Chapter XII: Letters of Love in War

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset
Chapter XII

I am feeling rather obtuse today, which is a shame, because this is the longest passage of Catherine's own words (at least in translation) in the book so far.  This chapter recounts the letters that Catherine wrote to all sides in a civil war between a corrupt, excommunicated ruler in Italy and the warlike cardinals who were members of the Pope's family and, reportedly, promoted so high for little other reason.

Undset also spends some amount of time defending - or perhaps simply explaining - Catherine's support for the Crusades.  I admit, I had hoped she could shed some light on the subject.  She does well in pointing out barbarism and invasion happening on both sides - and I can see, as she suggests, a person thinking that if men must make war, they should do it on the enemies far away rather than on their neighbors and fellow Italians.

I can't quite see Catherine thinking that, however.  She is all about not making excuses for human nature.  She believes in the conquering love of God to save every soul and correct every flaw in human nature.  Or perhaps I misunderstand her.  She does seem sympathetic that not everyone is called to her form of life, but does she really make a place for the soldier in her storm of rhetoric calling for love of God over war?  Does she see a way for the overpowering love she describes to exist in a profession of killing?

Our own culture certainly tries to do so with love of country and service and support of our troops all tied up in a bloody job.

But really, this is the chapter that makes me realize that not only my willpower, my commitment, my soul are not like Catherine but that, in fact, I believe very differently than she did.  I am so much more tied to the world, yes, but I also believe that Christianity is not the only path that God has given His children, that Jesus is not the only face He has offered us.  I do believe that Christianity is the true religion.  I wouldn't be a Catholic if I didn't believe that strongly.  But I cannot believe that God would condemn His children because the path to peace most natural to their soul follows another religion's path.  I cannot believe that my loving God would do that.

Perhaps He can.  He is unfathomable to such as me, but for my money, barely two cents though it may be, I cannot see the God who sent His Only Son condemning most of the world for praying to the wrong god - especially when I see evidence that it leads so many to greater spiritual peace and more good deeds and love of fellow man.  Surely, all such love comes from God.

So it is BECAUSE I believe that my God is true that I believe it is not only through the Church that men find salvation.

If that makes any sense.

But another reason it is hard to look at Catherine too closely: she is so much closer to God than I.  She is undeniably stronger in her faith, wiser in the ways of faith, closer to God and therefore the truth than I will ever be.  How can I hold on to my beliefs when they differ radically from hers?  Can I chock it up to the time that has elapsed?  What can I do?

This project has compelled me to reexamine things that I have left untouched and stagnant for a very long time - concerns that I have pushed down, sloth that I have left unaddressed.  But this I cannot escape at all - or even thinking what will come of it.  This is the challenge of my Advent - to look upon the faithful servant of Catherine Benincasa and be forced to question the comfortableness that has grown around my practice of my own faith.