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Women of Hope: Doctors of the Church
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, in her most troubled and turbulent times, God has raised up great saints as beacons of hope in the midst of darkness. Among these great saints, the four women Doctors of the Church stand out as models of courage, wisdom, and trust. Their example and teachings remain with us, are relevant to the challenges of our own day, and urge us on to renewal with unwavering hope.
“Trust shows the way,” wrote Saint Hildegard of Bingen. These words set the courageous standard by which she, Teresa of Ávila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux lived. The phrase can be considered the watchword for the Church in every age, and especially in our own.
In Women of Hope, Terry Polakovic introduces these amazing women and describes the troubled times in which they lived and persevered. These women remind us that God can work through anyone to bring about his purpose. They prove to us that, as Christians, we can live in confident hope, no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terry Polakovic is cofounder of Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) and served as president of the organization from 2003 to 2015. Before retiring, she worked in nonprofit leadership for more than thirty years. In 2010, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For the Church and the Pontiff”) award from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2011, Terry was recognized as an Outstanding Catholic Leader by the Catholic Leadership Institute. She is the author of Life and Opening Your Heart to God’s Design (Our Sunday Visitor, 2018). She lives in Colorado with her husband, Mike.
“Trust shows the way,” wrote Saint Hildegard of Bingen. These words set the courageous standard by which she, Teresa of Ávila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux lived. The phrase can be considered the watchword for the Church in every age, and especially in our own.
In Women of Hope, Terry Polakovic introduces these amazing women and describes the troubled times in which they lived and persevered. These women remind us that God can work through anyone to bring about his purpose. They prove to us that, as Christians, we can live in confident hope, no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terry Polakovic is cofounder of Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) and served as president of the organization from 2003 to 2015. Before retiring, she worked in nonprofit leadership for more than thirty years. In 2010, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For the Church and the Pontiff”) award from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2011, Terry was recognized as an Outstanding Catholic Leader by the Catholic Leadership Institute. She is the author of Life and Opening Your Heart to God’s Design (Our Sunday Visitor, 2018). She lives in Colorado with her husband, Mike.
239 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2022
I loved this book! It started my love for reading about the lives of the saints, and l find myself going back and rereading it often.
January 3, 2024
Interesting synthesis of information on the lives of the saints with details I had never heard before. Quick and easy read.
September 3, 2024
So far (September 2024), four women have been declared Doctors of the Church by the Catholic Church. A Doctor of the Church is a saint who is recognized for their writings and teachings that have contributed to the intellectual and, more importantly, spiritual development of people. The two most famous doctors are Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas. This book gives overviews of the women who are doctors, in the order that they were declared.
Saint Teresa of Avila lived in the 16th century as a Spanish Carmelite. At the time, many religious orders were in decline, in need of reform. She was a passionate advocate for that reform, especially in her own order. Her early life needed improvement and she found life in the convent transformative. She wrote much and advised others at all levels of society. Her reforms had a great impact and her writings, especially The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, are beloved classics.
Saint Catherine of Siena lived in central Italy during the 14th century. She was born to a large family but was constantly looking for solitude. She had vision of Jesus from her youth though she did not become a cloistered nun. She lived in the world, writing many letters advising on spiritual matters. She also traveled, especially to Avignon, France, where the Popes had been living since the early 1300s. She pleaded with Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome. She convinced him and in 1377 the pope returned to Rome. In addition to her letters, she wrote The Dialogue of Divine Providence, a series of questions and answers between her and God the Father on spiritual issues.
Saint Therese of Lisieux lived in Normandy, France, at the end of the 19th century. She had a rather unremarkable life. She grew up in a typical middle-class family. Most of her sisters went to the same convent, a Carmelite in Normandy. She died at a young age (24!) of illness. She probably would have been forgotten but her superior ordered her to write about her life, resulting in the spiritual classic The Story of a Soul. She details her simple life and her simple spirituality. She did everything from her youngest age to please God. Even small acts can become sacred and salvific when done in a Christ-like spirit. The first printing of her book was distributed among the Carmel convents but soon was recognized as a powerful witness to a life of Christian simplicity and love. It spread like wildfire.
Saint Hildegard of Bingen lived in 12th century Germany. She started her spiritual journey as a young woman who became an anchoress--a religious who was sealed into a cell next to a church or monastery. In her case, it was a monastery and she was in with some other women. She was in the cell for twenty-five years. She and her companions attracted many people for advice and other women to their vocation. They outgrew their cell and moved to a run-down monastery, what we would now call a "fixer-upper." She had spent her years praying and reading, so when she came out, she had a large body of knowledge and much preparation. She wrote books and plays along with letters. She composed music for the plays; she wrote about the medicinal value of plants. She lived to her eighties in a time when life expectancy was mid-thirties. She has only recently been rediscovered and was made a doctor of the church by Pope Benedict XVI.
Author Terry Polakovik does a good job present overviews of the women's lives and their impacts on the Church. She identifies them as women of hope because, in spite of their situations of hardship, they trusted in God and kept the faith. The book was written during the Covid pandemic and Polakovik draws some parallels with contemporary situations and reactions. I found this aspect interesting but its relevance will probably wane in the coming years. The text is interspersed with reflection questions, some of which draw on our current issues around Covid.
Recommended--this is a good introduction to these four women and provides plenty of pointers to find out more about them.
Saint Teresa of Avila lived in the 16th century as a Spanish Carmelite. At the time, many religious orders were in decline, in need of reform. She was a passionate advocate for that reform, especially in her own order. Her early life needed improvement and she found life in the convent transformative. She wrote much and advised others at all levels of society. Her reforms had a great impact and her writings, especially The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, are beloved classics.
Saint Catherine of Siena lived in central Italy during the 14th century. She was born to a large family but was constantly looking for solitude. She had vision of Jesus from her youth though she did not become a cloistered nun. She lived in the world, writing many letters advising on spiritual matters. She also traveled, especially to Avignon, France, where the Popes had been living since the early 1300s. She pleaded with Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome. She convinced him and in 1377 the pope returned to Rome. In addition to her letters, she wrote The Dialogue of Divine Providence, a series of questions and answers between her and God the Father on spiritual issues.
Saint Therese of Lisieux lived in Normandy, France, at the end of the 19th century. She had a rather unremarkable life. She grew up in a typical middle-class family. Most of her sisters went to the same convent, a Carmelite in Normandy. She died at a young age (24!) of illness. She probably would have been forgotten but her superior ordered her to write about her life, resulting in the spiritual classic The Story of a Soul. She details her simple life and her simple spirituality. She did everything from her youngest age to please God. Even small acts can become sacred and salvific when done in a Christ-like spirit. The first printing of her book was distributed among the Carmel convents but soon was recognized as a powerful witness to a life of Christian simplicity and love. It spread like wildfire.
Saint Hildegard of Bingen lived in 12th century Germany. She started her spiritual journey as a young woman who became an anchoress--a religious who was sealed into a cell next to a church or monastery. In her case, it was a monastery and she was in with some other women. She was in the cell for twenty-five years. She and her companions attracted many people for advice and other women to their vocation. They outgrew their cell and moved to a run-down monastery, what we would now call a "fixer-upper." She had spent her years praying and reading, so when she came out, she had a large body of knowledge and much preparation. She wrote books and plays along with letters. She composed music for the plays; she wrote about the medicinal value of plants. She lived to her eighties in a time when life expectancy was mid-thirties. She has only recently been rediscovered and was made a doctor of the church by Pope Benedict XVI.
Author Terry Polakovik does a good job present overviews of the women's lives and their impacts on the Church. She identifies them as women of hope because, in spite of their situations of hardship, they trusted in God and kept the faith. The book was written during the Covid pandemic and Polakovik draws some parallels with contemporary situations and reactions. I found this aspect interesting but its relevance will probably wane in the coming years. The text is interspersed with reflection questions, some of which draw on our current issues around Covid.
Recommended--this is a good introduction to these four women and provides plenty of pointers to find out more about them.
July 1, 2024
More like 3.5. A good, solid introduction to these four women. I knew a bit about Teresa and Hildegard, but was especially happy to learn more about Catherine and Therese. This is not a deep dive, but covers enough ground to give you the basics. I do have to say the author admits in her intro that her favorite of these saints is Therese and you can definitely tell the bias. As someone who's not really into the Little Flower, I found this favoritism annoying. Also, some of the reflection questions are a bit clunky (and will not age well since some of them refer to the covid-19 pandemic). That said, I do appreciate this book since there isn't a lot about these four women as doctors specifically out there (there's plenty individually, of course). So for that alone, this is a welcome endeavor.
November 1, 2025
I really enjoyed the emphasis of hope as a deep practice of endurance and trust as opposed to a kinda fluffy, sugarcoated ideal. Seeing what these women endured in their times of tribulation within the Church, and how they overcame scandals in their own eras by being a cause for change really inspiring.
I would’ve liked a little more direct connection to the theme of hope within each Saint’s section, but this was a great overview to these lovely ladies of history! I expected to like Therese of Lisieux’s section best, but Teresa of Avila really blew me away! Some of her writings felt very human and like things I’ve experienced. It was a great joy to read this with my women’s group and discuss it with other young women who are the same age as or approaching the ages in which these Saints lived.
I would’ve liked a little more direct connection to the theme of hope within each Saint’s section, but this was a great overview to these lovely ladies of history! I expected to like Therese of Lisieux’s section best, but Teresa of Avila really blew me away! Some of her writings felt very human and like things I’ve experienced. It was a great joy to read this with my women’s group and discuss it with other young women who are the same age as or approaching the ages in which these Saints lived.
May 21, 2025
This book provides a good introduction to the four female Doctors of the Church. It’s useful in helping to inspire a deeper search into all of them or one in particular, but there were points where I wished the author focused more on the women’s writings and their continued impact beyond their own lives. But with the length of the book, these limitations are mostly expected. If you don’t know anything about St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, or St. Hildegard of Bingen and are interested in an introduction of them through broad strokes, then consider giving this book a try.
March 2, 2023
Excellent book on the lives of four extraordinary women: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieux, & Hildegard of Bingen. All were named Doctors of the Church. I knew some about these four saints. This book went into more detail about them.
I have always been fascinated about Hildegard of Bingen. I have a few of the books mentioned in her biography. I also have a fiction book about her - Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen.
Terry Polakovic writes from the heart about these women. She asks questions for reflection throughout each section.
I have always been fascinated about Hildegard of Bingen. I have a few of the books mentioned in her biography. I also have a fiction book about her - Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen.
Terry Polakovic writes from the heart about these women. She asks questions for reflection throughout each section.
December 5, 2024
This was a great book on the lives of four remarkable women: St. Teresa of Avila, St Catherine of Siena, St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Hildegard! I learned something new about each of them like the fact that St. Teresa of Avila had a near death experience, or the fact that St. Catherine of Siena couldn't read or write but wrote one of the greatest works (The Dialoge) the Church has ever seen and it was also pretty interesting reading about St. Hildegard, honestly I really knew nothing about her.
August 24, 2025
A really great recap and summary of the 4 women doctors of the Church, their lives, and their contributions to the Church. Written in a very engaging and easy to follow way. Only criticism is the author seems to have strong views on modern social movements but tries to avoid stating them outright. It made it feel both like the Church would be taking a dualistic stance in a political debate (meanwhile the Church is a middle way) and that she was speaking on behalf of the saints. Otherwise, a lovely read.
August 2, 2021
In this concise and engaging history of four important Doctors of the Church, we can see that evil in the world is not new, but an ongoing battle. Terry portrays these powerful saints in a way that helps us recall that even now, when the world seems dark, we have not been forgotten by God but are called to remember our "true hope is rooted in eternity; it is always looking forward." (p. 187).
September 17, 2024
Finished this last night but am reviewing it today and I noticed that today is the feast day of Saint Hildegard! What perfect timing! These women were all from different countries and were unique in their path to sainthood even though they were all nuns. What an inspiration they all are! Saint Hildegard, pray for us!
September 6, 2024
New view of marvelous women
I love the flow of the text. Excellent story telling. I am acquainted with the biographies of these women. This focuses on the spiritual dimension of hope. Hope that lights our way through darkness and confusion.
I love the flow of the text. Excellent story telling. I am acquainted with the biographies of these women. This focuses on the spiritual dimension of hope. Hope that lights our way through darkness and confusion.
December 13, 2025
A beautiful and enjoyable look at the 4 women Doctors of the Church. I've been in 2 different groups of women reading this book and it has been a great starter for conversation and growing in holiness, imitating St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Therese, and St. Hildegard.
November 20, 2021
Good look at the lives and influence of these four female saints and doctors.
April 10, 2023
A wonderful look into the lives of the female Doctors of the Church.
August 31, 2023
An inspiring book explaining the life stories, writings, and impact for four saints! Each woman shares her unique wisdom to the world, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about each of their journeys
September 11, 2023
(3⭐️) Well researched and nice overview of four incredible saints and female doctors of the church.
February 25, 2023
Loved this book so very much. The more I read about catholic women, the more I realize I can be a strong Catholic women because there are strong Catholic women like St. Teresa, St. Catherine, st. Therese and St. Hildegard that came before me.
In fact, they are cheering me on every day! I feel like I have such a clear picture of these women in my life and it makes me feel so very happy.
I would absolutely love to put this in a Young Adults reading club one day. A quick and impactful read for someone still to intimidated to read the Bible but dying to know more about the Catholic faith!
In fact, they are cheering me on every day! I feel like I have such a clear picture of these women in my life and it makes me feel so very happy.
I would absolutely love to put this in a Young Adults reading club one day. A quick and impactful read for someone still to intimidated to read the Bible but dying to know more about the Catholic faith!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews