Setting the World on Fire : The Brief, Astonishing Life of St. Catherine of Siena

"One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time--the plague--she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens, and popes. It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Catherine. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. She was a peacemaker during Siena's revolution of 1368, sometimes addressing thousands of people in squares and streets; she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome at a time when the Catholic Church was unraveling. How did this girl, the second-youngest of 25 children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time, a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? In Setting the World on Fire, Emling gives an intimate portrayal of this fascinating and revolutionary woman"--;Chronology -- A Bright Little Girl -- A First Glimpse of Christ -- Kiss Me with a Kiss of Your Mouth -- Just What the Times Needed -- Fighting off Threats -- Bearing the Wounds of Christ -- The Spilling of Blood -- The Move to Rome -- Brilliant Work -- A Turn for the Worse -- Spiritual Anxiety -- The End of a Saintly Experience -- Epilogue. One Of Only Two Patron Saints Of Italy, The Other Being St. Francis Of Assisi, St. Catherine Was Ahead Of Her Time. As A Political Powerhouse In Late 14th Century Europe, A Time Of War, Social Unrest And One Of The Worst Natural Disasters Of All Time--the Plague--she Worked For Peace Between Christians While Campaigning For A Holy Crusade Against Muslims. She Was Illiterate But Grew Into A Great Writer By Dictating To Assistants. She Was Frail And Punished Herself Mercilessly, Often Starving Herself, While Offering Moral Guidance And Inspiration To Kings, Queens, And Popes. It's Easy To See Why Feminists Through The Years Have Sought To Claim The Patronage Of St. Catherine. From Her Refusal To Marry To Her Assertion That Her Physical Appearance Was Of No Importance, The Famous Saint Is Ripe For Modern Interpretation. She Was A Peacemaker During Siena's Revolution Of 1368, Sometimes Addressing Thousands Of People In Squares And Streets; She Convinced Pope Gregory Xi To Return The Papacy To Rome At A Time When The Catholic Church Was Unraveling. How Did This Girl, The Second-youngest Of 25 Children Of A Middle-class Dyer, Grow To Become One Of The Most Beloved Spiritual Figures Of All Time, A Theological Giant To Rank Alongside The Likes Of Thomas Aquinas? In Setting The World On Fire, Emling Gives An Intimate Portrayal Of This Fascinating And Revolutionary Woman-- Chronology -- Preface: An Astonishing Life -- A Bright Little Girl -- A First Glimpse Of Christ -- Kiss Me With A Kiss Of Your Mouth -- Just What The Times Needed -- Fighting Off Threats -- Bearing The Wounds Of Christ -- The Spilling Of Blood -- The Move To Rome -- Brilliant Work -- A Turn For The Worse -- Spiritual Anxiety -- The End Of A Saintly Experience -- A Woman's Legacy. Shelley Emling. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [219]-220) And Index. “Emling... handles her subject tenderly and respectfully, in the process breathing new life into a remarkable figure.” —Austen Ivereigh, author, The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical PopeOne of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late fourteenth-century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time—the plague, she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens and popes.It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Catherine. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. She was a peacemaker during Siena's revolution of 1368, sometimes addressing thousands of people in squares and streets; she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome at a time when the Catholic Church was unraveling.How did this girl, the second-youngest of twenty-five children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time, a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? Setting the World on Fire provides an intimate portrayal of this fascinating and revolutionary woman.“Engaging and enlightening.” —Publishers Weekly“This first modern, secular biography of St. Catherine of Siena.” —Library Journal

One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time--the plague, she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens and popes.

It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Catherine. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. She was a peacemaker during Siena's revolution of 1368, sometimes addressing thousands of people in squares and streets; she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome at a time when the Catholic Church was unraveling.

How did this girl, the second-youngest of 25 children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time, a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? In Setting the World on Fire, Emling gives an intimate portrayal of this fascinating and revolutionary woman.

"One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time--the plague--she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens, and popes. It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Catherine. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. She was a peacemaker during Siena's revolution of 1368, sometimes addressing thousands of people in squares and streets; she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome at a time when the Catholic Church was unraveling. How did this girl, the second-youngest of 25 children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time, a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? In Setting the World on Fire, Emling gives an intimate portrayal of this fascinating and revolutionary woman"-- Provided by publisher One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time--the plague, she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens and popes. It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Catherine. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. She was a peacemaker during Siena's revolution of 1368, sometimes addressing thousands of people in squares and streets; she convinced Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome at a time when the Catholic Church was unraveling. How did this girl, the second-youngest of 25 children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time, a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? In Setting the World on Fire , Emling gives an intimate portrayal of this fascinating and revolutionary woman. One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time - the plague. She worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. Though illiterate, she grew into a great writer. Though frail, she often starving herself. She offered moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens and popes.It's easy to see why feminists have sought to claim her patronage. From her refusal to marry to her assertion that her physical appearance was of no importance, the famous Saint is ripe for modern interpretation. How did this girl, the second-youngest of 25 children of a middle-class dyer, grow to become one of the most beloved spiritual figures of all time-a theological giant to rank alongside the likes of Thomas Aquinas? Recalling her example recently, Pope Francis encouraged the young to "learn from her how to live with the clear conscience of those who do not bend to human compromises." In Setting the World on Fire, Emling offers a fascinating portrait of this powerful, charismatic woman.