Drawn by Love

The Mysticism of Catherine of Siena

1347-1380

"The heart is always drawn by love" Dialogue 26

"A marvelous site dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena" - Amy Welborn
 

    Kenelm Foster's article from the Westminster Dictionary
             of  Christian Spirituality
    Edmund G. Gardner, "Saint Catherine of Siena,"
             Catholic Encyclopedia 1908

    Articles and books on the life and teachings of
             Catherine of Siena  

     Letter T273 describing an execution of a young man
     Letter T272 on which the Dialogue is based

     "My Nature is Fire" prayer (Noffke 12; Cavallini XXII)

    Benedict Ashley, OP, "Guide to
                                  Saint Catherine's Dialogue"
                                  [from Cross and Crown 29 (1977): 237-249]
    Benedict Ashley, OP, "St. Catherine and
                                  Contemporary Spirituality"
    Benedict Ashley, OP, St. Catherine of Siena's Principles
                                                of Spiritual Direction  [from
                                    Spirituality  Today 33:1 (March 1981): 43-52]
     Kenelm Foster, OP, Introduction to
                                     I, Catherine.Selected writings of
                                     St. Catherine of Siena
                                        (on both her life and teaching)
    Kenelm Foster, OP, "St. Catherine's Teaching on Christ"
    Edmund G. Gardner, "St. Catherine of Siena" (1906)   
    Hilda C. Graef, "St. Catherine of Siena--A Mystic
                                    in the World," from The Way of the
                                   Mystics. Cork, 1947. 
     Hilda Graef, "Catherine of Siena" from The Light and
                                   the Rainbow. London, 1959  NEW
     Alvaro M. Grion, OP   "The Mystical Personality of St. Catherine 
                                                 of  Siena" (1950)  NEW
     Mary O'Driscoll, OP, "Catherine the Theologian"
    Ann Walsh, OP [Sr. Dominic], "St. Catherine
                                  of Siena: Doctor of the Church"

Marie Flood, OP, Catherine of Siena on Religious Obedience NEW
Bp. Michael O. Jackels   "Ontological Poverty"   NEW
Thomas McDermott, OP, "Catherine of Siena's Teaching on Self- 
                                  Knowledge"
Suzanne Noffke, OP,  "Catherine of Siena. Justly Doctor of the 
                                  Church?"
Thomas McDermott, OP  Catherine of Siena and Lent  NEW

    Vida Scudder, Saint Catherine of Siena as Seen
                                  in Her  Letters
    Algar Thorold's 1906 translation of the Dialogue
                                of Catherine of Siena  (A much better contemporary
                                translation  of the Dialogue is Suzanne Noffke's
                                published by Paulist Press. See our "Suggested
                                Reading List" above for more information).
    Suzanne Noffke's 1980 translation of the Dialogue (excerpts)
    Raymond of Capua's Life of Catherine of Siena (COMING)
    Arrigo Levasti, My Servant, Catherine

   Dr. Maiju Lehmijoki-Gardner, "Practical Mystics: Catherine of Siena
                            and Her Circle of Dominican Lay Women"

    Quotations of Catherine of Siena  NEW ONES ADDED

     Drawn by Love PowerPoint (.ppt)     (Powerpoint)

      Vanni portrait of Catherine
      14th century bust of Catherine
      La sacra testa (the relic of her head) (Historical account)
            Image of the relic

This website is intended as a resource to the mystical thought of Catherine of Siena (c. 1347-1380), Dominican saint, mystic, Doctor of the Church, and one of the most remarkable women of the 14th century. 

Although much has been written about her life, relatively little attention has been given to her spiritual teaching  as found in the compendium of her mystical thought known as the Dialogue, her 381 letters, and 26 prayers.  In this website we have brought together some of the very best but often hard-to-find resources on Catherine's thought in the hope of filling this lacuna in spirituality.  Every effort has been made to post materials on this website in such a way that citations for academic papers can be made without having to find the originals in a library.  We hope to add new materials to this site from time-to-time--so please come back often.

Catherine's thought has long been regarded as somewhat difficult and even impenetrable owing to the lack of English translations of her works (a problem which, for the most part, no longer exists) and the fact that many of her teachings were dictated to others over a period of time while she was in a mystical state and therefore contain interruptions, repetitions, and overlapping arguments. However, we feel certain that with the help of the material on this website you will be able to "unlock the door" of her mysticism and begin to experience its tremendous richness--- and perhaps be helped along on your own spiritual journey.

If you know little or nothing about Catherine of Siena, then we suggest that you begin by reading Arrigo Levasti’s excellent biography entitled  My Servant, Catherine which is posted on this website.  Regarding Catherine’s writings, we suggest that you begin with an edition of her letters---perhaps Mary O’Driscoll’s collection entitled Catherine of Siena: Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity or Vida Scudder’s Saint Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters which, although available on this website, is a dated translation.    The Dialogue, since it requires a bit more effort, should perhaps not be read first.  Before reading it for the first time be sure to read Benedict Ashley’s article “Guide to Saint Catherine’s Dialogue” on this website.  To further understand Catherine’s mystical thought, read the superb articles by Kenelm Foster and others also posted on this website as well as Thomas McDermott's book, Catherine of Siena: Spiritual development in her life and teaching (see below). When you’ve been “hooked” on Catherine, then you’re probably ready to read Raymond of Capua’s  medieval biography The Life of Catherine of Siena.

Announcing a new resource...
 

Catherine of Siena
 Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching
By Thomas McDermott, OP
New York: Paulist Press, 2008
368 pp.

In his ground-breaking, systematic presentation of Catherine of Siena’s teachings, Thomas McDermott draws on Catherine’s writings to explain her principal teachings in relation to spiritual development and identifies her possible sources as well as her areas of originality. By examining Catherine’s life and mystical experiences, McDermott shows how she grew spiritually and how her growth corresponds to her later teachings. Finally, he explicates what he regards as the fundamental message of Catherine’s life and teaching. Students of mysticism and spirituality will find this book a trustworthy guide through the rich mysticism of one of the 14th century’s most amazing women.  Preface by Fr. Wojciech Giertych, OP, Theologian to the Papal Household

“Thomas McDermott’s magisterial book is the first work in English that does full justice to the systematic theological importance of Catherine of Siena’s teaching. Readers will find their thinking freed from the styles and whims of so much writing on ‘spirituality’ and set firmly on the path that Jesus himself trod with his disciples.”
                  —Benedict M. Ashley, OP, Professor Emeritus
                  Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, MO

 “In this well-researched book, Thomas McDermott has unraveled the many intertwining threads in Catherine of Siena’s teaching on spiritual development to produce a logical and convincing description of the spiritual journey along the Christ-Bridge. Catherine of Siena offers its readers many helpful markers on their own journey toward God.”
                   —Mary O’Driscoll, OP
                  Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome

 “The merit of Father McDermott’s book is that it tackles some of the most difficult aspects of St. Catherine of Siena’s teaching. A demanding but enriching work which brings our understanding of Catherine an important step forward.”
                         —Fr. Paul Murray, OP, author of
                          The New Wine of Dominican Spirituality

To order, go to: amazon.com

Preview it here: google.books

Also of interest...

The Letters of Catherine of Siena, Vol. IV
Translated with notes by Suzanne Noffke, OP
Tempe, AZ: Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies, 2008.

The long-awaited fourth and final volume of Catherine's letters
with extensive notes.

To order, go to: amazon.com

This site is managed by Fr.Thomas McDermott, OP,  who teaches spiritual theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, 5200 Glennon Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63119, U.S.A.   (mcdermott@kenrick.edu).

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    Five Wednesdays Devotion to St. Catherine of Siena (1955)
    Litany of St. Catherine of Siena   NEW

   Letter of Ser Barduccio di Piero Canigiani on the death
      of Catherine of Siena    
 

■ Christian mysticism and related topics

    Catherine of Siena's letters in Italian
    Letters of Catherine's Disciples in Italian
    Catherinian Basilica of Saint Dominic in Siena
    Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
    Associazione Internazionale Caterinati
      Il Centro Internazionale di Studi Cateriniani
            Youtube video clip on the International Study Center  NEW
             

    Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
    Office of Vocations, Archdiocese of Saint Louis
    Order of Preachers (Dominicans) international web site
    Dominican Province of Saint Albert the Great, USA
    The Eckhart Society

This site was last updated January 22, 2010