World Between Worlds: A Novel of the Early Life of Caterina, the Mystic of Siena

(©Jenny duBay / Caterina’s statue in Rome)

After an amazing journey of researching, writing and revising, I’m thrilled to let Missio Dei readers know that my novel, World Between Worlds, has just been published by En Route Books & Media.

From the back cover:

World Between Worlds is Jenny duBay’s unforgettable novel of one of the Church’s most dynamic saints, Catherine of Siena. Set in the tumultuous fourteenth century, World Between Worlds takes readers on a journey across the landscape of medieval Tuscany, through the eyes of a mystic who is entangled in political chaos, social upheaval, and spiritual awakening.

Ever since she experienced her first vision at the age of six, Caterina di Giacomo of Siena has been prone to mystical insights and spiritual revelations, yet the chaotic world around her isn’t tolerant of her supernatural inclinations. Her unconventional lifestyle, her ability to foretell future events, and her unnatural wisdom are suspect in the eyes of many. Women in fourteenth century Tuscany have only two choices in life—marriage or the convent. Caterina defiantly refuses both to follow her own path, an independent lifestyle no woman before her dared attempt. Amid the struggles to follow her inner path, Caterina— who has been blessed with the prophetic grace to help heal afflicted and struggling souls— finds the outside world is frazzled with political instability, city-wide bloodshed, and a Church in disarray.

Following St. Catherine’s early life, from mystical seclusion to her budding influence within the spiritual and social circles of her day, World Between Worlds is a novel of turmoil and redemption.

I came to write World Between Worlds in a bit of a backward fashion. I didn’t initially approach my study of the life of St. Catherine of Siena through a faith-filled lens, but one of curiosity and a deep desire for understanding. Readers who know my story through my articles detailing the dangers of the New Age may recall that although a cradle Catholic, I fell out of alignment with the Church when in my early 30’s. It was during those dark years that I pridefully declared myself to be “spiritual but not religious,” and dabbled in various New Age practices. Thankfully, our Lord pulled me out of the mire of those dangerous dark times and gently, mercifully nudged me back into His Light.

Yet it was during those years of spiritual exile that I found St. Caterina of Siena, and she eventually played an intercessory role in leading me back home to Holy Mother Church. I’ve always had a deep love of history, particularly of 14^th century Europe. The 14th century was an era of utmost turmoil—extreme weather conditions and the resulting famines, wars, bawdy immorality, virulent outbreaks of disease, and a Church in disarray. The world was topsy-turvy, yet even in the midst of such horror and chaos, the great mystics remained full of God’s mercy, love and joy.

I clearly remember the evening my journey with St. Caterina began. I was tucked away in my reading corner, curled in my favorite black leather chair reading Barbara Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14^th Century. When I came upon these lines, it literally felt like a jolt of recognition and electricity shot through me:

Since June 1376, Catherine of Siena, who was to be canonized within a century of her death and ultimately named patron saint of Italy along with Francis of Assisi, had been in Avignon exhorting the Pope to signal reform of the Church by returning to the Holy See. Already at 29 a figure with an ardent following and an insistent voice, she was revered for her trances and raptures and her claim to have received, while in ecstasy after Communion, the stigmata of the five wounds of Christ on hands, feet, and heart … Behind the trances were extreme austerities of fasting and deprivations of sleep and comfort … Catherine was reported to have lived on hardly more than a little raw lettuce.

Why would these lines strike me so? Her lifestyle seemed unapproachable and unrealistic, yet something in me was tugging, seeking, speaking. I had to know more about this extreme character named Catherine of Siena. It was a necessity, a demand from within, a driving need to seek, to understand, to find—and, ultimately, to grow.

Who was this strange woman, said to be a saint yet apparently quite flawed—after all, who would willingly starve themselves? Viewing her life through my modern eyes, I wondered if she had some sort of spiritual eating disorder. Surely God didn’t desire her to risk her health for austerities (more on that in the sequel to World Between Worlds). I couldn’t understand her life or mission, yet I needed to understand. Despite my Catholic upbringing, I’d never before heard of Catherine of Siena, and my soul longed to learn more. Somehow I’d found a kindred spirit, yet I didn’t know why, or how.

Some Catholics say that there are times when our patron saints choose us, rather than us choosing them, and I agree. It certainly feels that way to me, especially since the study of Santa Caterina’s life—including tracing her footsteps across both France and Italy—played a pivotal role in my return to the Church. Her teachings taught me how to truly love Jesus, our Divine Bridegroom. They instilled in me an awe of gratitude and love for His precious Blood, “which is love and mercy itself,” in the words of St. Faustina. Caterina’s life showed me what the face of Christianity truly is—doing the will of our Lord no matter the cost or seeming impossibility of what He asks of us, and remaining in His peace and joy despite outward trials and turmoil.

St. Caterina was an amazing woman and is an amazing intercessor in Heaven. She accomplished what no woman before her time ever had, and remained steadfast despite frequent opposition and persecution. She had utmost faith that God was calling her to a life of service, even though that life took an astounding and even socially unacceptable form. Still she persevered, all for the salvation of souls and the reform of the Church. Canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461 and—along with St. Teresa of Avila—named one the first female Doctors of the Church by Pope St. Paul VI in 1970, St. Caterina’s legacy and message is becoming more and more pertinent in today’s restless world. Engaging, dynamic and tumultuous, the story of her life is both astounding and inspirational.

It was such a blessing to study the life of St. Caterina, to spend years immersing myself in her world as I grew in the love of Christ Crucified. It’s now my immense joy to bring to you the fruits of labor of love—from the initial research into St. Caterina’s life, to my reversion merely a few months later, to various trips to Europe, to the writing, revising and finishing journey with En Route Books and Media. I was honored to have in-depth conversations with top St. Catherine experts such as Suzanne Noffke—who translated all 383 of St. Catherine’s letters, along with her Dialogue and Prayers—to F. Thomas Luongo, professor at Tulane University and author of The Saintly Politics of Catherine of Siena. Spending as much time as I could in Caterina’s home church, I was blessed with the advice from, and the encouragement of, Padre Alfredo Scarciglia of San Domenico in Siena. It’s been an amazing journey—and one I’m thrilled to still be on.

I pray World Between Worlds enriches your own journey with God, and entertains you with the engaging tale of St. Caterina’s life and times.

World Between Worlds covers the early life of St. Caterina. As I continued to be immersed in the writing process and learning all I could about Tuscany, the fourteenth century, the Avignon papacy, and Caterina’s life, I discovered that there was so much exciting material that it couldn’t be told in merely one novel. I’m currently at work on the sequel, which will begin in 1374—the year Caterina’s public ministry began in earnest. I’d appreciate your prayers as I again take a deep dive into researching and writing about my special saint.

I’m offering a sneak-peak of the novel on my website—the entire first chapter is free in PDF form, and you can order a signed copy. You can also purchase the book on Amazon.

The sequel doesn’t yet have a title, so I’d love to hear thoughts and suggestions. Drop a line in the comments or send me a message. I’d love to hear from you!