Catherine of Siena: A Passionate Life

by Don Brophy

Overview

This biography of the great mystic and saint Catherine of Siena presents a moving, lucid portrait of the strong-minded and fiery young woman who campaigned for peace and struggled to reform the church during the turbulent 14th century, and became one of our most beloved spiritual figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933346458
Publisher:	BlueBridge
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Don Brophy was for many years acquiring editor and managing editor for the book publisher Paulist Press. He is the author of "One Hundred Great Catholic Books" and "The Story of Catholics in America." He lives in New York City.

What People are Saying About This

Bernard McGinn

Don Brophy has mined her letters, numerous records, and Catherine's mystical masterpiece, the Dialogue, to give today's reader a balanced and readable account of this extraordinary woman. (Bernard McGinn, author, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart )

Suzanne Noffke

Don Brophy has succeeded in a very difficult enterprise, presenting Catherine of Siena in all of her human and religious beauty and complexity to casual readers as well as to more serious ones. (Suzanne Noffke, OP, translator and interpreter of the works of Catherine of Siena)

Ursula King

A beautifully written account of the life and times of Catherine of Siena. It imaginatively captures the singularity of this great woman saint . . . An amazing tale, vividly described and fascinating to read. (Ursula King, author, Christian Mystics)

Joan Chittister

A masterpiece of content and context—a rare combination that makes a woman of the past a model for our own times. More than that, it's great writing! Enjoy! (Joan Chittister, OSB, author, The Gift of Years )

Jane Tylus

Written in language as evocative as Catherine's, Don Brophy's new book is a compelling and detailed study of one of medieval Europe's most fascinating women and the religious, social, and political dynamics of her day. (Jane Tylus, author, Reclaiming Catherine of Siena)

Editorial Reviews

Since the death of St. Catherine of Siena in 1380, scholars and devotees have attempted to recount her miraculous, uncommon, and powerful life. Most of these biographies have centered on only one aspect, her spiritual experience and influence. In this latest attempt, Brophy (The Story of Catholics in America) takes a different perspective. Using the few extant primary sources as well as an extensive library of secondary works, Brophy successfully places Catherine not only within the spiritual universe of medieval Europe but also within its complex social and political fabric. Using Catherine's own letters, Brophy reveals a powerful woman of the 14th century who strongly rebuked and advised kings and popes, built her own monastery, and wrote theology still in print today. Yet, she was still the daughter of a humble Siena dyer and remained close to the common people, regardless of her favor with the religious and political elite. Brophy manages to round out Catherine's life in a way no other biography has, preserving her spiritual magnificence even while placing her within the contexts of her fully lived earthly existence. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Brophy manages to round out Catherine's life in a way no other biography has, preserving her spiritual magnificence even while placing her within the contexts of her fully lived earthly existence."  —Publishers Weekly

"Respectful rather than awestruck, Brophy’s balanced account of an extraordinary woman will appeal to both devotees and scholars."  —Booklist

From the Publisher

Respectful rather than awestruck, Brophy’s balanced account of an extraordinary woman will appeal to both devotees and scholars.

Booklist