November 25 | Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Born: c. 287

Died: c. 305

Nationality: Egyptian 

Vocation: lay

Attributes: wheel, sword, crown at her feet, bridal veil, dove, surrounded by angels

Patronage: unmarried women, apologists, craftsman who work with a wheel, students, dying people, educators, philosophers, theologians

Canonization: pre-congregation 

Born to a noble pagan family in Alexandria, Egypt, Catherine zealously dedicated herself to her studies from a young age. Through her education, she encountered the Christian faith and then experienced a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. This experience inspired her conversion and commitment to live as a virgin. 

During a time of intensifying persecution of the Church, Catherine confronted the Emperor Maxentius to defend Christians. The emperor endeavored to convince her to renounce her faith, but she persevered in her defense of it and even converted many of the pagan philosophers with whom she argued. 

Maxentius then offered to make her his mistress, which she promptly refused. In further response, she converted his wife, only further enraging the emperor. 

He ordered her torture on a spiked wheel, but her bonds were miraculously loosed and the wheel shattered. She was then beheaded. The torture wheel subsequently became nicknamed “Catherine’s Wheel.” 

Catherine inspired generations of philosophers, consecrated women, and martyrs. It was Catherine’s voice that St. Joan of Arc heard when she received messages from heaven.

St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us.