“Daughter, think of me; if you do I will immediately think of you.”
Blessed Raymond of Capua, Life of St. Catherine of Siena: The Classic on Her Life and Accomplishments as Recorded by Her Spiritual Director, Chapter 10, p.66
This was a promise from Christ Jesus to Saint Catherine of Siena, which Saint Catherine later disclosed and expanded upon. Embracing Divine Providence is the heartbeat of Saint Catherine’s sanctity and has inspired countless saints throughout the ages.
Sister Clare Crockett shared a beautiful paraphrase of this quote to encourage one of the many souls she has uplifted with the abundant Love that overflowed from the purity of her redeemed heart, “If you take care of my things, I will take care of yours.”[2] The primary source of this quote comes from the biography written by Saint Catherine’s spiritual director, Blessed Raymond of Capua. Blessed Raymond of Capua follows that quote with the following reflection:
Now bring to mind, reader, the words the Psalmist says to all the just, “Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall not suffer the just to waver forever.” (Psalm 54:23). We shall now see how the holy virgin interpreted these words.
Discussing them with me privately, she said that the Lord had commanded her to shut all other thoughts out of her mind and retain only the thoughts of Him. And to prevent any anxiety about herself or her spiritual condition from distracting her from the peace of the thought of Him, He added, “I will think of you,” meaning, Do not fret about the salvation of your body and soul, for I who know and can do all things will think of it and look after it most carefully. Just try to think of and understand me, for your perfection and final good are to be found in this.
O’ you who are the uncreated Goodness, what could be added to you if this your virgin bride or any other creature were to think or meditate about you? Can we give you anything? Why do you want us to think and meditate about you, except that you are goodness itself and long to come to us to draw us to you?
Saint Catherine of Siena, born on March 25, 1347, in Siena, Italy, is a revered figure in Catholic history, known for her deep spirituality and influential role in church politics. A member of the Dominican Order, she led a life of devotion and asceticism from a young age. Catherine’s mystical experiences and spiritual writings, including her famous work “The Dialogue,” have earned her the title of Doctor of the Church, an honor bestowed upon her in 1970. Her feast day is celebrated on April 29, the day of her death in Rome in 1380. Catherine’s importance to Catholic history is profound; she is credited with helping to end the Avignon Papacy and restore the papacy to Rome, an act that significantly impacted the church’s direction. Her canonization in 1461 solidified her status as a saint, and she was later declared a patron saint of Europe and Italy, reflecting her lasting influence on the Catholic faith and European history.
The Virgin and Doctor of the Lord used to conclude that since we give ourselves to God in holy baptism and in the life of the priesthood and the monastery, we should have no further anxiety about ourselves but try to please the Lord to whom we have given ourselves. And we should do this not with a view to the reward but for the sake of union, for the more firmly we are united to Him by love, the more we please Him—the reward should not be desired except to the extent that it unites us with Him who is our infinitely perfect origin. Thus, whenever I or any of the friars feared danger, Catherine would say, “What have you to do with yourselves? Leave it to Divine Providence. However much afraid you are, Providence still has its eyes on you and is always aiming at your salvation.”
She developed such faith in her Bridegroom after she had heard Him say, “I will think of you,” and had such a deep understanding of Divine Providence that she talked about it continually, and in the book [The Dialogue of Divine Providence] she wrote she discussed it at great length for many chapters, as anyone can verify by turning to it.
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori shared this depth of understanding in his work entitled Uniformity With God’s Will:
Let us place ourselves unreservedly in his hands because he will not fail to have care of us: “Casting all your care upon him, for he hath care of you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Let us keep God in our thoughts and carry out his will, and he will think of us and of our welfare. Our Lord said to St. Catherine of Siena, “Daughter, think of me, and I will always think of you.” Let us often repeat with the Spouse in the Canticle: “My beloved to me, and I to him.” (Cant. 2:6)[3]
The things that God called Saint Catherine to take care of are found in total surrender to the sanctifying fire of God’s Love. Lady Poverty is a divine treasure that fills our hearts with holy meekness. Offering our will to the altar of Divine Providence allows us to become the person God made us to be. When we are poor in spirit, we conquer the weakness that the world, the flesh, and the devil rely upon for the hollow pleasures of hell that amount to nothing. We must not hide behind masks of man-made traditions made of superficial sentiment. This person must come to true self-knowledge in holy communion with, through, and in God the Holy Trinity.
If we think of God, if we see with the eyes of faith, God will show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life in Christ’s spirit of obedience. In faith, we may pray the divine prayer that God has prepared for us. The prayer that contains all prayer. The breath of eternal life.
Thy will be done.
[1] Blessed Raymond of Capua, Life of St. Catherine of Siena: The Classic on Her Life and Accomplishments as Recorded by Her Spiritual Director, Chapter 10, p.66
[2] https://www.sisterclare.com/en/impressions/9678-look-up
[3] Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Uniformity With God’s Will, p.15
