Notable Quote: Blood and Fire by St. Catherine of Siena

Today, April 29^th is the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena, the patron saint of this blog.  I take this quote from today’s “Meditation of the Day” in Magnificat.  It is put along side the passage John 3:18, where Christ tell Nicodemus that he must be born again by water and spirit.

 

I remember what Jesus once said to one of his servants.  She asked, “Once you were dead, why did you want your side to be opened and to pour out such a torrent of blood?”  And he said, “There are many reasons, but I will tell you two important ones.  First of all, I wanted this because by having my side opened I showed you the secret of my heart.  For my heart held more love for humankind than any external physical act could show.  The other reason was the baptism that was given to the human race because of the merits of my blood.”  You know that he poured out blood and water.  The water was Christian baptism, which gives us the life and form of grace, and which divine eternal Goodness provided through the merits of the blood of the Lamb as a remedy for our poverty and ignorance.

 

And for those who might not be able to have baptism by water, he instituted the baptism of blood and fire.  Their blood would be their baptism, as it was for the holy innocents.  It would have for them because of the blood of God’s Son; I mean the martyr’s blood had and still has worth because of his blood.

 

There is more, but I’ll only quote the first two paragraphs. She is such a brilliant woman, self-educated, self-motivated. I have no idea who she is referring to that's Jesus' servant who asks him the question, or where she gets Christ's response. Magnificat cites from The Letters of Catherine of Siena, Vol 1, Suzanne Noftke, O.P. translator.

Faith Filled Friday: “Redemption” by Johnny Cash

This is the perfect Lenten song.  From the first time I heard this song and no matter how many times I’ve heard it, it still overwhelms me.  This is Johnny Cash at his finest and most authentic.  This song just hits you right in the gut.

I have to post the lyrics as well.

Redemption

From the hands it came down

 From the side it came down

 From the feet it came down

 And ran to the ground

 Between heaven and hell

 A teardrop fell

 In the deep crimson dew

 The tree of life grew

And the blood gave life

 To the branches of the tree

 And the blood was the price

 That set captives free

 And the numbers that came

 Through the fire and the flood

 Clung to the tree

 And were redeemed by the blood

From the tree streamed a light

 That started the fight

 'Round the tree grew a vine

 On whose fruit I could dine

 My old friend Lucifer came

 Fought to keep me in chains

 But I saw through the tricks

 Of six-sixty-six

And the blood gave life

 To the branches of the tree

 And the blood was the price

 That set captives free

 And the numbers that came

 Through the fire and the flood

 Clung to the tree

 And were redeemed by the blood

From his hands it came down

 From his side it came down

 From his feet it came down

 And ran to the ground

 And a small inner voice

 Said "You do have a choice."

 The vine engrafted me

 And I clung to the tree

And the blood gave life

 To the branches of the tree

 And the blood was the price

 That set captives free

 And with the numbers that came

 Through the fire and the flood

 I clung to the tree

 And were redeemed by the blood

From his hands it came down

 From his side it came down

 From the feet it came down

 And ran to the ground

"Redemption" is track #11 on the album American Recordings. It was written by Shakur, Tupac Amaru / Rouse, Ricky. Read more: Johnny Cash - Redemption Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Wow, I foundd it hard to believe Tupac Shakur gets a songwriting credit on this, but there it is.  It’s a great song.