St. Catherine of Alexandria

Patron Saint of Philosophers and Young Girls

Catherine was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian Egypt, and her mother was a secret Christian.

Possessed of uncommon beauty and intellect, Catherine was educated in the sciences in her youth and, at the age of fourteen, was converted to Christianity by a vision and renounced the worship of false gods.

Four years later, Catherine came to the attention of the Emperor in a most surprising way.

The Emperor Maximinus, who was violently persecuting the Christians at the time, was astounded when the young maiden presented herself to him and boldly admonished him for his cruelty and persecution, and endeavored to prove to him by the strength and logic of her arguments how iniquitous was the worship of false gods.

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