St. Catherine of Alexandria

Catherine is believed to have been born of a noble family in Alexandria, Egypt and to have died around 310. An elaborate legend arose around her martyrdom. According to this story, Catherine, a young woman of eighteen, was converted to Christianity by a vision. Of her own accord, she confronted the Emperor Maxentius for persecuting the Christians and he found her so learned that he sent for various scholars to dispute with her. When she could not be persuaded to renounce her faith, he through her into prison. There she converted the emperor’s wife and two hundred soldiers; Maxentius had these executed and ordered Catherine to be tortured on a spiked wheel. The wheel fell apart at her touch, so the emperor had her beheaded. Angels supposedly bore her body to the monastery of Mount Sinai. Catherine is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers who were highly venerated in the Middle Ages. Her voice was one the saints heard by Joan of Arc. She is the patroness of preachers, philosophers, and maidens. Her feast day is November 25.