The last century was the most violent century in history. Two world wars, countless other regional wars, and several genocides. Millions of innocent people either killed, wounded, or impoverished. At the same time, and possibly linked by cause and effect, the social status of women rose to historic heights. At the beginning of the last century, women could not vote anywhere in the world. By the end of the 20^th century, only a few Middle East countries denied women the vote. Last December was the first time Saudi Arabia allowed women the franchise. Now, ironically, only one country denies its female citizens the vote for Head of State – and that is the Vatican. Only Cardinals can vote for Pope; although technically a woman could be a Cardinal, since one doesn’t have to me a priest to be a cardinal.

If there was a time more violent that the 20^th century, it would be the 14^th century in Europe. Constant warfare among the petty principalities, massive warfare in the form of crusades against the Muslim Turkish Empire, wave upon wave of famine and plague killed as many as half the population, a corrupt Church leadership – all of which make that century comparable to our own recent past. The one exception is the vastly inferior status then on women in society. Not only could they not vote, neither could they appear in court, and they were legally bound to the authority of their husbands. Unmarried women had little choice but to become nuns – or they would be impoverished.

In the midst of that calamitous 14^th century, one woman stands out as perhaps the most influential person of her time and that was today’s saint: Catherine of Siena. She was born in Siena in 1347, the 24^th of 25 children. In some ways, Catherine was a strange person. She refused to be married and never became a professed nun. She did, however, become a famous preacher. All the more remarkable in that she was functionally illiterate, education of women during this period was restricted to only a few royal women.

Catherine was a mystic who experienced profound unity with God. She also practiced severe penances, including prolonged (and unhealthy) fastings. The latter probably led to her death at the age of 33 on April 29^th, 1380.

Before then, she single-handedly convinced the Pope to return from France (where popes had lived for 70 years) back to Rome – where he belonged.

She made many men, especially the clergy, most uncomfortable. While she respected the spiritual aspect of priesthood, she condemned those who lived immoral lives. She basically scared people of power by the intensity of her own spirituality.

She was not a politician, since there was little distinction between the Church and society. But she inaugurated a reform of the Church like no other woman in history.

Her spiritually was confusing, probably because she was not a systematic theologian. And also because they didn’t have a specific program of how to deal with the enormous problems of her times. She was simply in love with God.

Because of famine, warfare and the deadly plague, there were many opportunities to minister to the suffering multitudes of her time. In this, she was relentless.

In 1970 she was declared a Doctor (i.e. Teacher) of the Church, the first layperson and the first woman to be given that title. Along with Francis of Assisi – an equally strange person – she is the co-patron of Italy.

Strange people often have more influence than conventional people.

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