On anyone’s spiritual journey, dialog with God is important. St. Catherine of Siena, elevated to the rank of Doctor of the Church along with St. Teresa of Avila, took time during her short life (33 years) to write in her native language so that the ordinary folks could benefit from her talks with God.
Seemingly in one of her locutions with God, the Creator asked her "Do you know how the three virtues of love, humility and discretion stand together?"
He suggested that she imagine a circle drawn on a piece of ground. A tree with an offshoot projecting from the trees side is planted in the center of the circle.
God proposes to the saint that the soul is a tree that exists because of God’s and the person’s love. It is this genuine love that gives the
God, she wrote, said to her that "It is necessary then, that the root of this tree, that is the affection of the soul, should grow in, and issue from, the circle of true self-knowledge which is contained in me (p 14 Little Talks With God)."
"This knowledge of yourself and of me is found in the earth of true humility, which is as wide as the diameter of the circle, that is, as wide as the knowledge of self and of me. (P 15)"
Continuing on, according to Catherine, God said to her, "Thus, the tree of love feeds on humility, bringing forth from its side the offshoot of true discretion, from the heart of the tree. And true discretion is the affection of love in the soul, and the patience, proving that I am in the soul and the soul in me (p 15)."
Somewhat in summary, the dialog continues, "In this way, therefore, the soul reaches the end and goal of its being, that is myself, its God, who am eternal Life (p 15)."
So, on the journey, consider how virtues are a significant part of our relationship with the God who made you and me, the same God who spoke with Catherine.
