The Dialogue of Catherine of Siena

by St. Catherine of Siena

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The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena was dictated to her secretaries by the Saint in ecstasy. Apart from the extraordinary circumstances of its production, this work has a special interest. The composition of the Siennese dyer’s daughter, whose will, purified and sublimated by prayer, imposed itself on popes and princes, is an almost unique specimen of what may be called “ecclesiastical” mysticism; for its special value lies in the fact that from first to last it is nothing more than a mystical exposition of the creeds taught to every child in the Catholic poor-schools. Her insight is sometimes very wonderful. How subtle, for instance, is the analysis of the state of the “worldly man” who loves God for his own pleasure or profit! The special snares of the devout are cut through by the keen logic of one who has experienced and triumphed over them. Terrible, again, is the retribution prophesied to the “unworthy ministers of the Blood.” And so every well-known form of Christian life, healthy or parasitic, is treated of, detailed, analyzed incisively, remorselessly, and then subsumed under the general conception of God’s infinite loving-kindness and mercy.

Book Summary

This book is a mystical work in which God the Father dictates a spiritual treatise to a soul, representing St. Catherine herself. The work serves as a detailed guide to achieving spiritual perfection, framed as a dialogue covering themes of divine providence, sin, virtue, prayer, and obedience. The book begins with a historical introduction, transitions into the main divine dialogue which forms the bulk of the text, and concludes with a letter from a contemporary describing the saint's death.

Introduction: The Age of Saints and Siena

The book opens with a detailed introduction that sets the historical and theological stage for St. Catherine's life. It characterizes the Middle Ages as a period powerfully influenced by great individuals, particularly saints, who acted as direct messengers of God's will, often correcting even the Church hierarchy. The text describes the political and religious turmoil of the 14th century, specifically the "Babylonish Captivity" of the Popes in Avignon, which weakened the Church and created widespread corruption. Siena is presented as the "City Beautiful," a place where the spiritual and material worlds intertwine. St. Catherine's birth and early life are introduced here, highlighting her early visions and establishing her as a soul destined for a profound connection with God. This section positions Catherine not just as a mystic, but as a crucial figure whose actions were a direct and necessary response to the crises of her time.

The Treatise of Divine Providence: The Bridge to God and the States of the Soul

The core of the book is the divine dialogue where God explains the path to salvation using the central metaphor of Christ as a "Bridge." This Bridge spans from earth to heaven, allowing souls to cross the "river" of worldly sin and reach God. The Bridge has three steps, representing three states of the soul's journey: 1) separating from worldly affections, 2) filling oneself with love and virtue, and 3) achieving peace through union with God. The text delves into the nature of sin, which stems from self-love, and virtue, which is founded on charity and proven through love of one's neighbor. God also explains the meaning of different "tears," which correspond to different spiritual states: tears of damnation (worldly sorrow), tears of fear (for sinners repenting out of fear of punishment), tears of imperfect love (for those who love God for their own consolation), and finally, tears of perfect love and sweetness, which belong to those who have achieved a selfless, unitive state with God. This section provides a comprehensive map of the soul's progression from imperfection to a perfect, loving union with the Divine.

The Treatise of Obedience: The Key to Heaven

In this part of the dialogue, God elaborates on the virtue of obedience as the "key" that unlocks heaven, a key repaired by Christ after it was broken by Adam's disobedience. A distinction is made between two forms of obedience. The first is a "general obedience" to God's commandments, which is necessary for all who seek salvation. The second is a "particular obedience," chosen by those who seek higher perfection by submitting their will entirely to a superior within a religious order. The text praises the founders of religious orders like St. Francis and St. Dominic, who created "ships" to carry souls to perfection. The misery, impatience, and spiritual death of the disobedient are contrasted sharply with the peace, joy, and security of the truly obedient, who find freedom by slaying their self-will and conforming completely to God's will, thereby receiving a "hundredfold" reward of divine charity in this life and eternal life in the next.

The Death of a Saint: Conclusion and Final Testimony

The book concludes with a final, ecstatic prayer from the soul, thanking God for the revelations of truth and mercy she has received. This prayer summarizes the main themes of the dialogue and reaffirms the soul's love for God and her desire for the salvation of the world and the reform of the Church. Following this is a letter written by Ser Barduccio di Piero Canigiani, a disciple of Catherine's, which provides a detailed and moving account of her final days. The letter describes her intense physical suffering, which she attributed to the assaults of demons and offered for the sake of the Church. It recounts her final confession, her prayers for Pope Urban VI, and her last words, which were focused on the saving power of Christ's Blood. This hagiographic account portrays her death not as an end, but as a final, triumphant act of love and union with God, solidifying her status as a saintly intercessor.