The ShinsungHwa of Catherine of Siena (2019): Unveiling Sacred Energy

A Brief Introduction to Catherine of Siena’s ShinsungHwa

The symbol of the cosmic principle that emerges above Catherine of Siena’s spiritual core reveals her divine calling to positively influence and guide the world around her.

Catherine’s path to joining the Dominican Order began with a profound spiritual experience at the age of six. While walking to visit her married sister, she witnessed an apparition of Christ above the roof of a Dominican church. In this vision, she saw Christ as the King of Kings seated upon His throne, which inspired her deep desire to join the Dominican Order. Though her mother initially opposed this calling, Catherine persisted through various challenges until she was finally able to enter religious life.

Throughout her spiritual journey, Catherine experienced frequent visions and mystical encounters that drew many devoted followers to her. However, she also faced spiritual trials, wrestling with dark and impure thoughts that tested her faith. At twenty-one, she experienced a mystical marriage with Christ, during which He placed a golden ring upon her finger. In this sacred moment, Christ promised to strengthen her faith and protect her with spiritual armor that would help her overcome any suffering. The ten layers of energy surrounding her body in the ShinsungHwa appear like this very armor of faith.

In the material realm beneath her feet, symbols representing spiritual organizations emerge—specifically referencing the Dominican Order that became her spiritual home. The broad rectangular form that extends across this lower region represents the world itself, the vast stage upon which she would fulfill her divine mission and calling.

Quote

“I am pure and eternal love, so you must always come to me through love alone. Think of me as a cleansing fire for your soul. The closer you get to me, the cleaner your heart becomes. But when you move away from me, your heart gets cloudy and dark. People in the world become mean and selfish because they have turned away from me.”
_From “The Dialogue” by Saint Catherine of Siena

“If you want to have a pure heart, you need to ask me for three special things. First, ask me to help you remember all the good things I’ve given you, and let love bring you close to me. Second, ask me to help you truly understand how much I love you – more than you can imagine. Finally, don’t worry about judging other people’s bad choices. Instead, ask me to help you understand what I want from you. Remember, I’m the one who judges, not you. When you ask for these three things, you’ll become the person you’re meant to be.”
_From “The Dialogue” by Saint Catherine of Siena

“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”

“Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.”

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”

“The soul is in God and God in the soul, just as the fish is in the sea and the sea in the fish.”

“Love transforms one into what one loves.”

“All the way to heaven is heaven, because Jesus said, ‘I am the way.'”

“Love follows knowledge.”

“We’ve had enough exhortations to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues—I see the world is rotten because of silence.”

The Young Woman Who Changed History

Catherine of Siena grew up as one of 25 children in a bustling 14th-century household. Even at seven years old, she seemed to sense that her path would be different from her siblings’. Over her 33 years, Catherine would go on to have quite an eventful life, wielding considerable influence during a turbulent period in medieval history.

Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa was born on March 25, 1347, in the beautiful Italian city of Siena. Her father worked as a wool dyer, making their family solidly middle-class by medieval standards. With so many siblings, you might think Catherine would just blend into the crowd. Instead, she stood out from the very beginning.

While other girls her age played with dolls, Catherine spent hours in prayer and claimed to see visions. When her parents tried to arrange a marriage for her at twelve, she had a brilliant solution: she cut off all her hair. This wasn’t just teenage rebellion—it was a calculated move that worked. Her horrified parents gave up on finding her a husband and eventually let her join a religious group called the Dominican Third Order when she turned eighteen.

Finding Her Voice

Catherine spent three years living quietly in a small room in her family’s house, praying and fasting. But this wasn’t the end of her story—it was just the beginning. Around age twenty-one, she experienced what she called a “mystical marriage” with Jesus, and suddenly everything changed. She emerged from her room ready to serve the world.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Italy in the 1300s was a mess. Wars raged between city-states, the plague had killed millions, and the Pope had abandoned Rome to live in France. Catherine threw herself into helping the sick and poor, especially plague victims. People were amazed by her energy and wisdom, and soon she had gathered a devoted group of followers.

The Letter Writer Who Moved Mountains

Here’s where Catherine’s story gets really interesting. Despite having no formal education and learning to read and write only in her twenties, she became one of history’s most influential letter writers. She dictated hundreds of letters to princes, cardinals, and ordinary people alike, offering advice on everything from personal problems to international politics.

Her most famous correspondence was with Pope Gregory XI, who was living comfortably in Avignon, France, while Rome sat empty. Catherine bombarded him with letters, essentially telling the most powerful man in Christendom to get back to work. She wrote: “Come! Come! Come! Don’t wait for time, because time isn’t waiting for you”. Remarkably, it worked. In 1376, Gregory returned to Rome, largely due to Catherine’s persistent campaigning.

Catherine didn’t just write letters—she traveled extensively throughout Italy, mediating between warring cities and trying to bring peace. This was incredibly dangerous work for anyone, let alone a young woman in medieval times. She was once nearly killed by an angry mob in Florence who opposed the Pope.

Her influence extended far beyond Italy’s borders. She advocated for church reform, promoted crusades, and even served as Florence’s ambassador to the papal court. Cardinals and princes sought her advice, and her reputation for holiness and political wisdom spread across Europe.

The Author Who Became a Saint

Between all her traveling and letter writing, Catherine also authored a major theological work called “The Dialogue of Divine Providence”. This book, dictated to her secretaries, explores the relationship between God and humanity. Combined with her letters, her writings were so influential that she was later declared a Doctor of the Church—one of only four women to receive this honor.

Catherine’s health suffered from years of extreme fasting and intense activity. She died in Rome on April 29, 1380, at just 33 years old. Even in death, her influence continued to grow. She was canonized as a saint in 1461 and later became a patron saint of both Italy and Europe.

Catherine’s story isn’t without controversy. Her extreme fasting practices would be considered unhealthy by today’s standards, and some of her political positions were questionable. She supported the controversial Pope Urban VI during the Great Schism, a period when the Catholic Church was divided between competing popes.

Yet her impact on both religious and political life was undeniable. She helped end the “Babylonian Captivity” of the papacy, promoted peace between warring Italian states, and left behind a body of theological writing that continues to influence scholars today.

Why Catherine Still Matters

Catherine of Siena’s life demonstrates how one determined person can change the course of history. Born into a large family with no special advantages, she used her intelligence, conviction, and remarkable communication skills to influence popes, princes, and ordinary people alike.

Her story reminds us that age and formal education aren’t always prerequisites for making a difference. Catherine proved that sometimes the most powerful tool you can have is the courage to speak truth to power—even when that power belongs to the most influential people in the world.