St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort [April 28] and St. Catherine of Siena [April 29]
Two exemplary author-saints
In the past, a Saint's feast was celebrated on the birth date of the saint. Now, present liturgical practice celebrates it on the actual date of death. As an example, we now celebrate St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and St. Catherine of Siena's feast days on April 28 and April 29, respectively. St. Louis-Marie passed away on April 28, 1716 A.D., while St. Catherine of Siena passed away on April 29, 1380 A.D. Not all the beatified and saints are placed in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Not all of them have their feast days celebrated in the Eucharist. Saints whose way of life have influenced the universal Church are placed in the Roman liturgical calendar, while those whose influence are more directed to a local culture, are celebrated by the local Church in their Masses.
St. Catherine of Siena as author
This saint has a remarkable story. She is known to be unlettered, and yet she has produced a lot of writings. This she achieved by dictating her spiritual messages to her followers. She is one of the six great patrons of Europe, known especially to have politically maneuvered the return of the papal seat to Rome [at a time when the Church was divided into two - with a pope in Rome and another pope at Avignon, France].
St. Catherine is known to have produced the spiritual classic, "The Dialogue". She also "wrote" many letters and prayers. "The Dialogue" is a good primary resource, but there is a good secondary resource that abstracts many of her writings, letters and prayers. This is the book written by Mary O'Driscoll, O.P., "Catherine of Siena: Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity". This book contains selected spiritual writings of St. Catherine of Siena, complete with documentation, notes and references to the original works.
St. Catherine of Siena is also quoted many times in the Series, "The Saints' Guide Series". Much of what she said in relation to prayer is referenced in this series of books. Since St. Catherine lived in a time when the Church was divided, she found her calling to restore the Church's unity. She represented the ideal of Church unity very well. She expresses these well in her poems and prayers.
St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort as author
This saint is a rural missionary-priest in France who authored a work that has influenced one of the great religious leaders of our millenium, St. John Paul II. The work that St. Louis-Marie has written is the "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin". St. Louis-Marie wrote the book to make his readers understand that true devotion to Mary is one that leads to Christ. He completes this writing with a consecratory formula for all who wish to consecrate themselves to Jesus through the spirit of Mary. This book is contained in a single compendium of his other writings: "God Alone".
Like St. Catherine of Siena, Montfort wrote a lot of prayers and letters. Since Montfort was more lettered than St. Catherine, he had the opportunity to write more books - including the popular "Secret of the Rosary", "Secret of Mary" and the beautifully written treatise, "The Love of Eternal Wisdom". The spiritual insight or intuition that is unique in his spirituality is his perception of Mary as truly highly favored by God. According to him, Mary received such a plenitude of grace that God had to "ask her consent" to be the Mother of Jesus - that the world may be saved from sin. The great mystery that captivates Montfort and leaves him awestruck, is the mystery of an all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipotent and omniscient God asking a simple and humble maiden from Nazareth to be the Mother of God.
Summary:
Two saints, two important messages. St. Catherine of Siena teaches all the faithful the importance of unity. Her whole life of just 33 years was spent in the cause of unity in the Church. Without her work, both in writing and in political activity, the Roman Church would probably have been divided since her era. As for St. Louis-Marie, his message is also important. He teaches that not all devotions to Mary are genuine. This is an important for Marian devotion. Without St. Louis-Marie's qualifying standards for a true and genuine devotion to Mary, Marian devotion would have deteriorated and many Catholics would lose their belief in the significant role God has given the Blessed Mother in the history of salvation.
Related resources:
- Montfort, A Prophet for Our Times, by Benedetta
Papàsogli - The Man Who Came Up from the Wind, by Benedetta
Papàsogli - Light, Wind and Water, by J. Patrick Gaffney, smm
- Make Way for Jesus Christ, Marcel Gendrot, smm, editor
- Doctors of the Church
- Litany of St. Louis-Marie de Monfort
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