Catherine of Siena: Selected Letters

This volume offers a fresh translation of St. Catherine of Siena's letters that are faithful to the oral, metaphor-filled language of an uneducated woman.

Endorsements

With Hildegard of Bingen and Bridget of Sweden, Catherine of Siena was one of the great mothers of the medieval Church, women who knew how to harmonize mysticism and prophecy, that is, a profound experience of God and a dynamic engagement in history. The Dominican mantellata lived through the fourteenth century, a dramatic and violent period that was marked by the Black Death, famine, and war; she weathered a major crisis in the Church that she sought to face with extraordinary energy and hope. Catherine's spiritual message and her political and social commitment are documented in her letters, a rich selection offered here. The translation is accurate and faithful in language and style to the critical text, while accessible to the contemporary reader.

"The introduction and commentary situate Catherine in the reality of her time, and also help readers to understand how the image of this woman has become a powerful symbol, capable of bringing together visions and projects of renewal and reform of both the Church and society. Catherine's heritage has been limitless; she has been a constant reference model for Christian ideals and perfection, as well as for the self-awareness of women."
--Alessandra Bartolomei Romagnoli, professor of church history and culture, Gregorian University, Rome

"Diana Villegas has done English-language readers of Catherine of Siena a real service by providing a more literal translation in this selection of Catherine's letters. This translation reproduces the rhythm and structure of Catherine's original text better than other versions in English. By staying closer to Catherine's original expressions and terminology, Villegas is particularly effective in conveying Catherine's ideas. And she assists the reader in this respect by providing a concise but thorough introduction to major themes in Catherine's spirituality. This volume is a very welcome addition to the literature on this important fourteenth-century saint and spiritual master."
--F. Thomas Luongo, PhD, associate professor, Department of History, Tulane University

"While the depth of her mystical teaching has long been appreciated, Catherine of Siena's letters illuminate that she was also deeply grounded in the concerns of her times and the concrete lives of her correspondents. Her letters amply demonstrate that her spirituality is both active and contemplative, mystical and political, in ways that are deeply integrated with one another. Villegas's selection and translation of Catherine's letters opens a rich and fresh understanding of Catherine for scholars and students alike."
--Amy Maxey, PhD, assistant professor of spirituality and Rolheiser Chair in Spirituality, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas

Diana L. Villegas studied spirituality at the Institute of Spirituality of the Gregorian University, Rome, and obtained a PhD in theology from Fordham University, NY. Diana has pursued research and writing in spirituality together with involvement in professional societies as an independent scholar, publishing several peer reviewed articles. She is currently on the editorial board of Spiritus, the Journal of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.
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