St Catherine of Alexandria

Nov 25, 2021

Feast day: November 25
Patron Saint of: Lawyers, Librarians, Philosophers, Students, Teachers, Philosophers, Students

According to the Legend of St Catherine, this young woman converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. At the age of 18, she debated 50 pagan philosophers. Amazed at her wisdom and debating skills, they became Christian — as did about 200 soldiers and members of the emperor’s family. All of them were martyred.

Sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel, Catherine touched the wheel and it shattered. She was beheaded. Centuries later, angels are said to have carried the body of St Catherine to a monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai.

Devotion to her spread as a result of the Crusades. Invoked as the patroness of students, teachers, librarians and lawyers, Catherine is one of the 14 Holy Helpers, venerated especially in Germany and Hungary. --Franciscan Media