The Life and Faith of St. Catherine of Siena

Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) is one of the most beloved saints of the Christian tradition. In this captivating course, you will explore her life, faith, and works under the guidance of Sr. Suzanne Noffke, O. P., Ph. D., an internationally acclaimed expert on Catherine. One of twenty-five children of a Tuscan wool-dyer guildsman and his irascible wife, Catherine was unschooled and had a humble upbringing. Despite her lack of formal education, her mind was too sharp and her heart too honest to settle for a blind embrace of doctrine. Instead, she would spend her short thirty-three years of life in a deliberate and contemplative quest for the fullness of truth and love in Christ. In this course, you will follow this headstrong woman on her inspiring journey of love. You will trace this journey through twelve erudite yet accessible lectures, beginning with a brief introduction to her life, times, and writings. Then, you will study in-depth her Dialogue and Letters, as well as her foundations in Scripture. Finally, you will progress through a series of prominent themes in her thought and spirituality: Christ as Teacher, Redeemer, and Mediator; her mysticism and her approach to contemplation as the integrating force in life; her quest for faith with understanding; and her convictions regarding her Church, her world, the common good, and time and eternity. Catherine's questing heart and radical faith will inspire you today just as they have guided countless others in centuries past.