Catherine of Siena

July 12, 2010
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.