‘Eternal Father, you said, ‘Let us make humankind to our own image and likeness’. Thus you were willing to share with us your own greatness. You gave us the intellect to share your truth. You gave us wisdom to share your goodness. And you gave us the free will to love that which is true and just.
Why did you so dignify us? It was because you looked upon us, and fell in love with us. It was a love which first prompted you to create us; and it was love which caused you to share with us your truth and goodness.
Yet your heart must break when you see us turn against you. You must weep when you see us abusing our intellect in pursuit of that which is false. You must cry with pain when we distort our wisdom in order to justify evil.
But you never desert us. Out of the same love that caused you to create us, you have now sent your only Son to save us. He is your perfect image and likeness, and so through him we can be restored to your image and likeness.’ Amen.
Catherine of Siena (c. 1347-1380)
