Siena, Italy - Week Six

There are times when I visit a Catholic Church and I think, “Catholics are kind of weird…” Our visit to Siena was one of those times.

Shrine where St. Catherine's
head is kept

When St. Catherine of Siena died, somebody somewhere thought it was a good idea to separate her body from her head, and when Mo, X, and I went to Siena, we were privileged to see her incorruptible head! For reasons only known to God, there are instances where a saint’s body or part of it, decomposes at a slower rate than usual. Although this is a miracle, it is still a little strange. Nonetheless, we were blessed with the opportunity to pray in front of the head of this amazing and radical saint. We knelt at the spot where Jesus appeared to her and proposed with a wedding ring that was only seen by her.

Picture of the poster of the Miracle

Siena held another surprise in store for us: a Eucharistic Miracle! In the mid-1700s, a thief had stolen a tabernacle from the local church. The people of Siena came together and prayed for the preservation of the consecrated Hosts. Their prayers were stronger than they knew because these Hosts have been preserved for over 300 years! They have had several scientific tests performed – they placed unconsecrated bread next to these Hosts and the bread dissolved after 10 years. But not the Hosts! And we got to kneel three feet away from this miracle! I got to see it with my very own eyes!! It made me kneel in awe and wonder how one could lack faith in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee! Give us faith to trust in You.