Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a canonized saint in the Catholic Church who, per Christian
tradition, was martyred around 305 in Alexandria, Egypt. Of course, the Church of the first
Millennium was undivided. She is also recognized as the Great Martyr and Saint by the
Orthodox Church. There are no surviving primary sources attesting to her existence, but the
fact that her memory, and the stories about her, have been kept alive - and handed down in
the tradition - certainly confirm her existence, and her life of heroic virtue and holiness.
The young saint was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. At that time, Alexandria was one
of the finest cities in the world, and a centre of learning and culture as well as faith.
Christian tradition states she was of noble birth, possibly a princess. As a member of the
nobility, she was also educated and was an avid scholar. Around the age of fourteen, she
experienced a moving vision of Mary and the infant Jesus, and she decided to become a
Christian.
Although she was a teenager, she was very intelligent and gifted. When the emperor
Maxentius began persecuting Christians, Catherine visited him to denounce his cruelty.
Rather than order her execution, Maxentius summoned fifty orators and philosophers to
debate her. However, Catherine was moved by the power of the Holy Spirit and spoke
eloquently in defence of her faith. Her words were so moving that several of the pagans
converted to Christianity and were immediately executed. Unable to defeat her rhetorically or to intimidate her into giving up her belief, the emperor
ordered her to be tortured and imprisoned.
Catherine was arrested and scourged. Despite the torture, she did not abandon her faith.
Word of her arrest and the power of her faith quickly spread and over 200 people visited
her. According to some legends, the emperor's own wife, Valeria Maximilla was converted
by Catherine. The emperor eventually executed his own wife over her conversion. However,
this is not mentioned in the historical record and may be a legend. It is believed that
Maximilla was alive and with her husband at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, seven
years after the death of Catherina.
Following her imprisonment, Maxentius made a final attempt to persuade the beautiful
Catherine to abandon her faith by proposing marriage to her. This would have made her a
powerful empress. Catherine refused, saying she was married to Jesus Christ and that her
virginity was dedicated to him.
The emperor angrily ordered her to be executed on a breaking wheel. The breaking wheel is
an ancient form of torture where a person's limbs are threaded among the spokes and their
bones are shattered by an executioner with a heavy rod. It is a brutal punishment that
results in a slow and painful death, normally reserved for the worst criminals.
When Catherine was presented before the wheel, she touched it and a miracle occurred that
caused the wheel to shatter.
Unable to torture her to death, the emperor simply ordered her beheaded.
One account claimed that angels took her body to Mt. Sinai. In the sixth century, the
Emperor Justinian ordered a monastery established in her name. The monastery, Saint
Catherine's, remains to this day and is one of the oldest in the world.
Around the year 800, a legend spread that her body has been found with her hair still
growing and a constant stream of oil coming from her body. Nothing exists to this day of her
remains, and her very existence has been called into question.
Despite these questions, and the possibility that her story may be confused with that of one
or more other saints, she is still venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as a Martyr. Many
Roman Catholics also venerate her to this day as one of the great virgin saints of the early
Church.
During the medieval period, St. Catherine was one of the most famous saints of the Church.
She was a popular subject in renaissance art and many paintings from the period are
dedicated to her.
Catherine is still a very popular Catholic name.
The spiked wheel is a popular symbol often associated with St. Catherine.
Her feast day is Nov. 25, and she is the patron of a great many professions and causes. Her
patronage includes students, unmarried girls, apologists and many more as well as many
places around the world.
Invocation of St. Catherine
St. Catherine, glorious virgin and martyr, resplendent in the lustre of wisdom and purity; thy
wisdom refuted the adversaries of divine truth and covered them with confusion; thy
immaculate purity made thee a spouse of Christ, so that after thy glorious martyrdom angels
carried thy body to Mount Sinai. Implore for me progress in the science of the saints and the
virtue of holy purity, that vanquishing the enemies of my soul, I may be victorious in my last
combat and after death be conducted by the angels into the eternal beatitude of heaven.
Amen.
Prayer to Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Glorious St. Catherine, virgin and martyr, help me to imitate your love of purity. Give me
strength and courage in fighting off the temptations of the world and evil desires. Help me
to love God with my whole heart and serve Him faithfully. O St. Catherine, through your
glorious martyrdom for the love of Christ, help me to be loyal to my faith and my God as
long as I live. Amen.
LITANY TO SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine Princess of Egypt,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine filled with wisdom,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine full of faith,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine converter of the emperors wife,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine who gave up the throne and power for our Lord,
Pray for us.
Wife of Christ,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine most beautiful,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine most pure,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine ruler of the wheel,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine filled with heavenly wisdom,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine who holds the sword of the word,
Pray for us.
Saint Catherine who was taken to mount Sinai,
Pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, Great Saint Catherine,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
We implore Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr, who was
ever most pleasing to Thy eyes by reason of her eminent purity and the practice of all the
virtues, pardon us our sins and grant us all the graces we need (and name any special grace
you may require). Amen.
Saint Catherine’s Prayer
Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for the tradition and example of Saint
Catherine of Alexandria.
Give us grace to pursue her love of purity, to strive for her strength and courage, to adhere
to her abhorrence of the world’s temptations and sinful desires, and to follow her
faithfulness.
Empower us to break the wheel of worldly suffering and allow your wisdom to radiate
through our lives, so that your glory may shine ever more brightly.
Bring those who seek your presence to share in the ministry and worship of this parish and
help us to welcome those who come in your name.
All this we pray through Jesus Christ, our servant leader, who is one with you and the Holy
Spirit. Amen
Prayer in Honour of St. Catherine
O God, Who didst distinguish Thy holy virgin and martyr Catherine by the gift of great
wisdom and virtue, and a victorious combat with the enemies of the Faith; grant us, we
beseech Thee, through her intercession, constancy in the Faith and the wisdom of the saints,
that we may devote all the powers of our mind and heart to Thy service. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
