all about your day and how you felt.

Lastly, you look towards the future.  Go over what you know about what will (or may) happen tomorrow, and ask God for clarity and help. Look at what feelings come up when you think about tomorrow and let prayer flow from that. Whatever comes up during these prayer times that is less than loving, we can bring to confession.

The mnemonic for this technique is LT3F:  Light, Thanksgiving, Feelings, Focus, Future.

I think many of us who are Christians have a reluctance to both face our sins (who wants to do that?) and bring all of our feelings to God.  We think we must be perfect in front of God instead of treating Him like the loving Father and good Friend that He is.

I want to encourage you to read the linked article  and try this prayer method.  Focusing on what feelings our daily experiences bring up and taking them to God in prayer helps us to check the idea that God is uninvolved or that all depends on us. God can only heal us if we let Him.  If we push our feelings and experiences away when we try to pray, we also push God away.

He wants to heal you.  Let Him.

Epiphany

It seems to me that Epiphany is a reminder to us for the need to continue to search.  The three "wise men", who were probably astronomers rather than royalty, searched outside of their own countries, societies and spiritual traditions to find an infant, born into poverty, who the results of their own searching pointed to as a "king".

These men were not afraid to go where their searching lead.  They were not afraid to venture out beyond their comfort zones to discover truth.

We need to be spiritually and intellectually honest with ourselves, no matter where this takes us.

Happy Epiphany.