Saint Catherine of Siena by F.A. Forbes (USED)

Saint Catherine of Siena
Paperback | ~120 pages | TAN Books | Author: F. A. Forbes

USED BOOK: GOOD - The spine, cover or pages are intact. No markings or highlighting. There is discoloration on the spine believed to be caused by the sun. 

Enter into the remarkable life of one of the Church’s greatest mystics and Church reformers in Saint Catherine of Siena by F. A. Forbes. This approachable biography presents Catherine as a living example of holiness, courage, and unshakable faith. It invites both young and adult readers to see how a humble laywoman could become a powerful voice for Christ and be declared a Doctor of the Church.

Born in 1347 in Siena, Catherine dedicated her virginity to God at a young age, endured opposition in her family, and experienced mystical visions. With unflinching zeal, she took up fasting, wrote letters to popes, cardinals, and princes, and played a key role in convincing Pope Gregory XI to return from Avignon to Rome. In her mid-thirties, she also bore spiritual sufferings, received mystical experiences, and penned The Dialogue, offering deep insights into God’s love and human response. 

Forbes’ portrait shows Catherine not in distant abstraction but as a real person — one who cut her hair to discourage suitors, intervened to save souls facing death, argued courageously with church leaders, and embraced pain for the love of Christ. The narrative is enriched with episodes of miracles, spiritual suffering, and the dramatic challenges she faced in her mission to bring unity and reform to the Church. 

Ideal for youth, adult readers, and parish libraries, this edition is accessible, faithful, and inspiring. It serves well for personal devotion, catechetical use, or as a gift for those wanting to deepen their understanding of a woman who truly “married Christ” and spoke truth to power.