A Life That Refused To Be Small

She lived a life of intentionality and deep faith. Catherine of Siena was the 23rd of 25 children, born in 1347 in Siena, Italy, in a home filled with movement and the daily rhythms of her father’s dye business.

As a young girl, Catherine experienced a vision of Christ that shaped her imagination and sense of calling. By her teenage years, she devoted herself to a life of prayer and joined the Third Order of the Dominicans, remaining in her family home as she pursued a disciplined spiritual life. She spent hours in prayer, often in a small room set aside for solitude, while also stepping into the needs of her community.

When the Black Plague arrived in Italy, Catherine cared for the sick and suffering -- those avoided by society -- offering presence, food, and comfort. Her days held a steady rhythm of contemplation and action, woven together in a way that made her faith visible in both ordinary and extraordinary moments.

Though she had little formal education, Catherine became a compelling voice in her world. She dictated hundreds of letters to scribes, writing to popes, political leaders, and everyday believers. Her words carried clarity and urgency, calling for unity and courage, and in a pivotal moment in church history, she wrote persistently to Pope Gregory XI, urging him to return from Avignon to Rome -- a move that would help reshape the direction of the Church.

One of her most enduring lines comes from her letters: “All the way to heaven is heaven, because He said, ‘I am the Way.’” Do you hear her lived conviction in this simple sentence? Catherine approached each day as a sacred path shaped by Christ’s presence and animated by purpose.

This past Sunday, we stood at the empty tomb and proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter morning worship carried joy, music, and the renewed declaration that Christ is alive. As you move into your post-Easter days, let Catherine’s life offer a way forward: She stepped into her world with attentiveness and courage, responding to what was in front of her with deep compassion. She wrote letters that mattered. She entered conversations that shaped communities. She cared for people whose names history has long forgotten. Most importantly, she lived as though resurrection had already changed everything.

How are you choosing to live your post-Easter days?