This book introduces Catholic doctrine through the crucible of the women mystics' reception of the gospel. The work of the great women theologians of the Church's second millennium has too often been neglected (or relegated to the category of 'mysticism') in textbooks on Catholic doctrine. This is a shame, because their work shows the interior conjunction of liturgical experience (broadly understood), scriptural exegesis, philosophical reflection, and doctrinal/creedal formulation. Drawing on their work, this book presents the tenets of Catholic faith in a clear and accessible manner, useful for introductory courses as well as for students and scholars interested in the contributions of women to Catholic theology. Women theologians in this book include Catherine of Siena, Theresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, Simone Weil and others.

Author Biography

Matthew Levering is Professor of Theology at the University of Dayton, USA. He has most recently authored Biblical Natural Law (Oxford), Participatory Biblical Exegesis (Notre Dame), and Ezra and Nehemiah (Brazos). He also co-edited Vatican II: Tradition within Renewal (Oxford), and is preparing the Oxford Handbook on the Trinity. He has written and edited numerous other books. He currently co-edits series on Classical Christianity (Brazos) and Reading the Scriptures (Notre Dame), and serves as co-editor of the quarterly journal Nova et Vetera.