SOURCE: "Catherine's Literary Work," in Saint Catherine of Siena: A Study in the Religion, Literature and History of the Fourteenth Century in Italy, J. M. Dent and Company and E. P. Dutton and Company, 1907, pp. 353-850.

In the excerpt that follows, Gardner places Catherine of Siena's literary work within the context of Christian mysticism as well as within more mainstream theology.

"Anco vi prego che il Libro e ogni scrittura la quale trovaste di me, voi e frate Bartolomeo e frate Tomaso e il Maestro, ve le rechiate per le mani; e fatene quello che vedete che sia piu onore di Dio, con missere Tomaso insieme: nel quale io trovava alcuna recreazione."—St. Catherine to Fra Raimondo, Letter 373 (102).

At the end of her life, Catherine took thought for the written word that she was leaving behind her, still to speak with her voice after she had passed away...