Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), despite her youth and her lay status, was hugely influential in her time. The Church in her day was deeply divided, driven by powerful political interests and scandal. Catherine’s spiritual authority was recognised by princes, cardinals and popes and she was somehow able to continue to love the Church, while seeing its terrible failings. Her theological and spiritual writings – she would not have understood the distinction – are fresh and lively, beloved of linguists as well as theologians.
Catherine’s ascetic practice, with its passionate devotion to the Eucharist to the exclusion of all other nourishment, is problematic and needs to be carefully contextualised to allow her own costly but vivid spirituality to emerge from her own words, as well as from our hesitations. She died at the age of 33, exhausted and malnourished, but unafraid and leaving behind her an astonishing legacy of wisdom and authority.
| 19:30 | Welcome and Meditation |
| 20:00 | Presentation |
| 20:50 | Short break |
| 20:55 | Response and dialogue |
| 21:15 | Questions and response with audience |
Leader
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Jane Williams
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Jane Williams is the McDonald Professor of Theology at St Mellitus College, a theological college of the Church of England. She is the author of a number of books, including The Art of Christmas (SPCK, 2021) and, most recently, The Sacraments: Responding to God’s Loving Invitation (SPCK York Courses, November 2024).
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Opportunity to meditate at the start of each session
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Time to interact with the speakers
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Unlimited access to recordings
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Registration form at bottom of page
Q&A with the Speakers
In each talk, you will have the opportunity to ask questions to the speaker
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Meet Fellow Meditators
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Meditate Together
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