Staritsa: The Spiritual Motherhood of Catherine Doherty
Ebook
Overview
The present book is the first work to highlight Catherine Doherty’s vocation to spiritual motherhood. Drawing upon primary archival sources, the author traces Catherine’s development as a staritsa, or spiritual mother in the Russian-Eastern tradition. Of particular interest are the chapters dealing with Catherine’s exercise of spiritual motherhood for priests and laity alike. Previously unpublished letters of spiritual direction between Catherine and her major spiritual directors offer the reader a privileged glimpse into the soul of this servant of God and her spiritual children, as she grows in her vocation as staritsa. For example, in one striking letter, Catherine describes how she guided a disillusioned young priest who was struggling with a drinking problem and temptations involving young women, and was bordering on despair: "With clenched teeth I sailed into him, first gently, almost caressingly calling him back to Christ he once loved, then more sternly, then quietly. . . . He left full of thanks and some hope . . . ."
“How rare it is to find a work of theology that’s both
groundbreaking and readable. Guglielmi examines a neglected gift,
spiritual motherhood, as practiced by an underappreciated figure of
the last century, Catherine Doherty. He provides substantial
historical context for understanding both, but the narrative never
bogs down. This book will be rewarding for academic readers as well
as those who wish to grow in the spiritual life, following the way
of a holy and unusual American Catholic woman.”
—Mike Aquilina, Author of The Witness of Early Christian
Women
“My life was changed by the spiritual motherhood of
Catherine de Hueck Doherty. Through the careful selection of
her words and his own deep insights, Guglielmi invites anyone who
reads this book to be challenged, nurtured, and molded by the
spiritual motherhood of this extraordinary
woman.”
—Lorene Hanley Duquin, Author of They Called Her the
Baroness
“In Staritsa, Guglielmi brings to life the
treasure of a remarkable woman. Unique and insightful, this book
will inspire anyone who cares deeply for the life of the mystical
body of Christ—the church. Catherine Doherty, a pioneer in the lay
apostolate, will be of particular interest to laywomen who identify
their vocation in the context of lay ecclesial ministry
today.”
—Donna Eschenauer, Associate Dean, St. Joseph’s Seminary, New
York
“Staritsa is a gift from a spiritual father
who clearly has been inspired by Catherine De Hueck Doherty, a
spiritual mother who lived her love of the church with a passionate
and pastoral heart. This is a book that can easily be shared and
used for priestly convocations, women’s retreats, days of
recollection, and self-reflection, pondering not only Catherine’s
life, but the question, ‘How can I, too, carry the Spirit of God in
my life and work?’”
—Dianne Traflet, Associate Dean, Immaculate Conception Seminary
School of Theology, Seton Hall University
Product Details
- Title : Staritsa: The Spiritual Motherhood of Catherine Doherty
- Authors:
- Guglielmi, Donald A.
- Wild, Robert
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9781498289412
Donald A. Guglielmi is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, and currently serves as a spiritual director and Professor of Spiritual Theology at St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers, NY.