The Medicine which Heals the World: Praying for Salvation with Catherine of Siena

Abstract

Catherine of Siena, a renowned medieval theologian and Doctor of the Catholic Church, offers a profound and coherent interpretation of the nature and function of a specific type of petitionary prayer, namely intercession for the salvation of sinners. Her understanding of intercession has two important elements: first, intercession is a fulfilment of the commandment to ‘love thy neighbour’; second, intercession is a providentially ordained means by which God intends to bring about the salvation of sinners. Contemporary philosophical-theological concerns and problems with the notion of petitionary prayer can be illumined and addressed by reference to her theory.