The Spiritual Doctrine of St. Catherine of Genoa

St. Catherine of Genoa was a noblewoman drawn from the vanities of the world into an extraordinary life of penance, hospital service, and mystical union with God. In this compelling account of her life and teachings, her confessor documents the fierce internal purification she endured as divine love systematically consumed her self-will. The text presents a vivid biographical portrait of her trials, spiritual insights, and renowned dialogues between the soul, the body, and self-love. This great saint’s experiences culminated in a famous treatise on Purgatory, wherein she reveals that the suffering of holy souls consists in the agonizing delay of their union with Supreme Goodness. Let St. Catherine guide you, Dear Reader, into a deeper understanding of the absolute necessity of interior detachment, the subtle deceptions of self-love, and the consuming fire of divine charity that prepares the soul to see God face to face.