Denied the Wheel of Torture

A young woman of great faith and courage...today's saint is a great model for apologists and young women.

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Feast Day:  November 24
Born 296?
Death 313?
Patroness of philosophers and preachers
Noble family of Alexandria, Egypt

Unsure of any history for her early life, Catherine chose to become a Christian after receiving a vision of the Madonna and Child.  She denounced the emperor Maxentius for persecuting Christians. The emperor summoned fifty of the best pagan philosophers and orators to dispute with her, hoping that they would refute her pro-Christian arguments, but Catherine won the debate. When several of these debaters had conversions, the emperor decided that he would torture her by having fifty of her converts burned to death.

It seems the emperor admired Catherine for her beauty, so he asked her to renounce her faith and become his wife.  When she refused his offer, Catherine was put in prison.  When the emperor was away, Catherine had to opportunity to convert the emperor's wife and two hundred of his soldiers!  When the emperor returned, he had them all put to death in front of Catherine.

This time Catherine was also sentenced to death on a spiked wheel.  However, when the spiked wheel broke, she was beheaded.  She is traditionally revered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us!