The Life and Faith of St. Catherine of Siena

By: Suzanne Noffke

Narrated by: Suzanne Noffke

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380) is one of the most beloved saints of the Christian tradition. In this captivating course, you will explore her life, faith, and works under the guidance of Sr. Suzanne Noffke, OP, PhD, an internationally acclaimed expert on Catherine.

One of 25 children of a Tuscan wool-dyer guildsman and his irascible wife, Catherine was unschooled and had a humble upbringing. Despite her lack of formal education, her mind was too sharp and her heart too honest to settle for a blind embrace of doctrine. Instead, she would spend her short 33 years of life in a deliberate and contemplative quest for the fullness of truth and love in Christ. In The Life and Faith of St. Catherine of Siena, you will follow this headstrong woman on her inspiring journey of love. You will trace this journey through 12 erudite yet accessible lectures, beginning with a brief introduction to her life, times, and writings.

Then, you will study in-depth her Dialogue and Letters, as well as her foundations in Scripture. Finally, you will progress through a series of prominent themes in her thought and spirituality: Christ as Teacher, Redeemer, and Mediator; her mysticism and her approach to contemplation as the integrating force in life; her quest for faith with understanding; and her convictions regarding her Church, her world, the common good, and time and eternity.

Catherine's questing heart and radical faith will inspire you today just as they have guided countless others in centuries past.

©2015 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2015 Now You Know Media Inc.

The justification of my faith through st Catherine

Not what I expected but informative. The use of particular passages in the writings of St. Catherine of Siena to validate modernist socialist activism is in my opinion unfortunate. If the writings of the saint would lead me to similar conclusions then so be it, if not I would prefer not to to have the authors agenda slipped into the saints words.

Not the dialogue

This is a reflection on Catherine of Siena. I was looking for a simple reading of the dialogue as it it tasking to read it (which Sr Noffke also acknowledges.) I just wanted the straight words from Catherine. This is a brainy intellectual book with the occasional quoting of the dialogue.

The learned wealth of the writer’s knowledge almost turned me off to Catherine - hardly the intent of this PhD writer. Even if the writer wished to minister to the busy listener, I wished it wd be more concise.

Insightful in places and I may return to it at a later point only to rediscover the difficulty in talking about a mystics journey.

Unforgettable story but annoying recording

This was my introduction to Catherine Siena. She was a remarkable woman, based on all the letters and passages compiled here. She had some unique perspectives on faith and living for Christ.

The recording was full of repetitive phrases. I wondered if editors were asleep at the recording studio or if there is a glitch with the system. It was distracting. I expect better quality.

Radical Faith

I found this biography so enlightening and inspirational. I find myself wanting to learn more about history too. Reference was made of happenings that I know a little about, but didn’t see in a context together.
I recommend St Catherine of Siena to everyone!

Don’t bother

Difficult to follow content and reading. The repetition mentioned by someone else is indeed often, seems problem with recording and not with the reader.

Ugh

I tried to make it through this. I really tried. But I found these lectures so abstract and so boring that I just couldn't finish them.