Born and died in Alexandria, Egypt.
Feast day: November 25th (November 24th in Russian Orthodoxy)
Martyred by decapitation after the breaking wheel she was meant to die by mysteriously broke apart at Catherine's touch.
Symbols: wheel (often called a "Catherine wheel" or "breaking wheel"), sword, lillies, crown, book, palm leaves.
Her colors are green and yellow. Yellow symbolizes faith, green is for wisdom.
Venerated in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches.
Patron of young girls and women (particuarly the unmarried or single), teachers, spinners, wheelwrights, librarians, and many others.
Along with St. Margaret of Antioch, she appeared to St. Joan of Arc. She was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages.
She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers (fourteen saints thought to be especially useful) who were popularly invoked during the Black Death.
Her body was taken to Mt. Sinai by angels (actually most likely monks, "angels" is believed to be an error in translation). Her hand (http://www.sinaimonastery.com/en/index.php?lid=84) still survives in St. Catherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai
It is a French tradition to hold a festival for unmarried women 25 years and older on Catherine's feast day. These women are called "Catherinettes" and wear green and yellow hats.
PJ Harvey's song "The Wind" is about St. Catherine.
An English tradition is to bake "Cattern cakes" on Catherine's feast day.
The firework "Catherine wheel" is named after the breaking wheel that was meant to kill Catherine.
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PRAYERS TO ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
"St. Catherine, be good. We have no hope but you. You are our protector. Have pity on us. We implore you on our knees. Help us to get married. For pity's sake, give us a husband, for we are burning with love. Deign to hear the prayer which comes from our overburdened hearts. Oh, you who are our mother, give us a husband."
"A husband, St. Catherine.
A handsome one, St. Catherine.
A rich one, St. Catherine.
A nice one, St. Catherine.
And soon, St. Catherine."
"St Catherine, St Catherine, o lend me thine aid and grant that I never may die an old maid."
(read less)Born and died in Alexandria, Egypt.
Feast day: November 25th (November 24th in Russian Orthodoxy)
Martyred by decapitation after the breaking wheel she was meant to die by mysteriously broke apart at Catherine's touch.
Symbols: wheel (often called a "Catherine wheel" or "breaking wheel"), sword, lillies, crown, book, palm leaves.
Her colors are green and yellow. Yellow symbolizes faith, green is for wisdom.
Venerated in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches.
Patron of young girls...
(read more)
