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The Classics of Western Spirituality
The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine of Siena is recognized as one of the most remarkable mystical theologians of the Middle Ages. She was also a stigmatist, counsellor of popes and is one of only three women to be made a Doctor of the Church.
The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena treats of the whole spiritual life of man in the form of a series of colloquies between the Eternal Father and the human soul (represented by Catherine herself).
The structure of the Dialogue is unusual: the saint makes four petitions to God - for herself, for the Church, for the whole world, and for the assurance of God's providence in all things. The rest of the book is devoted to God's response to these four petitions.
272 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 1377
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About the author
Catherine of Siena
57 books109 followersSaint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D. was a tertiary of the Dominican Order, and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France, and to establish peace among the Italian city-states. Since 18 June 1866 she is one of the two patron saints of Italy, together with St. Francis of Assisi. On 3 October 1970 she was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI, and on 1 October 1999 Pope John Paul II named her as a one of the six patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bridget of Sweden and Edith Stein.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 20, 2016
Second only to Divine Mercy in My Soul, this book had the greatest impact on my spiritual reformation.
This opening line, God speaking to St. Catherine, captured my heart and soul:
"Open the eye of your intellect, and gaze into Me, and you shall see the beauty of My rational creature."
It is absolutely mesmerizing in its shape-shifting metaphors which often mix together in such a way that only one's spirit can grasp the meaning.
The core metaphor in this book is of The Bridge, who is Christ joining us to God through his dual nature of humanity and divinity. Other important metaphors are the soul described as a tree, and the taking up of the Christian life as the breaking of a thorn by pressing oneself into it, absorbing the pain, and persisting.
This book is miraculous, like the life of my favorite Saint, Catherine of Siena.
This opening line, God speaking to St. Catherine, captured my heart and soul:
"Open the eye of your intellect, and gaze into Me, and you shall see the beauty of My rational creature."
It is absolutely mesmerizing in its shape-shifting metaphors which often mix together in such a way that only one's spirit can grasp the meaning.
The core metaphor in this book is of The Bridge, who is Christ joining us to God through his dual nature of humanity and divinity. Other important metaphors are the soul described as a tree, and the taking up of the Christian life as the breaking of a thorn by pressing oneself into it, absorbing the pain, and persisting.
This book is miraculous, like the life of my favorite Saint, Catherine of Siena.
July 31, 2021
What a wonderful piece of spiritual reading!
I picked this up once a number of years ago and found it way too dense for me, but for some reason this go-round was much easier? The difference might be Dante. Yeah. I think I can thank my high school literature teacher for assigning loads of Dante to us, because St. Catherine of Siena reads a LOT like Dante. Their conceptions of the human being as composed of body/will/intellect line up, y'know? It's kind of great. And it makes a lot of sense, considering they were both medieval Italians.
And I can definitely see why Catherine is a Doctor of the Church, because while her theology is written brilliantly, it's also brilliantly basic. The stuff of Catholic Catechism 101 wrapped up in Dante-worthy imagery. It's great.
I picked this up once a number of years ago and found it way too dense for me, but for some reason this go-round was much easier? The difference might be Dante. Yeah. I think I can thank my high school literature teacher for assigning loads of Dante to us, because St. Catherine of Siena reads a LOT like Dante. Their conceptions of the human being as composed of body/will/intellect line up, y'know? It's kind of great. And it makes a lot of sense, considering they were both medieval Italians.
And I can definitely see why Catherine is a Doctor of the Church, because while her theology is written brilliantly, it's also brilliantly basic. The stuff of Catholic Catechism 101 wrapped up in Dante-worthy imagery. It's great.
February 16, 2013
I'm not sure if it was the translation I had or just my mood. But this was not an easy read. I just read it in small doses, which is why it took me so long to read it.
April 30, 2018
A vibrant simplicity, reminiscent of Augustine, at times, fills this series of treatises in which St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and mystic hears God the Father answering her requests in order to receive help to be saved. Between the most important aspects of the books are the community aspect of salvation, the refutation of a sola fide approach (200 years before the Reformation) and that of Pelagianism, the urge to trust God's Mercy, readily being penitent but also to remember that penance is a mean to approach God, and must be done with this in mind, rather than something you should take pleasure in. Same with prayer, this should not be done mechanically like a chore, but out of one's heart and yet it should be consistent. Quick to shut down any scrupulosity and an excellent manual to sainthood.
July 21, 2023
Love my gal, cathy!!!!!
June 22, 2025
A devout work by a devout saint.
'The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena' by the saint herself is a series of conversations with God, hence the title. They are long, but offer insights on how to grow in union with him—i.e., theosis or deification—such as by denying oneself, prayer, and ultimately knowing who God is: the one wants to save us from sin through his bridge, which Christ paved for us. God is very clear on what pleases Him, how we can earn salvation and grow closer to Him, and the consequences of sin, using various metaphors and examples like ships representing salvation amid dangerous waters. Overall, a comprehensive and illuminating text to grow in holiness.
Note that this translation involved blocky paragraphs that made reading it slow. Yet, I recommend this book to all Catholics and mediævalists.
'The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena' by the saint herself is a series of conversations with God, hence the title. They are long, but offer insights on how to grow in union with him—i.e., theosis or deification—such as by denying oneself, prayer, and ultimately knowing who God is: the one wants to save us from sin through his bridge, which Christ paved for us. God is very clear on what pleases Him, how we can earn salvation and grow closer to Him, and the consequences of sin, using various metaphors and examples like ships representing salvation amid dangerous waters. Overall, a comprehensive and illuminating text to grow in holiness.
Note that this translation involved blocky paragraphs that made reading it slow. Yet, I recommend this book to all Catholics and mediævalists.
March 28, 2024
I struggled to appreciate Catherine as much as some other mystics. She has some beneficial things to say.
But she also says that "[the sight of] the punishment of the damned makes the just (i.e. the saved) rejoice even more in [God's] goodness." If ever there were a description of sadism, that would be it.
But she also says that "[the sight of] the punishment of the damned makes the just (i.e. the saved) rejoice even more in [God's] goodness." If ever there were a description of sadism, that would be it.
February 27, 2024
St. Catherine dictated this book over the space of five days, from October 9-13, 1378. She lost the use of all of her senses, except the gift of speech. The heavenly Father spoke within her heart and she answered Him, asked Him questions, and repeated His words to her at the same time that she was asking Him questions. Two of her disciples were there, Barduccio Canigiani and Neri di Landoccio, who took down her words.
The book is a summary of the spiritual life and the relationship between a soul and God. It has treatises on prayer, discretion, and obedience. It includes a terrible condemnation of the wicked priests of her time.
The book loves to use analogies and can sometimes be wordy for the modern reader. At the same time, it is edifying and beautiful.
The book is a summary of the spiritual life and the relationship between a soul and God. It has treatises on prayer, discretion, and obedience. It includes a terrible condemnation of the wicked priests of her time.
The book loves to use analogies and can sometimes be wordy for the modern reader. At the same time, it is edifying and beautiful.
December 9, 2020
Read during my prayer time for five months and it’s five-star quality but some was so dense I couldn’t retain it (this is a nice way of saying I am too dumb to understand some of the saint’s language).
It is full of wisdom for a person who wants to live for God. I was enlightened and convicted 100 times, right up to the next-to-final section- the last before she died when she said “I have sought my own consolation.”
The final section is a description of her death. It was perfect.
Finally I have a little better understanding of my Confirmation Saint.
It is full of wisdom for a person who wants to live for God. I was enlightened and convicted 100 times, right up to the next-to-final section- the last before she died when she said “I have sought my own consolation.”
The final section is a description of her death. It was perfect.
Finally I have a little better understanding of my Confirmation Saint.
July 22, 2022
This is probably one of my favorite books so far. There is quite a bit of information to take in so I believe it’s best to really take your time reading it in order to understand and retain everything. Being one who is continuously trying to obtain more information about the Catholic faith, I have had many questions and curiosities. To my surprise I have had many of my questions answered from this reading and I consider it a great guide to look back at for references. It’s definitely a book you want on your bookshelf.
February 19, 2021
One of the things I knew about St. Catherine before reading this book was that she was a “mystic,” and that was clearly evident in reading her dialogue with God. This book is not easy for the average religious young person to get through, because it can become terribly abstract at times, but yet the messages are simple and profound when they shine through. I am in awe of this woman and the way she was so enamored by God and had such a desire to be obedient to his will and love him well. A hard book to read, but a spiritual classic.
March 23, 2019
The words which St. Catherine of Siena receives from God the Father are loving, moving and challenging.
This Doctor of the Church and mystic should be read. Her Letters as well.
I've included several passages from Dialogue in my book, "Jesus: Perfect Love."
"Be who God meant you to be, and you shall set the world on fire."- St. Catherine of Siena.
This Doctor of the Church and mystic should be read. Her Letters as well.
I've included several passages from Dialogue in my book, "Jesus: Perfect Love."
"Be who God meant you to be, and you shall set the world on fire."- St. Catherine of Siena.
April 30, 2021
The first few reviews that come up summarize this book better than I could. I agree that it's not an easy read, but full of wisdom. Still chewing.
April 25, 2024
I abandoned this one because I found it unreadable - it was too dense, filled with complicated prose. I just don’t have the patience for it anymore.
August 20, 2021
You may be surprised to see the word by which I would describe this incredibly dense, deep, lengthy and intense meditation on reaching out for God: addictive. If the Holy Spirit has you in its grasp as you read it, that is; if so, Catherine herself will have you in *her* grasp. This is a work at the level of life-changer and soul-rearranger. It’s a page-turner to make Stephen King blush. I’m not kidding—I couldn’t put it down.
I think the reason for this is the incredibly attractive—artistically and intellectually and spiritually—interplay between the simple and the complex. The message of the book is, after all, very simple: by the grace of God, we must strive to entirely align ourselves with the Will of God, and His will is simple—glorify His name and save souls (i.e., fulfill Christ’s two commandments: love God and your neighbor). And yet like a Phillip Glass symphony, this minimalist theme is layered over and over with ever more complexity, new ideas and metaphors that never contradict the basic simplicity of this message but only enrich it.
The most famous metaphor here is Christ as a three-step Bridge, which I visualized as three long tiers rising between the low cliff of this mortal, selfish life and the high cliff of reunion with God—and beneath, the raging, voluntary waters of freely chosen self-centeredness wash down to hell (yet Catherine, full of sympathy for the lost, proposes the Mormon-like idea that after death we will have one last chance to choose God—I’m not so sure this is Catholic orthodoxy, and she is usually orthodox, but I hope it can be if it isn’t). The three tiers represent various elements of the spiritual journey, primarily the division of the journey to God as purgative, illuminative and unitive (the feet, knees and mouth of Christ, to borrow from Bernard of Clairvaux). This journey, from Pseudo-Dionysus, also obsessed Teresa and John two centuries later, and with good cause: it makes sense. First we start as slaves or mercenaries, fearful of hell or greedy for heaven, and so we fall to Christ’s feet and beg for forgiveness for our sins—but we are still self-centered, full of imperfect contrition, overwhelmed and desperate for the restful hostels of the Church and its sacraments along the way ( a need we never lose, even on the highest step). Then we rise to the next tier, where we begin to align ourselves with God’s will for the sake of pleasing the Master and Maker of Love for love’s sake, and so we begin to accept the idea of suffering and of sacrificing to achieve that will. Then we rise to the highest tier, right on the level with the gates of paradise but still outside them (seeing through a glass darkly). Here, like Simone Weil evaporating away from the gravity of self into the selfless Sun of God, we become sons of God by uniting with His being, gladly and even hungrily taking on sacrifice for His sake so we can be like Christ. Here is peace, Catherine teaches us, here is the utmost of earthly arrival. Here is the city of the flesh open to pure charity and closed to all hatred and selfishness, the perfectly tuned cathedral organ of sacred desire beneath the fingers of the Holy Spirit. Here is the mouth of Christ.
God bless Catherine of Siena!
I think the reason for this is the incredibly attractive—artistically and intellectually and spiritually—interplay between the simple and the complex. The message of the book is, after all, very simple: by the grace of God, we must strive to entirely align ourselves with the Will of God, and His will is simple—glorify His name and save souls (i.e., fulfill Christ’s two commandments: love God and your neighbor). And yet like a Phillip Glass symphony, this minimalist theme is layered over and over with ever more complexity, new ideas and metaphors that never contradict the basic simplicity of this message but only enrich it.
The most famous metaphor here is Christ as a three-step Bridge, which I visualized as three long tiers rising between the low cliff of this mortal, selfish life and the high cliff of reunion with God—and beneath, the raging, voluntary waters of freely chosen self-centeredness wash down to hell (yet Catherine, full of sympathy for the lost, proposes the Mormon-like idea that after death we will have one last chance to choose God—I’m not so sure this is Catholic orthodoxy, and she is usually orthodox, but I hope it can be if it isn’t). The three tiers represent various elements of the spiritual journey, primarily the division of the journey to God as purgative, illuminative and unitive (the feet, knees and mouth of Christ, to borrow from Bernard of Clairvaux). This journey, from Pseudo-Dionysus, also obsessed Teresa and John two centuries later, and with good cause: it makes sense. First we start as slaves or mercenaries, fearful of hell or greedy for heaven, and so we fall to Christ’s feet and beg for forgiveness for our sins—but we are still self-centered, full of imperfect contrition, overwhelmed and desperate for the restful hostels of the Church and its sacraments along the way ( a need we never lose, even on the highest step). Then we rise to the next tier, where we begin to align ourselves with God’s will for the sake of pleasing the Master and Maker of Love for love’s sake, and so we begin to accept the idea of suffering and of sacrificing to achieve that will. Then we rise to the highest tier, right on the level with the gates of paradise but still outside them (seeing through a glass darkly). Here, like Simone Weil evaporating away from the gravity of self into the selfless Sun of God, we become sons of God by uniting with His being, gladly and even hungrily taking on sacrifice for His sake so we can be like Christ. Here is peace, Catherine teaches us, here is the utmost of earthly arrival. Here is the city of the flesh open to pure charity and closed to all hatred and selfishness, the perfectly tuned cathedral organ of sacred desire beneath the fingers of the Holy Spirit. Here is the mouth of Christ.
God bless Catherine of Siena!
April 5, 2020
This qualifies as one of the best books of all times, in my humble opinion. It is fulfilling and life-changing, and satisfied my craving for knowledge, bringing one of those feelings of contentment and joy you can only feel in the heart. It is insightful, and at the same time not too complex for our limited minds. Despite her enlightenment, Saint Catherine of Sienna communicates her thoughts with clarity. The book itself answers questions I have long searched for, to which answers have never been satisfactory nor complete. Questions I still hear everyday, like why is there misery in the world? Why does God let innocent people suffer? Why does he let clergymen do awful things? How should we react to such events?
February 4, 2012
Catherine of Siena, the second woman to be named a Doctor of the Church, had a complex and beautiful theology, fully Trinitarian yet alternating the focus between Father, Son and Spirit. This book is actually a compilation of several discourses on such topics as:
The way of perfection
Christ the bridge
Truth
The Mystical body of Christ
Providence
Obedience
Much of Catherine's meditations were Scripturally based, so this complements such reading quite well. We recommend it for anyone seeking some insight from this remarkable woman, particularly on our relationship as humanity with God our Creator. Enjoy!
The way of perfection
Christ the bridge
Truth
The Mystical body of Christ
Providence
Obedience
Much of Catherine's meditations were Scripturally based, so this complements such reading quite well. We recommend it for anyone seeking some insight from this remarkable woman, particularly on our relationship as humanity with God our Creator. Enjoy!
Read
October 7, 2020Hence this is for grad thesis research, no rating. The Dialogue is typical piece of writing in the line of medieval female mystics, filled with sensual tension and eating and food related metaphors. Research topic wise nothing really new but as a historical source of the religion at its' time, very interesting.
April 7, 2018
A profound reading experience. I plan on reading it again next year (God willing) during the Lenten season. So helpful on one's spiritual journey.
March 28, 2024
I only read about half of it, but I’m still not convinced she wasn’t insane.
March 31, 2025
Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was a lay person following Dominican spirituality who was a mystic and also involved in secular and papal politics. She is most famous for convincing Pope Pius XI to return to Rome from Avignon in 1376. She also wrote many letters and some prayers, though her major work is The Dialogue of Divine Providence. It's written as a conversation between God and a soul and was dictated by Catherine while in an ecstatic state.
The dialogue works through several questions that the soul (presumably Catherine's) has for God that He lovingly answers. The main focus is on achieving spiritual perfection through a holy life. God describes the path to Heaven He has laid out for us, describing it as a bridge between Earth and Heaven. That bridge is Christ and has three primary stages that match the progress in virtue and grace. In the first stage, motivated by the fear of punishments like eternal damnation, a person seeks a virtuous life without much love in their heart for the Lord. They just want to avoid suffering. This stage is identified with being at the feet of the Lord. In the second stage, a person is virtuous for the consolations of doing good. The focus is still on the self, on one's own wellbeing, the happy feelings one gets when doing a good deed. Here, the soul approaches the heart of Jesus on the cross. The final stage is full perfection, where one is virtuous because it pleases the Lord and conforms to the Divine Will, regardless of personal consolation or discomfort. This stage is at the mouth of Christ and represents a full union with God.
The soul also asks about for the world with all its problems and challenges. God discusses the respect that is owed to those with religious vocations (especially bishops and the pope), even if they commit grave sins and provide scandal to the world. He will judge such people; it is not our role to condemn them. He will provide what is needed for people to make it to Heaven. The many people that make up the Mystical Body of Christ all have different roles to play and are given different gifts and abilities to use for His greater glory and the sanctification of themselves and others. The importance of obedience in the spiritual life is discussed at length.
The book is very well written. While she has deep insights into human and divine relationships, they are presented in a very concrete way that is easy to understand. She is occasionally repetitive, re-emphasizing themes and ideas that are important. I found the book very helpful and inspiring. The mystical insights are not shrouded in a fog of technical terms or unfamiliar situations. We've all dealt with good and bad bosses (in family or work or politics or society), we've all felt the inadequacy of efforts or the frustration of unfruitful exertions. Her advice is timely and easy to take. It is easy to see why she was declared a Doctor of the Church.
Highly recommended.
Sample Quote:
Why we have individual charisms: "These and many other virtues I give differently to different souls, and the soul is most at ease with that virtue which has been made primary for her. But through her love of that virtue she attracts all the other virtues to herself, since they are all bound together in loving charity." [pp.37-38]
An entirely Dominican metaphor: "Just as a dog stationed at the gate barks when it sees enemies, and by its barking wakes up the guards, so this dog of conscience would wake up the guard of reason, and reason together with free choice would discern by the light of understanding who was a friend and who an enemy. To friends, that is, the virtues and holy thoughts of the heart, they would give warm affectionate love by exercising them with great care. To enemies, that is, vice and perverse thoughts, they would deal out hatred and contempt, striking them down with the sword of hatred and love by reason's light and free choice's hand. So at the moment of death their conscience does not gnaw but rests peacefully because it has been a good watchdog." [p. 263]
The dialogue works through several questions that the soul (presumably Catherine's) has for God that He lovingly answers. The main focus is on achieving spiritual perfection through a holy life. God describes the path to Heaven He has laid out for us, describing it as a bridge between Earth and Heaven. That bridge is Christ and has three primary stages that match the progress in virtue and grace. In the first stage, motivated by the fear of punishments like eternal damnation, a person seeks a virtuous life without much love in their heart for the Lord. They just want to avoid suffering. This stage is identified with being at the feet of the Lord. In the second stage, a person is virtuous for the consolations of doing good. The focus is still on the self, on one's own wellbeing, the happy feelings one gets when doing a good deed. Here, the soul approaches the heart of Jesus on the cross. The final stage is full perfection, where one is virtuous because it pleases the Lord and conforms to the Divine Will, regardless of personal consolation or discomfort. This stage is at the mouth of Christ and represents a full union with God.
The soul also asks about for the world with all its problems and challenges. God discusses the respect that is owed to those with religious vocations (especially bishops and the pope), even if they commit grave sins and provide scandal to the world. He will judge such people; it is not our role to condemn them. He will provide what is needed for people to make it to Heaven. The many people that make up the Mystical Body of Christ all have different roles to play and are given different gifts and abilities to use for His greater glory and the sanctification of themselves and others. The importance of obedience in the spiritual life is discussed at length.
The book is very well written. While she has deep insights into human and divine relationships, they are presented in a very concrete way that is easy to understand. She is occasionally repetitive, re-emphasizing themes and ideas that are important. I found the book very helpful and inspiring. The mystical insights are not shrouded in a fog of technical terms or unfamiliar situations. We've all dealt with good and bad bosses (in family or work or politics or society), we've all felt the inadequacy of efforts or the frustration of unfruitful exertions. Her advice is timely and easy to take. It is easy to see why she was declared a Doctor of the Church.
Highly recommended.
Sample Quote:
Why we have individual charisms: "These and many other virtues I give differently to different souls, and the soul is most at ease with that virtue which has been made primary for her. But through her love of that virtue she attracts all the other virtues to herself, since they are all bound together in loving charity." [pp.37-38]
An entirely Dominican metaphor: "Just as a dog stationed at the gate barks when it sees enemies, and by its barking wakes up the guards, so this dog of conscience would wake up the guard of reason, and reason together with free choice would discern by the light of understanding who was a friend and who an enemy. To friends, that is, the virtues and holy thoughts of the heart, they would give warm affectionate love by exercising them with great care. To enemies, that is, vice and perverse thoughts, they would deal out hatred and contempt, striking them down with the sword of hatred and love by reason's light and free choice's hand. So at the moment of death their conscience does not gnaw but rests peacefully because it has been a good watchdog." [p. 263]
December 31, 2024
The work can be, at times, quite technical, but that doesn't stop it from being well worth the time of even a beginner.
Touching on overall themes of Providence, Discretion, Prayer, and Obedience, St. Catherine shares the sorts of thoughts and revelations only gleaned through long hours contemplating eternal truths.
"[N]ot all the pains that are given to men in this life are given as punishments, but as corrections..." (p. 4)
"No virtue...can have life in itself except through charity, and humility..." (p. 5)
"For this reason (if the soul elect to love Me) she should elect to endure pains for Me in whatever mode or circumstance I may send them to her." (p. 9)
"I could easily have created men possessed of all that they should need both for body and soul, but I wish that one should have need of the other, and that they should be My ministers to administer the graces and the gifts that they have received from me." (p. 15)
(regarding impurity) "Neither does any sin, abominable as it may be, take away the light of the intellect from man, so much as does this one." (p. 47)
"But if the soul have light to know and grieve for her fault, not on account of the pain of Hell that follows upon it, but on account of pain at her offense against Me, who am Supreme and Eternal Good, still she can find mercy." (p. 53)
(regarding the damned) "They will be reproached by the Blood that was shed for them, and by the works of mercy, spiritual and temporal, which I did for them by means of My Son, and which they should have done for their neighbor, as is contained in the Holy Gospel." (p. 61)
(regarding the devil) "And I have set him in this life to tempt and molest My creatures, not for My creatures to be conquered, but that they may conquer, proving their virtue, and receive from Me the glory of victory." (p. 63)
"Knowest thou what is the special good of the blessed ones? It is having their desire filled with what they desire." (p. 67)
"Time is as the point of a needle and no more..." (p. 69)
"They have arisen with servile fear from the vomit of mortal sin, but, if they do not arise with love of virtue, servile fear alone is not sufficient to give eternal life." (p. 77)
"[Y]ou cannot repay the love which I require of you, and I have placed you in the midst of your fellows, that you may do to them that which you cannot do to Me, that is to say, that you may love your neighbor of free grace, without expecting any return from him, and what you do to him, I count as done to me." (p. 88)
"My Lord, what does Thou wish me to do? Show me that which it is Thy pleasure for me to do, and I will do it." (p. 105)
"And inasmuch as the root of self-love is corrupt, everything tht grows from it is corrupt also." (p. 118)
"[T]he tongue is made only to give honor to Me, and to confess sins, and to be used in love of virtue, and for the salvation of the neighbor." (p. 120)
"[Y]our sins consist in nothing else than in loving that which I hate, and in hating that which I love." (p. 125)
"[T]he closer the soul is to Me, the purer she becomes, and the further she is from Me, the more does her purity leave her." (p. 131)
"[T]he fire of Thy love ought not and cannot refrain from opening to him who knocks with perseverance." (p. 168)
Touching on overall themes of Providence, Discretion, Prayer, and Obedience, St. Catherine shares the sorts of thoughts and revelations only gleaned through long hours contemplating eternal truths.
"[N]ot all the pains that are given to men in this life are given as punishments, but as corrections..." (p. 4)
"No virtue...can have life in itself except through charity, and humility..." (p. 5)
"For this reason (if the soul elect to love Me) she should elect to endure pains for Me in whatever mode or circumstance I may send them to her." (p. 9)
"I could easily have created men possessed of all that they should need both for body and soul, but I wish that one should have need of the other, and that they should be My ministers to administer the graces and the gifts that they have received from me." (p. 15)
(regarding impurity) "Neither does any sin, abominable as it may be, take away the light of the intellect from man, so much as does this one." (p. 47)
"But if the soul have light to know and grieve for her fault, not on account of the pain of Hell that follows upon it, but on account of pain at her offense against Me, who am Supreme and Eternal Good, still she can find mercy." (p. 53)
(regarding the damned) "They will be reproached by the Blood that was shed for them, and by the works of mercy, spiritual and temporal, which I did for them by means of My Son, and which they should have done for their neighbor, as is contained in the Holy Gospel." (p. 61)
(regarding the devil) "And I have set him in this life to tempt and molest My creatures, not for My creatures to be conquered, but that they may conquer, proving their virtue, and receive from Me the glory of victory." (p. 63)
"Knowest thou what is the special good of the blessed ones? It is having their desire filled with what they desire." (p. 67)
"Time is as the point of a needle and no more..." (p. 69)
"They have arisen with servile fear from the vomit of mortal sin, but, if they do not arise with love of virtue, servile fear alone is not sufficient to give eternal life." (p. 77)
"[Y]ou cannot repay the love which I require of you, and I have placed you in the midst of your fellows, that you may do to them that which you cannot do to Me, that is to say, that you may love your neighbor of free grace, without expecting any return from him, and what you do to him, I count as done to me." (p. 88)
"My Lord, what does Thou wish me to do? Show me that which it is Thy pleasure for me to do, and I will do it." (p. 105)
"And inasmuch as the root of self-love is corrupt, everything tht grows from it is corrupt also." (p. 118)
"[T]he tongue is made only to give honor to Me, and to confess sins, and to be used in love of virtue, and for the salvation of the neighbor." (p. 120)
"[Y]our sins consist in nothing else than in loving that which I hate, and in hating that which I love." (p. 125)
"[T]he closer the soul is to Me, the purer she becomes, and the further she is from Me, the more does her purity leave her." (p. 131)
"[T]he fire of Thy love ought not and cannot refrain from opening to him who knocks with perseverance." (p. 168)
December 8, 2020
(reflection post written for class)
For Aristotle, exercising every one of the moral virtues depends on possessing the virtue of practical wisdom, phronesis. However, he doesn’t delve into exactly how a person develops this key virtue in his Ethics. Discernment seems to be the equivalent of phronesis in Catherine of Siena’s Dialogue, if not more powerful and significant for virtue. Like practical wisdom’s determination of the mean, discernment involves “prudence” and “sets conditions” for virtuous action. However, through discernment, the soul “overcomes the devil and the flesh” and “gains mastery over the world.” Not only does it provide for the good, but it also roundly beats back evil, whereas Aristotle’s phronesis simply allows for the exercise of true virtue.
Unlike in Ethics, the path to attain discernment is clearly laid out, ultimately due to the presence and prominence of God in the Dialogue. Developing discernment begins with self-knowledge, emphasized from the beginning of this excerpt, and the humility which arises from self-knowledge and its hatred of one’s own sin. True humility and self-knowledge root out selfish love, allowing the soul to know God in herself. As God is charity itself, and the soul knows and loves God in herself, humility bears the fruit of charity, which in turn begets discernment. This is what makes discernment powerful, giving it utter breadth and depth, so it reaches “from heaven to earth, that is, from the knowledge of me [God] to the knowledge of oneself, from love of me to love of one’s neighbors.”
Catherine and Aristotle also differ in respect of their overall aim, one being perfection, the other eudaimonia. Most striking is how this difference results in pain and sorrow being a requirement of the way of perfection, as they increase in proportion to love. On the other hand, eudaimonia, human flourishing, doesn’t have pain and sorrow in the picture.
For Aristotle, exercising every one of the moral virtues depends on possessing the virtue of practical wisdom, phronesis. However, he doesn’t delve into exactly how a person develops this key virtue in his Ethics. Discernment seems to be the equivalent of phronesis in Catherine of Siena’s Dialogue, if not more powerful and significant for virtue. Like practical wisdom’s determination of the mean, discernment involves “prudence” and “sets conditions” for virtuous action. However, through discernment, the soul “overcomes the devil and the flesh” and “gains mastery over the world.” Not only does it provide for the good, but it also roundly beats back evil, whereas Aristotle’s phronesis simply allows for the exercise of true virtue.
Unlike in Ethics, the path to attain discernment is clearly laid out, ultimately due to the presence and prominence of God in the Dialogue. Developing discernment begins with self-knowledge, emphasized from the beginning of this excerpt, and the humility which arises from self-knowledge and its hatred of one’s own sin. True humility and self-knowledge root out selfish love, allowing the soul to know God in herself. As God is charity itself, and the soul knows and loves God in herself, humility bears the fruit of charity, which in turn begets discernment. This is what makes discernment powerful, giving it utter breadth and depth, so it reaches “from heaven to earth, that is, from the knowledge of me [God] to the knowledge of oneself, from love of me to love of one’s neighbors.”
Catherine and Aristotle also differ in respect of their overall aim, one being perfection, the other eudaimonia. Most striking is how this difference results in pain and sorrow being a requirement of the way of perfection, as they increase in proportion to love. On the other hand, eudaimonia, human flourishing, doesn’t have pain and sorrow in the picture.
April 9, 2025
“O eternal Trinity! O Godhead! That Godhead, head, your divine nature, gave the price of your Son's blood its value. You, eternal Trinity, are a deep sea: The more I enter you, the more I discover, and the more discover, the more I seek you. You are insatiable, you in whose depth the soul is sated yet remains always hungry for you, thirsty for you, eternal Trinity, longing to see you with the light in your light. Just as the deer longs for the fountain of living water, so does my soul long to escape from the prison of my darksome body and see you in truth. O how long will you hide your face from my eyes?
O eternal Trinity, fire and abyss of charity, disuntee this very day the cloud of my body! I am driven to desire in the knowledge of our self that you no have given me in your truth to leave behind the weight of glory and praise of your this bode of mine and give my life for the lan name For by the light of understanding within your light I have and seen your depth, eternal Trinity, and the beauty of your creation and sect Then when I considered myself in you, I saw that I am your You have gifted me with power from yourself, eternal Father, and my understanding with your wisdom-such wisdom as is proper to your only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from you and from your Son, has given me a will, and so I am able to love.”
if this is the response you desire Lord, then let it be mine.
at times a difficult read, particularly sections on God’s justice, the reverence due to sinning priests, the body, and God withdrawing sensation of the Godself so we may desire God more. What to do with sections we disagree with, when the text says it comes from God’s mouth? i don’t know.
But ultimately it is a beautiful book about God’s love for us, and what it looks like to love God in return.
O eternal Trinity, fire and abyss of charity, disuntee this very day the cloud of my body! I am driven to desire in the knowledge of our self that you no have given me in your truth to leave behind the weight of glory and praise of your this bode of mine and give my life for the lan name For by the light of understanding within your light I have and seen your depth, eternal Trinity, and the beauty of your creation and sect Then when I considered myself in you, I saw that I am your You have gifted me with power from yourself, eternal Father, and my understanding with your wisdom-such wisdom as is proper to your only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from you and from your Son, has given me a will, and so I am able to love.”
if this is the response you desire Lord, then let it be mine.
at times a difficult read, particularly sections on God’s justice, the reverence due to sinning priests, the body, and God withdrawing sensation of the Godself so we may desire God more. What to do with sections we disagree with, when the text says it comes from God’s mouth? i don’t know.
But ultimately it is a beautiful book about God’s love for us, and what it looks like to love God in return.
November 20, 2020
A marvelous book on important aspects of Faith. The edition I read have some details on the story of St. Catherine, a doctor of the Church and one of the most important women in the history of Italy who searched unity of the different powers that were battling at the time. Amidst the chaotic times she was living, St. Catherine got in touch with the Divine and found the answers she needed in the doctrine.
It's incredible that this book is all about doctrine, but at the same time it communicates with the struggles of her time and (funny for some, but not for me) with the struggles of our times. I think The Dialogue is as important today as it was in 14th century Italy.
Enough with the back story, the book is a dialogue between St. Catherine and God. It's divided in four parts and starts with more general themes, regarding the apostolic formation, how apostles came to being and the situation of the Church at the time she was living. The first part debates many different themes and it seems like the toughest to understand. The second part deals with the situation of the Church and how the struggles are just infinite, it's part of its existence on Earth and the solution relies on the faithful, who must pray and that connects with the third part, dealing with divine providence, how providence occur and how to wait for it. Then, in the fourth part, we receive a lesson on obedience and disobedience and this part seems to be the simplest, probably because it is more relatable to layman.
In short, a great book for catholics. I don't see my non-catholic friends reading it and I think this is not the ideal book for the uninitiated in the Faith, but this reading is a great adventure, for sure.
It's incredible that this book is all about doctrine, but at the same time it communicates with the struggles of her time and (funny for some, but not for me) with the struggles of our times. I think The Dialogue is as important today as it was in 14th century Italy.
Enough with the back story, the book is a dialogue between St. Catherine and God. It's divided in four parts and starts with more general themes, regarding the apostolic formation, how apostles came to being and the situation of the Church at the time she was living. The first part debates many different themes and it seems like the toughest to understand. The second part deals with the situation of the Church and how the struggles are just infinite, it's part of its existence on Earth and the solution relies on the faithful, who must pray and that connects with the third part, dealing with divine providence, how providence occur and how to wait for it. Then, in the fourth part, we receive a lesson on obedience and disobedience and this part seems to be the simplest, probably because it is more relatable to layman.
In short, a great book for catholics. I don't see my non-catholic friends reading it and I think this is not the ideal book for the uninitiated in the Faith, but this reading is a great adventure, for sure.
August 10, 2021
The world has much to learn from the spiritual masters of old. Truth be told, I was unaware of St. Catherine of Siena until earlier this year. But now that I have discovered her, she ranks up there with the masters like St Benedict, St. Thomas, Calvin, Luther, Bonhoeffer and others who have helped shape my faith journey.
Written in 1370, the Dialogue is actually a recording of a conversation that God had with this young woman. St. Catherine in an esctatic state, dictated this book, if we can believe the tradition. In this book, she discussed the nature of the obedient life as a Christian.
What makes Catherine different than others is her emphasis on doctrine. She has an extended section in which she explains the truth of her doctrine rather than focusing on the mystical experience that many others do.
Many of her images and allegories are used in the Church today. She discusses Christ as a bridge (used in IVP and campus outreach) and the church as a ship and has an extended vision of the judgment.
But in all of this, it is the love of God which is central for her. She views herself as a daughter of God and most treasured by him…even despite her sin. In this we begin to see her wisdom and her insights into the human heart.
Her writing is not straightforward, but it is not technical. The best word would be ‘mystical.’ She describes things that many readers may have trouble reading.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the spiritual life. If you are a Christian, read this book.
Grade: A
Written in 1370, the Dialogue is actually a recording of a conversation that God had with this young woman. St. Catherine in an esctatic state, dictated this book, if we can believe the tradition. In this book, she discussed the nature of the obedient life as a Christian.
What makes Catherine different than others is her emphasis on doctrine. She has an extended section in which she explains the truth of her doctrine rather than focusing on the mystical experience that many others do.
Many of her images and allegories are used in the Church today. She discusses Christ as a bridge (used in IVP and campus outreach) and the church as a ship and has an extended vision of the judgment.
But in all of this, it is the love of God which is central for her. She views herself as a daughter of God and most treasured by him…even despite her sin. In this we begin to see her wisdom and her insights into the human heart.
Her writing is not straightforward, but it is not technical. The best word would be ‘mystical.’ She describes things that many readers may have trouble reading.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the spiritual life. If you are a Christian, read this book.
Grade: A
September 21, 2019
This amazing book is a dialogue between a devout soul (surely Catherine herself) and God the Father. The clear and vigorous prose tasted like strong wine for my mind, compared to the flaccid mushiness of what passes for so much of Catholic thought today.
She considers the soul's freedom: All the Devil's stratagems and temptations and all the demons in Hell can't compel anybody to commit so much as the smallest sin. We are free; to obey God, or disobey.
She considers Christ's body as bridge from the disordered river of life in the world to a beatific life in heaven. The soul drowning in the river first climbs up by Christ's feet on the Cross: renouncing sin and reforming her life. Then she reaches Christ's side: embracing the virtues. Then she reaches His lips: union with Our Lord. She considers the sad state of those who refuse to walk onto the bridge; preferring to stay in the water, or not even realizing there is any other state.
She considers the height of sanctification reached by holy priests, doctors, and teachers; and the depths of depravity reached by the unworthy; yet all ministers of the Church bring us Christ's body and blood which wash clean our sins, so we owe the most desperate sinner among them the dignity of his office.
The Blood of Christ is her constant refrain; that refreshes us and saves us. And the Father's constant description of Himself is "The Sea Pacific", the safe embrace of His love.
She considers the soul's freedom: All the Devil's stratagems and temptations and all the demons in Hell can't compel anybody to commit so much as the smallest sin. We are free; to obey God, or disobey.
She considers Christ's body as bridge from the disordered river of life in the world to a beatific life in heaven. The soul drowning in the river first climbs up by Christ's feet on the Cross: renouncing sin and reforming her life. Then she reaches Christ's side: embracing the virtues. Then she reaches His lips: union with Our Lord. She considers the sad state of those who refuse to walk onto the bridge; preferring to stay in the water, or not even realizing there is any other state.
She considers the height of sanctification reached by holy priests, doctors, and teachers; and the depths of depravity reached by the unworthy; yet all ministers of the Church bring us Christ's body and blood which wash clean our sins, so we owe the most desperate sinner among them the dignity of his office.
The Blood of Christ is her constant refrain; that refreshes us and saves us. And the Father's constant description of Himself is "The Sea Pacific", the safe embrace of His love.
November 30, 2019
I had been meaning to read this for quite awhile. I'm glad I read it, but can't say that it had a "wow" impact on me -- it feels sacrilegious to say that! There were parts that I found more engaging, but other parts I found it difficult to connect to. If I hadn't had a basic familiarity with Catherine's life, I think I would have been mostly lost. Compared to a more "modern" diary/dialogue such as Faustina or Terese of Liseaux, I found the Dialogue slow-moving and redundant. Overall, I liked the analogy that Catherine used of Jesus Christ as the "bridge" between our sinful state and perfection; her dialogue about the challenges of crossing the bridge and the various requirements. Many of her analogies (the bridge is just one) were brilliant and served to provide helpful imagery of the Christian path. It is these images that will most likely remain with me far beyond some of the more "descriptive" explanations of various steps in the religious life. Her references to the orders and discussion of Dominic and Francis were engaging. Again, glad I read it and I'm sure I will read parts of it again. It's one of those books that resonates in different ways, I'm sure, depending on the circumstances of the moment in one's life.
December 30, 2024
Learning about St Catherine of Siena was like meeting a super intense spiritual grandmother who will dropkick Satan on a dime. She was a medieval mystic in the 1300s, a Doctor of the Church, and even played a primary part in getting the papacy to reform itself during the “Great Papal Schism” in 1378. Bishop Robert Barron even went as far as to call her one of the most powerful/influential people in all the Middle Ages.
Her Dialogue reads as a personal conversation between her and God in which she covers the entire gamut of Christian theology from a mystical conversation perspective rather than a systematic theology-type book. She helps you understand the Trinity better, the sacraments, the reason for suffering, and invites you to bring all of the hardest questions of theology into prayer.
What unites the whole book is her repeated insistence that the key to all of Christian life and doctrine is to cultivate humility and increase your capacity to love—this is the only sane way to live and the only way to happiness. As the Father says to her in paragraph 77, “You can see this clearly in my saints. They made themselves small for me, and I have made them great in myself.”
Her Dialogue reads as a personal conversation between her and God in which she covers the entire gamut of Christian theology from a mystical conversation perspective rather than a systematic theology-type book. She helps you understand the Trinity better, the sacraments, the reason for suffering, and invites you to bring all of the hardest questions of theology into prayer.
What unites the whole book is her repeated insistence that the key to all of Christian life and doctrine is to cultivate humility and increase your capacity to love—this is the only sane way to live and the only way to happiness. As the Father says to her in paragraph 77, “You can see this clearly in my saints. They made themselves small for me, and I have made them great in myself.”
January 19, 2025
This book is heavy. Don’t let the 132 pages deceive you into thinking it is a quick easy read. It is deeply theological and a thought provoking book. St. Catherine’s conversations with God dive into Faith, love, life and death. Be prepared to read sections two and three times over. I am so glad I read this book but it is truly a “brain flexing” workout. It is considered a theological masterpiece for good reason. This book is a roadmap to the Catholic faith and is well worth reading. I highly recommend it but go easy on yourself if you feel overwhelmed. As I said it is heavy but it will expand your mind and help you to understand how God is trying to relate to us in each of our faith journeys. St. Catherine Ora Pro Nobis 🙏
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