The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena

The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena
Abridged edition

The Dialogue of the great St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church, is one of the treasures of Catholic literature. It reads as spoken by God the Father, and is in fact a fascinating mystical exposition of Catholic doctrine, full of practical insights into the spiritual life. Among the topics explained here are:

• Why sinners are insatiable and unbearable to themselves.
• How finite pains can receive infinite merits.
• Christ as the Bridge one must cross to attain eternal life.
• How superiors must reprove evildoers without fear.
• How God rewards every good deed, even of sinners.
• How contrition sometimes satisfies for the penalty as well as for the guilt of sin.
• How to arrive at perfect purity.
• The four principal torments of the damned.
• Why and how we should avoid judging our neighbor.
• Worthy and unworthy communicants.
• What is the "hundredfold" that is promised by God to those in religious life.
• How God manifests Himself to the soul who loves Him.
• The pains of the sinner in the hour of death.
• That to turn back from long habits of sin is very difficult but not impossible.
• That virtuous, holy priests are like the sun.
• How God will reform His Church.

St. Catherine of Siena - counsellor of Popes and statesmen-is one of only three women Doctors of the Church. The Dialogue is her greatest writing - or rather, it is a message from God to the whole Church.