Yesterday while out and about in the parish where I now live I wandered into the Saint Joseph’s Church, Old Youghal Road, Mayfield and in my pondering on the many stained glass windows donated in memory of parishioners over the years was surprised to find a window depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Ursula. (in the inscription Catherine is spelled with a K!) The windows are dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Dwyer – I wonder who she was and why whoever gave the window in her memory chose Catherine and Ursula? Or perhaps did Kathleen herself request these two martyrs be engraved in stained glass in her memory?
In this area there is no Ursuline connection, no convent, no school – perhaps Kathleen was a past pupil of one of our schools in other parts of Cork city and had heard the stories of Ursula and Catherine…perhaps not.
I will never know the answer to my question Why? But it does give me food for thought to reflect on these women who are part of our Ursuline story.
Saint Ursula, a 4th century young woman who have chosen to remain a virgin and made her pilgrim journey across Europe was martyred in Cologne by the Huns. Today she is patron of that city and the eleven drops of blood in the city crest remind us of her story and her death alongside her companions who made the journey with her.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria “lived at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of Emperor Maxentius. Of royal blood she was a lady of stunning beauty, considerable wealth and of first rate education. She sought counsel from a wise and saintly ascetic Christian and was converted to the faith. On the night of her baptism, she dreamt of Mary and the Christ Child. Christ said: ‘She is now worthy and I accept her as my bride.’ Christ then placed a ring on her hand, saying, ‘Today I take thee as my bride, for all eternity’ – a kind of confirmation experience of her daring life choice. Shortly after that the emperor demanded that the people of Alexandria show their loyalty to the state through their devotion to the old Gods. Catherine refused. She was attached to a huge wheel edged with sharp blades but it fell apart before it could do harm. Finally, she was beheaded, but before she died she said: ‘Do not grieve, but rather be joyous for I go now to meet my Saviour, my Creator, my bridegroom, Jesus Christ.’ “ (from www.ursulines.ie)
Saint Angela Merici inspired by the early women virgin martyrs she had heard the stories of being told by her father as a child as he read The Golden Book of the Saints to her chose to name her newly formed group of women making a promise of virginity ‘The Company of Saint Ursula’ (1535) and she chose 25th November, the Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria as the foundation day – when the first 28 members of the Company came together in Brescia, N. Italy to sign the Book of the Company.
Here in this church the two are standing side by side in the windows – no reference to Angela Merici or to an Ursuline connection. But for me a gentle reminder of the history and the story that is mine, and all Ursulines since 1535 to embrace and to live fully each day. It is to be ready to give and not to count the cost, in professing vows it is to consecrate my life to God as the centre of each day of my life, it is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to each person I encounter on my own journey – to not be afraid to speak for the truth and beauty of the Gospel.
As I sat and pondered how these two women came to be in stained glass in a church on the north side of Cork city I said a prayer for Kathleen Dwyer and for those who gave the windows in her memory and for this timely reminder of our Ursuline story.
(Saint Joseph’s Church, Mayfield, Cork was opened in 1881 – the Ursuline Sisters came to Cork in 1771)
Karen OSU