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Catherine of Siena: Essays on Her Life and Thought Edited with an Introduction and Notes

Thomas McDermott, O.P. (Chicago: New Priory Press, 2015)

New Priory Press is proud to present this volume of six classic essays on the life and thought of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-80), Dominican mystic and Doctor of the Church. The essays, which include several that appear here in English for the first time, are: Thomas Deman, O.P., “Theology in the Life of St. Catherine of Siena”; Thomas McDermott, O.P., “Catherine of Siena: Doctor of Communion”; Maria Francesca Carnea, “Freedom and Politics in St. Catherine of Siena”; Yves Congar, O.P., “The Holy Spirit in the Prayers of St. Catherine of Siena”; Michael J. Houser, “Processo Castellano. An excerpt from the testimony of Fra Bartolomeo Dominici”; Antoine Lemonnyer, O.P., “The Spiritual Life in the Teaching of St. Catherine of Siena.” (190 pages)

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Filled with All the Fullness of God: An Introduction to Catholic Spirituality

Thomas McDermott, OP, New York: Bloomsbury, 2013, 128 pp.

Filled with All the Fullness of God examines the truths of Christian faith which pertain to spiritual growth and the '”lived theologies” or spiritualities which derive from them. Far from being an idiosyncratic or personal presentation of Catholic spirituality, McDermott draws from the rich spiritual patrimony of the Church and presents “old” truths” from a fresh perspective.

McDermott discusses a variety of issues: self-knowledge, our understanding of God, our partaking in the divine nature of God through deifying grace, the role of the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit in deifying our hearts and minds, the reign of God and the place of the Church and the sacraments, the role of prayer, stages in the spiritual life, and life after death.

He presents Christianity not about “getting into heaven” but as a way of participating in the divine life here and now through deifying grace, in the sphere of the Church with prayer and the Eucharist. McDermott illustrates his argument with a variety of sources: Scripture, the Church Fathers, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and contemporary spiritual writers.

“Eminently sensible and practical, this book contains a veritable treasure-house of sources and resources. With unaffected simplicity and wisdom, McDermott allows us to hear the voices of many of the great saints and theologians within the Catholic tradition. A most thoughtful and illuminating introduction!” – Fr. Paul Murray OP, Professor of Spiritual Theology at the Angelicum in Rome.

“Fr. McDermott, O.P. has until now stood out in scholarly circles by presenting Catherine of Siena not only as a saintly mystic but a brilliant theologian as well. Here in his latest work, he draws from his expertise of medieval spirituality (and beyond) to illustrate how true Christian discipleship is not simply a matter of right belief or right action, but to become "filled" with God's very life and thereby become other Christs for the world. McDermott's writing is accurate and alluring, inviting all into this great Catholic transformation.” – Fr. David Meconi, S.J., Assistant Professor of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University.

“Here is a delightfully fresh, clearly expressed vision of Catholicism. It is just what the Church needs today: an invitation to intimacy with God that elicits desire for Him and leaves us in wonder over how blessed we are to be Catholic! This book is perfect for adult faith formation, deacon formation and personal spiritual reading.”
– Deacon James Keating, Ph.D, Director of Theological Formation, Institute for Priestly Formation.

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Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching

Thomas McDermott, OP, New York: Paulist Press, 2008, 368 pp.

NOW BACK IN PRINT!

In his ground-breaking, systematic presentation of Catherine of Siena's teachings, Thomas McDermott draws on Catherine's writings to explain her principal teachings in relation to spiritual development and identifies her possible sources as well as her areas of originality. By examining Catherine's life and mystical experiences, McDermott shows how she grew spiritually and how her growth corresponds to her later teachings. Finally, he explicates what he regards as the fundamental message of Catherine's life and teaching. Students of mysticism and spirituality will find this book a trustworthy guide through the rich mysticism of one of the 14th century's most amazing women. Preface by Fr. Wojciech Giertych, OP, Theologian to the Papal Household

"Thomas McDermott's magisterial book is the first work in English that does full justice to the systematic theological importance of Catherine of Siena's teaching. Readers will find their thinking freed from the styles and whims of so much writing on 'spirituality' and set firmly on the path that Jesus himself trod with his disciples."
-Benedict M. Ashley, OP, Professor Emeritus
Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, MO

"In this well-researched book, Thomas McDermott has unraveled the many intertwining threads in Catherine of Siena's teaching on spiritual development to produce a logical and convincing description of the spiritual journey along the Christ-Bridge. Catherine of Siena offers its readers many helpful markers on their own journey toward God."
-Mary O'Driscoll, OP
University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome

"The merit of Father McDermott's book is that it tackles some of the most difficult aspects of St. Catherine of Siena's teaching. A demanding but enriching work which brings our understanding of Catherine an important step forward."
-Fr. Paul Murray, OP, author of
The New Wine of Dominican Spirituality

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Catherine of Siena. Doctor of the Church: Notes on her life and teaching.

By Giacinto D'Urso, OP. Translated with introduction and notes by Thomas McDermott (Chicago: New Priory Press, 2013). 125 pages.

In 1970, the year St. Catherine of Siena was proclaimed Doctor of the Church, Giacinto D'Urso, O.P., the world's foremost authority on the saint, wrote his magnum opus on her teaching. It was only in this work, of which this is the first-ever translation in English, that Father D'Urso undertook a comprehensive exposition of her thought. D'Urso's work reflects a classical theological training, knowledge of mysticism in general, his Dominican vocation, and an ardent love of Catherine. He is careful and thorough in his summaries and analyses; his conclusions are balanced and reliable; his style is literary, succinct and dense. His scholarship reveals new depths to Catherine's thought. All students of Catherine of Siena and of medieval mysticism will find this volume a valuable asset.

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La via della luce: Comparazione intratestuale sinottica del Dialogo di Caterina da Siena

Mirella Soro, OP, (2025) 1856 pages. Note: This book is in in Italian (not English).

An important new research tool consisting of an intertextual synopsis of the various manuscripts of the Dialogue of Catherine of Siena.

La via della luce [The Way of Light] is a fascinating journey into the heart of Christian mysticism, an illuminating path starting from desire, the divine seed that dwells in the heart of every human being. Through an engaging analysis of Catherine of Siena's Dialogue of Divine Providence, the book invites the reader to enter the "cell of self-knowledge" to discover the stages of a spiritual journey that leads to union with the Trinity. Innovative and accessible, the text is presented in parallel columns that reveal the soul's journey in a synoptic way. Among powerful symbols such as the "Bridge" of Christ, which represents the path of faithful love, the tree of love, and the fundamental stages of the spiritual journey, the book guides the reader with gentleness and depth. Catherine of Siena, a mediator of peace, a spiritual guide, and a woman of great courage, paved the way for female freedom, following the Dominican path and becoming an important figure in history. Her friendship with artists, common people, believers, and atheists, and her role in historical events, such as the return of the Pope from Avignon, make her an extraordinary and incredibly modern figure. La via della luce presents itself as a bridge between past and present, between faith and daily life, between mystical wisdom and secularism. It is an invitation to rediscover Catherine's message as a source of inspiration. A book that illuminates the path of those seeking meaning, peace, and truth.

Mirella Soro, a Dominican cloistered nun, was born in Sassari. After graduating from high school with a classical education, she obtained a Master's degree in Modern Literature from the University of Sassari and a degree in Religious Sciences from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. She obtained a postgraduate Master's diploma in Studies on Ancient Books from the University of Siena and a qualification diploma for Trainers in the field of Consecrated Life from the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium", Rome. She currently works as a trainer. Interested in the theme of women and the complementarity of the masculine and feminine, she has been studying the writings of Saint Catherine of Siena for several years. 

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