The Gitanjali, Or: Song-offerings of Rabindranath Tagore May Sinclair writes the following aobut St. Catherine of Genoa:
She would at times, when in the garden, seize hold of the thorn-covered twigs of the rose-bushes with both her hands; and would not feel any pain while thus doing it in a transport of mind. She would also bite her hands and burn them, and this in order to divert, if possible, her interior oppression
I’m looking for the explanation of “divert, if possible, her interior oppression”. It is clear that spirituality is being talked about here, and St. Catherine’s love for God is what is intended to mean (I may be wrong) but I need a clear explanation.