Comparison between Wycliffe Jean and St Catherine of Siena
... In particular these similarities of ideas can be seen in the works of Saint Catherine of Siena, a Dominican nun born in 1348 who wrote, among many other things, a work entitled The Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin of Siena, where she, in a state of ecstasy, dictates to her secretary several conversations she has with God. In these conversations God makes clear certain issues that coincide with some of John Wycliffe’s ideas, which cause him to be condemned as a heretic as can be seen in the Bull of Pope Gregory XI, Against John Wycliffe of 1382. This essay intends to show the similarities of ideas about the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Confession and Penance, and holding of temporal possessions that both Saint Catherine and John Wycliffe shared, yet was considered so distinctly opposing to the Catholic Church that they glorified one and persecuted the other. ... Such were the ideas of Wycliffe. ... ” The idea that Wycliffe presented posed a direct threat to the Church because if this idea were to spread, it would signify that clerical authority could be dissolved because a great many of them were indeed living in mortal sin. ... Wycliffe was condemned as a heretic for realizing this through his studies of scripture and doctrine, yet these same ideas are found in the work of Catherine of Sienna. ... In this part God tells Catherine, What I say of the universal body of the Holy Church I also say of My ministers, who stand and feed at the breasts of Holy Church; and not only should they feed themselves, but it is also their duty to feed and hold to those breast the universal body of Christian people…See then with what ignorance and darkness, and ingratitude, are administered, and with what filthy hands are handled this glorious milk and blood of My spouse, and with what presumption and irreverence they are received…For I give this blood and use It for salvation and perfection in the case of that man who disposes himself properly to receive it, for it gives life and adorns the soul with every grace, in proportion to the disposition and affection of him who receives It; similarly It gives death to whom who receives It unworthily, living in iniquity and in the darkness of mortal sin.