"This one is a wise virgin, and one from the number of the prudent." —Introit for the Mass of a Virgin not a Martyress
The life of Saint Catherine of Siena makes one forget for a moment that the other saints are saints; for her life is of such astoundingly glorious sanctity that even the great saints seem to pale in comparison to her magnificence. Truly one of the wise virgins, she was born to a merchant family in Siena in 1347 on the Feast of the Annunciation and dedicated her virginity to God at the age of 7, at which time she had also had a vision of Christ in majesty crowned like the pope. This latter element would influence her intense devotion to the papacy; indeed, it was perhaps largely by her efforts that the Barque of Peter persevered through tumultuous and difficult times. In her difficult teenage years, her desired path forward in steadfast religious devotion and stringent fasting was opposed by her family. Her solution was advice she later gave her confessor: "Build a cell inside your mind, from which you can never flee." Eventually, she joined a group of devout laywomen. At 21, she experienced a mystical marriage with Christ, and soon received the stigmata as well—though out of her humility, she prayed it be kept invisible; it was.
She labored in the Italian political turmoil of the 14th century, attempting to negotiate peace between Florence, Siena, and the Papal States. At a time when it seemed all things temporal and spiritual were under great distress, Catherine made it her goal to save the papacy from crumbling; to this end, she induced Pope Gregory XI to return from Avignon to Rome, thus ending the Avignon captivity. After miraculously learning to write and founding a monastery, she engaged in the writing of extraordinary tracts, the seraphic wisdom and mystical doctrines of which made her centuries later declared a Doctor of the Church. One last time, however, she was summoned to Rome to defend the papacy when the Great Western Schism broke out in 1378; it seems that her blessed soul was the only thing supporting the Chair of Peter in this devastating period. And after all that, she died in 1380, worn down by her enormous stringencies—only 33 years old.
In this captivating and substantial biography, meet the saint who saved the papacy and married Christ, who bore His wounds and did not eat except His Sacred Flesh. In short, meet the saint among saints, surely a wise virgin.
- Author:
- Alice Curtayne
- Imprint:
- TAN Books
- Pages:
- 288
- Publication Date:
- 12/1/1980
- Product Format:
- Paperbound
- Pdf:
- https://tanbooks.com/content/Pages%20from%20CatherineSiena_Preview.pdf
- Height:
- 7.00
- Width:
- 4.25
1 Review
-
Great read.
This was the third book by Alice Curtayne that I have read in the last few weeks. I first came across a new reprint edition of Twenty Tales of Irish Saints, and it was a wonderful read. Then I read the currently out of print More Tales of Irish Saints. And now this volume. My research to date indicates that she has 19 books that were published, and another that she edited. And I believe that only 3 of the 20 are currently in print. And it looks like I have some work cut out tracking down the others. For I have loved all three of Curtayne's books that I have read so far. But back to this specific book. This was the first book I have read dedicated just to Catherine of Siena. But I have read extensive selections from her writings during my academic career. Unlike her two collections of stories about saints, that were written for a younger audience. This book was written for the more mature reader. First published in 1929 this edition was first released in 1980, just a year before she passed away. I loved this book. And it made me want to learn more about Catherine and read more of Curtayne's writings as well. This book is very well researched. With an extensive bibliography and end notes sections. The first part of the book is called Crusading and the chapters in that part of the bookare: I An Unusual Vocation II The Re-Ordering Of A Life III In The Public Eye IV The School Of Mystics V Dieu Le Veult VI The Divine Seal VII The Tuscan League VIII In Exitu Israel IX The Peace-Maker X The Mystery Of Failure The section part of the book is called Schism and the chapters are: I In Die Nubis Et Caliginis II Disillusionment III The Hour Of Vigil IV The Martyr By Desire V The End VI The Cult Of Saint Catherine Of Siena The book begins with a historical perspective. Beginning with the plague ravaging Europe beginning when Catherine was only a year old. In setting the stage Alice states: "The effects of this catastrophe came slowly of course. The immediate survivors did not perceive any great change in the world about them. It was at least a quarter of a century before the results began to tell. They were, therefore, becoming obvious when Catherine Benincasa was grown up. Change was then apparent everywhere. After the Black Death, the feudal system was no more; the vernacular languages sprang up (England emerged from it, speaking English). Dante and Boccaccio illustrate the transition: on one side of the bridge of death, Dante almost apologizes for using the vernacular; he has to defend the novelty. But in Catherine's day, Boccaccio takes such use for granted. The Renaissance began to stir, making tense this epoch of transition." She also states: "The effect on the Church concerns us most. The Black Death shook it at a moment when it was ill-prepared. The Papacy had already lost prestige." And this is the environment that Catherine was born and lived. And from reading this story she spent a great deal of her time and effort restoring the papacy some of it's prestige. I do not know how someone could read this book and not have their faith challenged. Like many who encountered Catherine in real life if they are not a believer they will be challenged to believe. And if they are a believer they will be challenged. Reading about this woman's faith and devotion, to God, to the church and to her friends and family is incredibly inspiring. This book helped me fall in love with this saint, and the author of her story. I am very thankful to have read this book and encourage you to do so also!
