Way of the Fathers 5.27 St. Catherine of Siena: Mystic of the Incarnate Word
Jan 28, 2026
A lively look at how a 14th-century mystic helped bring the papacy back to Rome. The conversation highlights political drama of Avignon, persuasive letters, and a daring personal visit to Pope Gregory XI. Listeners hear about her theological writings, visions and stigmata, and her role as reformer and spiritual advisor shaping Church history.
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Catherine Restored The Papacy
- St. Catherine of Siena convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome, ending a 68-year exile.
- Her letters and personal presence were decisive in restoring the papacy's independence from French control.
Christ As The Bridge To God
- In The Dialogue Catherine presents the hypostatic union as the bridge between humanity and God.
- She frames spiritual life as staying on that bridge lest one be swept into the "Devil's River."
Prayer Grounded In Self-Knowledge
- The Dialogue begins with a soul's restless desire for God's honor and the salvation of souls, moving from self-knowledge to union with God.
- Catherine teaches that humble, continual prayer grounds truth and effects spiritual transformation.
