St. Catherine of
Alexandria,
virgin and
martyr. She is the patroness of
philosophers,
students, and
preachers.
St. Catherine is believed to have been born in
Alexandria of a
noble family in the 4th century of the
common era. Converted to
Christianity through a vision, she denounced
Maxentius for persecuting
Christians.
Her refusal of Maxentius' order to deny her faith landed her in
prison. While in prison, Catherine converted Maxentius' wife and two hundred of his soldiers.
Catherine was likewise condemned to death. She was put on a spiked wheel, later to be referred to as a
Catherine wheel (for obvious reasons), but the wheel miraculously broke. She was then beheaded.
St. Catherine's was one of the voices heard by
St. Joan of Arc.