April 29, 2026
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Gospel: John 12:44–50

Today is Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena. According to her biography, she was a 14th-century Italian Dominican tertiary, a philosopher and theologian of the Scholastic tradition. She played a pivotal role in persuading Pope Gregory XI to return the Papal Court from Avignon, France, to Rome, and she fostered peace among the warring city-states of Italy. In 1939, Pope Pius XII named her, alongside Saint Francis of Assisi, as a principal patroness of Italy. On October 3, 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church. On October 1, 1999, Pope John Paul II, at the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, proclaimed Saints Catherine of Siena, Birgitta of Sweden, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross as co-patronesses of Europe.

Today’s passage from the Gospel of John continues to reveal to us the divinity of Jesus Christ.
We often rely on our own understanding and reason to decide what to believe or accept, using our own judgments as the measure of all things. Sometimes, we base our knowledge of God solely on the preaching of ecclesiastical superiors, imitating their behaviour until we become like them. Yet, among those we imitate, there are often those who “hear the word of God but do not keep it” (cf. John 12:47). They presume they can escape the judgment of God’s word while continuing to live freely in this passing world. However, when their earthly life ends, the just God will judge them according to their deeds, because they disregarded the infinite mercy Christ revealed to them during their lives and chose instead to remain in darkness.

Today, Jesus tells us: “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness” (cf. John 12:46). We were called to receive the light of Christ in the Night of the Resurrection through Baptism. In our daily lives, our thoughts, words, and actions must be as open and upright as those of children of light. Like Christ, we must faithfully proclaim the living Christ to the world, helping more of our brothers and sisters living in darkness to step out of the shadows and into the light of life given to us by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love
in her contemplation of the Lord’s Passion
and her service of your Church,
grant, through her intercession,
that your people,
participating in the mystery of Christ,
may ever exult in the revelation of his glory.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica