Great Catholic Women: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieu, Hildegard of Bingen

by Elizabeth A. Dreyer

Until 1970, the Vatican had never recognized a woman as a Doctor of the Church. Today there are Teresa of Ávila, Catherine of Siena, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard of Bingen. Now you can get an in-depth look at their lives with award-winning religious-studies scholar Elizabeth A. Dreyer. Despite living in different countries, centuries, and cultural contexts, the four women Doctors of the Church are all boundless sources of wisdom and faith. Now, through Professor Dreyer’s engaging twelve-lecture course, you can understand each woman’s powerful theology, letting her spirituality guide you. As you explore the historical context that gave rise to these women’s ideas, you will learn how to retrieve aspects of their theological thought in a critical and relevant way today. Including women’s perspectives in the Church helps us broaden what we understand in theology and reminds us that all Christians are invited to be theologians.

Genres: Catholic

Audiobook

Reviews

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful and illuminating introduction to four of the most extraordinary women in Church history - the female Doctors of the Church.

Elizabeth Dreyer delivers these lectures with warmth, clarity, and reverence, making theology approachable without watering it down. Each lecture sketches the historical context of these women’s lives and shows how their spirituality continues to challenge and inspire the modern Church.

I especially appreciated how Dreyer weaves together biography and faith - painting vivid portraits of Teresa’s fiery intellect, Catherine’s fierce courage, Thérèse’s radical simplicity, and Hildegard’s cosmic imagination. It’s a perfect gateway for anyone new to these saints or intimidated by their original writings. The tone feels more like a spiritual conversation than a dense theological lecture.

That said, I did find myself wanting a deeper dive - a fuller exploration of each woman’s mystical theology and how it shaped Church thought. It’s less a theological analysis and more an invitation to explore. But in that sense, it succeeds beautifully. Dreyer’s aim is clear: to spark curiosity, to inspire listeners to go back to the sources - The Interior Castle, The Dialogue, The Story of a Soul, Scivias - and encounter these luminous minds firsthand.

A graceful, inspiring listen - perfect for anyone wanting to begin a journey into the heart of Catholic mysticism.