What follows is an excerpt from the book The Secret of the Heart (Saint Catherine of Siena on the Heart of Jesus) written by Mary Jeremiah, O.P. in 1995 and published by Cluny Media in 2021
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“With true love for her neighbor, Catherine was deeply involved in the sufferings of her beloved city of Siena which did not know the beatitude of peace and security. It suffered not only from a tense relationship with neighboring cities, including Perugia to the east, but within its own gates there was a growing ferment of rebellion. Since 1357, the Sienese Republic had an ever-increasing class struggle involving the powerful and rich rulers against the poor peasant and common people. The government feared a civil outbreak and was very suspicious of the least sentiment of contradiction. A wrong word was enough for one to be condemned to death.
This seems to have been the case of Niccolò di Tuldo, a young Perugian who found himself under the death sentence in June 1375. Evidence appeared to support his innocence, but sentence had been passed and, despite appeals by the Legate of Perugia, Niccolò was sentenced to beheading. The young man, totally disillusioned by the grave injustice done to him, became desperate, refusing to see a priest or confess his sins. At last, a young, thin woman appeared at the door of his dark, damp prison cell. It was Catherine. Her magnetic and loving presence touched his heart hardened by hatred and enveloped him in an atmosphere of peace and hope.
Catherine magnificently describes in one of her letters to Raymond the touching drama that unfolded. This letter is considered a classic, not only in Tuscan literature, but in world literature as well. The date of the event is unknown, yet the experience and vision of Christ’s open side transcends the boundaries of time by its elevated and exquisite revelation of God’s forgiveness and compassion. It seems that everyone who meditates on Catherine’s words is inflamed with love and comes to share in her experience. For this reason, it is only fitting that Catherine speak for herself. This somewhat lengthy but exceptionally rich text is one of those passages which presents the reader with a recapitulation of her comprehensive spiritual vision of reality. One is forcefully struck by her fixation on the blood, the open side of Jesus and the Trinity within it. It is in the blood that believers are united to one another, and thus build up the wonders of the redemption which reveal God’s infinite love and mercy. She even alludes to the supreme human response to the divine “mad lover,” martyrdom, the giving of one’s own life in loving response to God. Some of these topics will be analyzed in greater depth.
“I have just received a head in my hands, which was of such sweetness to me that the heart cannot think, nor tongue speak, nor eye see, nor ear hear of it…I went to visit him whom you know. He received such comfort and consolation that he confessed and prepared himself very well. And he made me promise by the love of God, that when the time of execution should come, that I would be with him. And so I promised and I did it. Then in the morning before the bell rang I went to see him, and he received great consolation. I took him to hear Mass; and he received holy Communion, which he had never received before. His will was in accord with and submissive to the will of God; and only one fear remained, that of not being strong at that moment. But the boundless and glowing goodness of God deceived him, creating in him such affection and love in the desire of God, that he did not know how to remain without him, saying “Stay with me, and do not abandon me. And so I will be none other than well; I die content.” I held his head upon my breast. I then heard rejoicing and smelled the fragrance of his blood; and it was not without the odor of my own, which I desired to shed for the sweet bridegroom Jesus. And the desire increasing in my soul, and feeling his fear, I said: “Be comforted, my sweet brother; because soon we shall arrive at the wedding. You shall go there bathed in the sweet blood of the Son of God, with the sweet name of Jesus which I do not want ever to leave your memory. And I will wait for you at the place of justice…”
His heart now lost all fear, and his face was transformed from sadness into happiness; and he rejoiced, exulted, and said: “Whence does such a grace come to me, that the sweetness of my soul will await me at the holy place of justice?” You see that he had attained so much light that he called the place of execution “holy!” And he said: “I shall go completely glorious and strong: and it will seem one thousand years to me before I come, thinking that you are waiting for me there…”
I awaited him then at the place of execution; and I waited there with constant prayer and in the presence of Mary and Catherine, virgin and martyr. But before he arrived, I bent down and stretched my neck on the block; but my desire was not fulfilled, for I was full of affection for myself. Then I arose, prayed and compelled her, saying, “Mary!” For I wanted this grace, that at that moment she would give him light and peace of heart, and that I should see him return to his goal. Then my soul was so filled that, although there was a multitude of people, I could see no creature because of the sweet promise made to me.
Then he arrived, like a gentle lamb: and seeing me he began to laugh and he wanted me to make the sign of the cross for him. He received the sign, and I said: “Down! to the wedding feast, my brother! for soon you will have eternal life.” He prostrated himself with great meekness; and I extended his neck, I knelt down, and reminded him of the blood of the Lamb. His mouth said nothing except, Jesus and Catherine. And saying this, I received his head in my hands, fixing my eye on the divine goodness, and saying: “I will it.”
Then one saw the God-and-Man, as one sees the splendor of the sun. He was open and received …the soul, which he put in the open treasure house of his side, full of mercy revealing that the first Truth received him by grace and mercy alone, and for no other motive. O how sweet and unspeakable it was to see the goodness of God! In what sweetness and love he awaited that soul separated from the body! He turned the eye of mercy toward the soul, when it came to enter within the side bathed in his blood, which had value because of the blood of the Son of God. Thus, it was received by God through power (powerful to be able to do it); and the Son, wisdom, Word Incarnate, gave him and made him share in the crucified love with which he [Christ] accepted his painful and shameful death in obedience to the Father for the good of the human race; and the hands of the Holy Spirit locked him within…
When he was at rest, my soul reposed in peace and quiet in such a great fragrance of blood, that I could not bear to wash off the blood that had splashed on me from him.
Alas miserable wretch! I do not want to say more. I remained on earth with the greatest envy. And it seems to me that the first stone is already now in place. Therefore, do not wonder if I impose upon you nothing else but to see you drowned in the blood and fire that flows from the side of the Son of God. Therefore, be negligent no longer, my sweetest sons, since the blood has begun to flow and to receive life. Sweet Jesus, Jesus Love
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