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The Catholic New World


Elizabeth A. Dreyer, a professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, will discuss St. Catherine of Siena’s letters to women at an April 29 event at Dominican University of River Forest. April 29 is the feast of St. Catherine, a 14th century Dominican mystic depicted here in a statue near Castle Sant’ Angelo in Rome.

Photos: Dominican University, CNS

A regular feature of The Catholic New World, The InterVIEW is an in-depth conversation with a person whose words, actions or ideas affect today’s Catholic. It may be affirming of faith or confrontational. But it will always be stimulating.

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Medieval mystic’s message finds modern ears

St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th century Italian mystic and the first female doctor of the church, was known for many things, from denying herself most food save the Eucharist to advising popes and noblemen. Foremost among what she told them was of the need to reform, to make the church a more true reflection of the Body of Christ. Fairfield University Professor Elizabeth Dreyer will discuss what Catherine of Siena had to say in her letters to women of her time in “Sister to Sister: Catherine’s Letters to Women” an April 29 lecture at Dominican University.

Dreyer spoke by telephone with staff writer Michelle Martin.

The Catholic New World: What is a mystic? Especially in relation to John Paul II, we’re hearing that word a lot lately, and a lot of people don’t seem sure exactly what it means.

Elizabeth A. Dreyer: A very basic way to understand mysticism, I think, is it is a very intense form of the Christian faith or spirituality. I usually think of it on a scale of intensity. At the low end you have a very casual relationship with God, then a friendship with God would be a more complex relationship. On the intense end, you would have a very deep, complex relationship that would be very engaging of the whole person, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, physically.

TCNW: Why were there so many women mystics? It seems like mysticism is one area where you hear about more women, especially in the medieval period.

EAD: It actually isn’t. It is an arena in which women were recognized, and in which women had a voice. I’ve never lined up the male names and female names, and I’m not sure whether you’d find more men or more women …

But especially in the medieval period, women were not allowed to attend universities, which were founded in the 13th century. They were looked upon by the church as not fit to be teachers in the formal sense or preachers in the formal sense. The voice of women that was heard fell into the category of mysticism.

TCNW: That’s what I was trying to get at—not that more women than men were mystics, but that the women we hear about from that time tended to be mystics.

EAD: For women mystics, mysticism brought them fame, and those who percolate to the top are the ones who are most well known. Most of the mystics were what we would call very Type A—very driven, intense, intelligent, creative and articulate about these spiritual experiences they had.

TCNW: Would that description fit Catherine of Siena?

EAD: Yes. Very definitely.

TCNW: How was she viewed by her contemporaries? Was she seen as a spiritual leader, or as a thorn in their side?

EAD: As with most people in history, the answer is all of the above. She had supporters, including influential clerics. She had a large following of ordinary people, of disciples She also had a large following of detractors. In the Middle Ages, a woman was not expected to have a public life unless she was a queen or a princess. She was very public, and many people did not like that.

TCNW: What message was she trying to spread in her public life?

EAD: One concept that covers a lot of bases is reform. She had a vision of a church that was pure in spirit, where the actual church in which she lived often failed. She was protesting the church’s associations with political power and inviting ordinary people to live a very high standard of sanctity.

TCNW: How well is she known?

EAD: Among medieval women mystics, Catherine is one of the least hidden. A couple of things are behind that. Not long after she died, her writings showed up on a list of things educated people should read. It was complied by Anton Francesco Doni, who lived in the Renaissance period.

And, as a Dominican, she had an advantage. Mystics and saints who were affiliated with religious orders are kept before the public because there are people to back them, to spread their words.

Then the church named her a doctor of the church. I think most Catholics have heard of her.

TCNW: How has a feminist analysis changed the understanding of Catherine’s life and work?

EAD: I think in early feminism, a lot of mystics were rejected because they were not seen as challenging the society. Then Catherine died from the fruits from her extreme fasts, which has parallels to anorexia.

On the other hand, over the years, people have come to see them as pioneers, as innovators, as women of courage, who risked a lot to be faithful to their experience and to their spirituality.

TCNW: What would Catherine of Siena have to say to modern women?

EAD: Pay attention to your experience. Have courage. Speak. Confront things you see that are wrong with the church, wrong with the world. Also, don’t stop at the bottom of the ladder. Don’t leave the potential or the capability to live an extraordinary spiritual life unfulfilled. Don’t be happy with mediocrity.

The April 29 event begins with a prayer service in the Dominican University Priory Campus Chapel at 7 p.m., followed by the lecture in the auditorium from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The even is free, but donations will be accepted. For information, call (708) 714-9110.


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