Catherine of Siena: A Passionate Life »

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.

Against the backdrop of 14th-century Europe—a time of social turmoil, outbreaks of the bubonic plague, a catastrophic war that devastated the continent, and an overall transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance—this intelligent and comprehensive biography of an oftentimes irreverent, intense, and fiery woman offers an entry point into the life of Catherine of Siena. Deeply researched and based on the latest sources, this history recalls Saint Catherine—as she would later be called—as a champion of peace who cajoled and, at times, begged popes, monarchs, and ordinary citizens to do her will. Describing her sheer fortitude and personal magnetism, this accessible and absorbing account details the spiritual and political beliefs of Catherine of Siena as she attempted to restore order to a fractured Italian city-state system, campaigned Pope Gregory XI in Avignon to return the papacy to Rome, and tried to resolve the Western Schism of 1378—a challenge that proved to be her ultimate test. Perfect for historians and readers of any faith or none, this compelling exploration paints a human portrait of a great mystic and spiritual teacher, who was canonized in 1461 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

Publishers Weekly

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.)

Part One: Child Of The City

1 The Dyer's Daughter 3

2 The Mantle 20

3 The Room 37

4 The City 55

Part Two: Mamma Of Tuscany

5 "Our Most Kind Mamma" 71

6 A Time of Testing 89

7 "Sweet Holy Crusade" 105

8 "The Bed of Fire and Blood" 122

9 Encounter in Avignon 137

Part Three: Woman Of The World

10 New Foundations 159

11 Fulfillment and Disintegration 177

12 Catherine in Rome 195

13 Crossing the Bridge 212

Epilogue 230

Chronology 241

Author's Note 244

Bibliography 248

Notes 255

Index 289