The Mystical Element of Religion as Studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and Her Friends

Baron Friedrich von Hügel's The Mystical Element of Religion examines mysticism as studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and her contemporaries. Mysticism involves a sense of contact with the divine or transcendent, often interpreted as union with God. Saint Catherine of Genoa, an Italian mystic, was known for her work with the sick and poor and experienced a profound mystical conversion. Her writings, Trattato del Purgatorio and Dialogo, reflect her mystical life. Von Hügel's work explores how these mystical experiences and teachings contribute to the broader understanding of religion.1234