Saint Catherine of Alexandria
- Feast
- 25 November
- Patron of
- philosophers, students, young unmarried women and wheelwrights
Tradition holds that Catherine was a learned young noblewoman of Alexandria in the early fourth century who became a Christian and rebuked the emperor for persecuting the Church. He set fifty philosophers to argue her out of her faith, and she won them over instead. She was condemned to be broken on a spiked wheel, and when it shattered at her touch she was beheaded.
Few facts about her can be confirmed, but her story was loved across Christendom, and she was among the voices Joan of Arc heard. Painters show her as a crowned princess with a broken wheel, a sword and a martyr's palm, or kneeling as the Christ Child places a ring on her finger.
Catherine is a strong choice for a clever girl who likes to argue her case. She held her ground against the best minds of the empire, and she has been a patron of students and thinkers for centuries.
5 prints of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Antonio Solario
From $53.18
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina
From $53.18
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria
José de Ribera
From $32.98
The Madonna and Child with Saints James the Greater, Jerome, the Infant Baptist and Catherine of Alexandria
Bonifazio Veronese
From $32.98
The Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Catherine of Alexandria
Bonifazio Veronese
From $44.13
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria?
The feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is kept on 25 November.
What is Saint Catherine of Alexandria the patron saint of?
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of philosophers, students, young unmarried women and wheelwrights.
Is Saint Catherine of Alexandria a good confirmation saint?
Catherine is a strong choice for a clever girl who likes to argue her case. She held her ground against the best minds of the empire, and she has been a patron of students and thinkers for centuries.
Is Saint Catherine of Alexandria the patron saint of people named Catherine?
Yes. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the traditional name saint for anyone called Catherine, Katherine, Caterina and Catalina, and the feast on 25 November is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeMartin of Tours