 In Catherine's day, the very few were wealthy; the many were very poor - pathetically, desperately and unbelievably poor. Few thought anything could be done; some thought nothing should be done. Catherine thought differently.
In Catherine's day, the sick and poor were destitute of help. The number of doctors and health care personnel being totally inadequate to Ireland's needs, the poor were thought of as of little consequence. Catherine thought differently.
In Catherine's day, the poor lacked knowledge, education and opportunity. It was thought that if the poor wanted these things enough, they would find a way to get them. Catherine thought differently.
In Catherine's day ignorance of the true teachings of one's faith, ignorance of another's beliefs, misunderstanding and ignorance of the Gospel message led to acts of shameful neglect, bloody vengeance, and unbelievable atrocities. Most were satisfied with their spiritual ignorance; refusing to recognize that it was spiritual ignorance. Catherine was not satisfied.
In Catherine's day, some who had been well off became impoverished. Many thought it well turned that the former rich should learn privation. Catherine felt compassion.
In Catherine's day, the new rich were resented, resisted, and thought to be English sympathizers. Catherine saw their potential for doing.
In our day, in spite of energetic measures to alleviate the ills of society - poverty, sickness, ignorance - the poor, the sick, the ignorant abound; the alienated, the lonely, the deserted, and the physically abused abound.
In our world of indifference concerning belief, the erosion of faith in God and in transcendent reality have spawned self-destructive greed, selfishness and lifestyles of outmaneuvering one another. Out of consequent erosion of integrity in word and work, dishonesty, brutality and destructiveness abound.
When were spiritual and temporal works of mercy, performed with tender courage, more needed?
In her day, listening and hearing, looking and seeing, Catherine found her response - misericordia.
She brought her heart to misery. By courageous, contagious concern for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the poor, the sick and the ignorant, she broke through the impossibilities of her time. She animated many to walk with her. She animated others at centers of wealth, power, and influence to share in her heroic efforts.
 She connected the rich to the poor
The healthy to the sick
The educated and skilled to the uninstructed
The influential to those of no consequence
The powerful to the weak
To do the work of God on earth.
Tender Courage, A Brief Sketch of the First Sister of Mercy by Sister M. Joanna Regan, R.S.M
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