The publication of the Life of St Catherine of Genoa at this moment is, for several reasons, opportune. The reading of it will correct the misconceptions of many who honestly fancy that the Catholic Church encourages a mechanical piety, fixes the attention of the soul almost, if not altogether, on outward observances, and inculcates nothing beyond a complete submission to her authority and discipline. The life of our Saint is an example of the reverse of that picture. It makes clear the truth that the immediate guide of the Christian soul is the Holy Spirit, and that her uncommon fidelity to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, made this holy woman worthy of being numbered by the Church among that class of her most cherished children, who have attained the highest degree of Divine love which it is possible for human beings to reach upon earth. The mistake of the persons above spoken of arises from their failing to see that the indwelling Holy Spirit is the divine life of the Church, and that her sacraments have for their end to convey the Holy Spirit to the soul. It arises also from their not sufficiently appreciating the necessity of the authority and discipline of the Church, as safeguards to the soul from being led astray from the paths of the Holy Spirit. Without doubt God could have, if He had so pleased, saved and sanctified the souls of men in spite of their ignorance, perversity, and weakness, by the immediate communication and action of the Holy Spirit in their souls, independently of an external organization like the Church. But such was not His pleasure, or His plan. For His own wise reasons, He chose to establish a Church which He authorized to teach the world whatsoever He had commanded, which He promised to be with unto the end of all time, whose ministry, sacraments, and government should serve Him, as His body had, to continue and complete, by a visible means, the work of man's redemption. Hence it is an entirely false view of the nature and design of the Church to suppose that it was intended to be, or is in its action, or ever was, or ever can be, a substitute for the authority of Christ, or the immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit in the Christian soul.
Saint Catherine of Genoa (Caterina Fieschi Adorno, 1447 ? 15 September 1510) was an Italian Roman Catholic saint and mystic, known for her work among the sick and poor, and for her writing about her mystical experiences. This book contains the Life and Doctrine of St Catherine of Genoa, The Spiritual Dialogues and The Treatise on Purgatory.
St. Catherine was born at Genoa in 1447, died at the same place 15 September, 1510. The life of St. Catherine of Genoa may be more properly described as a state than as a life in the ordinary sense. When about twenty-six years old she became the subject of one of the most extraordinary operations of God in the human soul of which we have record, the result being a marvellous inward condition that lasted till her death. In this state, she received wonderful revelations, of which she spoke at times to those around her, but which are mainly embodied in her two celebrated works: the "Dialogues of the Soul and Body", and the "Treatise on Purgatory". Her modern biographies, chiefly translations or adaptations of an old Italian one which is itself founded on "Memoirs" drawn up by the saint's own confessor and a friend, mingle what facts they give of her outward life with accounts of her supernatural state and "doctrine", regardless of sequence, and in an almost casual fashion that makes them entirely subservient to her psychological history.
The Life and Doctrine is a biographical sketch of St. Catherine, filled with her thoughts and experiences with God. In this, there are many examples of how we too can reach perfection in our relationship with God.Saint Catherine of Genoa (Caterina Fieschi Adorno, 1447 – 15 September 1510) is an Italian Roman Catholic saint and mystic, admired for her work among the sick and the poor and remembered because of various writings describing both these actions and her mystical experiences. She was a member of the noble Fieschi family, and spent most of her life and her means serving the sick, especially during the plague which ravagedGenoa in 1497 and 1501. She died in that city in 1510.
The truth about Purgatory . . . revealed more than 500 years ago to a saint Tainted by neither superstition nor skepticism, St. Catherine of Genoa's vision of Purgatory can help readers face the sorrows of life with faith and courage. They'll learn why it's sensible to believe in Purgatory, why it's both a sorrowful and a joyful place, and how its fires reflect God's love.
Saint Catherine was born in Genoa, in 1447, of the family of Fieschi. Her parents married her to Giuliano Adorno, of a noble Genoese house. After his death she served the sick in the Great Hospital, where her body, still perfect and visible, is venerated over the high altar in the choir of the religious which is attached to the wards, and looks down upon the external Church; and her memory is blessed among the Saints as the Seraph of Genoa.
Catherine (1447-1510), a married lay woman, was a mystic and a humanitarian, and a constant contemplative who cared for the sick and destitute. Purgation and Purgatory is a collection of sayings on spiritual purification in this life and the next. The Spiritual Dialogue gives us a readable and coherent inner history of Catherine.
Saint Catherine was born in Genoa, in 1447, of the family of Fieschi. Her parents married her to Giuliano Adorno, of a noble Genoese house. After his death she served the sick in the Great Hospital, where her body, still perfect and visible, is venerated over the high altar in the choir of the religious which is attached to the wards, and looks down upon the external Church; and her memory is blessed among the Saints as the Seraph of Genoa.
The kindness of God provides us with all the grace and knowledge we need to arrive at that eternal Beatitude to which he calls each one of us. Occasionally, he even bestows extraordinary apprehensions on certain holy mystics, thereby inspiriting us to run in the paths of his goodness toward our perfect fulfillment . . .
The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena contains four of the 14th-century saint's most famous works. During periods of ecstasy, she dictated these often subtle and always insightful essays to her followers, speaking directly to other devout Christians, addressing their spiritual concerns and pitfalls with a loving, though strict compassion. Believers and students of religion will find this book, as eloquent as it is inspiring, accessible and thought-provoking. Italian affiliate of the Dominican Order CATHERINE OF SIENA (1347 1380) dedicated her life to Christ at an early age, declaring a lifelong commitment to virginity at age seven. She practiced severe mortifications of the flesh, including long periods of fasting where she ate only sacrament wafers. Most of her writings were in the form of letters, over 300 of which have survived.
The Dialogue takes the form of a conversation between God and Saint Catherine of Siena covering four subjects. The treatise on divine providence explains the connection between love and suffering, emphasizing that God wants only our love and the service we give to our neighbors. The treatise on discretion introduces the metaphor of the Bridge from earth to heaven. The treatise on prayer gives instructions for the progress from vocal to mental prayer, and describes the higher degrees of prayer. The treatise on obedience covers the necessity and rewards of obedience. Catherine of Siena was a third order Dominican in fourteenth-century Tuscany. As a young adult, she devoted herself to prayer, fasting, and mortifications. After this period of solitude, with its accompanying ecstatic visions, she went out into the world to care for the sick and the poor. Catherine also worked to bring peace and unity among Christians. She was canonized by Pope Pius II and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.
2016 Reprint of 1907 Edition. Translated by Algar Thorold. The Dialogue takes the form of a conversation between God and Saint Catherine of Siena covering four subjects. The treatise on divine providence explains the connection between love and suffering, emphasizing that God wants only our love and the service we give to our neighbors. The treatise on discretion introduces the metaphor of the Bridge from earth to heaven. The treatise on prayer gives instructions for the progress from vocal to mental prayer, and describes the higher degrees of prayer. The treatise on obedience covers the necessity and rewards of obedience. Catherine of Siena was a third order Dominican in fourteenth-century Tuscany. As a young adult, she devoted herself to prayer, fasting, and mortifications. After this period of solitude, with its accompanying ecstatic visions, she went out into the world to care for the sick and the poor. Catherine also worked to bring peace and unity among Christians. She was canonized by Pope Pius II and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.
2014 Reprint of 1950 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Catholic Church. She remains a greatly respected figure for her spiritual writings, and for her political boldness to "speak truth to power." This was exceptional for a woman in this period. The "Dialogue" speaks to the whole spiritual life of man and is presented in the form of a series of colloquies between the Eternal Father and the human soul (represented by Catherine herself). It is a mystical counterpart in prose to Dante's "Divina Commedia." This edition is translated from the original Italian by Algar Thorold.
The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena", sometime referred to as "The Dialogue of Divine Providence", is a series of spiritual treatises by 14th century mystic and political activist Saint Catherine de Siena. Born in 1347 in the city of Siena in Tuscany, Italy, Catherine was well-known for her mystical visions and developed a close and influential relationship with Pope Gregory XI, an unusual accomplishment for a woman of her time. Her most lasting legacies are her "Dialogue" and her surviving letters, which are considered some of the most important works of early Tuscan and Italian literature. It is widely believed the treatises that compose the "Dialogue" were dictated by Catherine while she was experiencing ecstatic mystical visions and contain the wisdom and revelations given to her by God. Catherine instructs the faithful in how to have a more personal and rewarding relationship to God, how to give oneself fully over to prayer and devotion, and how difficulties and suffering in life can be transformed into something positive and beautiful through faith and God's love. Saint Catherine of Siena's insights remain pertinent and instructive centuries after they were first published and endure as a timeless classic of Christian spiritual literature. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.
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