Catharine

Catharine, the name of several Christian saints: (1) St Catharine proper, a virgin of royal descent in Alexandria, who publicly confessed the gospel at a sacrificial feast appointed by the Emperor Maximinus, and was therefore put to death, after they had vainly attempted to torture her on toothed wheels, 307 A.D. Hence the name of 'Catharine wheel.' No less than fifty heathen philosophers sent by the emperor to convert her in prison were themselves converted by her winning eloquence; whence she is the patroness of philosophers and learned schools. Having steadily rejected all offers of earthly marriage, she was taken in vision to heaven, when the Virgin presented her to her son, and Christ plighted his troth to her with a ring. This subject has been a favourite one with many artists (as signifying the union of the redeemed soul with Christ); the Christ being usually represented as an infant. It has been suggested that the attributes of the unhistorical St Catharine seem to have been derived from those of the actual Hypatia (q.v.), a heathen who suffered death at the hands of Christian fanatics. St Catharine's festival falls on 25th November.—(2) St Catharine of Sienna, one of the most famous saints of Italy, was the daughter of a dyer in Sienna, and was born there in 1347. While yet a child she practised extraordinary mortifications, and devoted herself to perpetual virginity. She became a Dominican, and therefore afterwards a patron saint of the Dominicans. Her enthusiasm converted the most hardened sinners, and she was able to prevail upon Pope Gregory XI. for the sake of the church to return from Avignon to Rome. She was favoured, it was said, with extraordinary tokens of favour by Christ, whose Stigmata (q.v.) were imprinted upon her body. She wrote devotional pieces, letters, and poems, a recent edition of which is Tommaso's (4 vols. Florence, 1860). Her festival falls on 30th April. See Drane's History of St Catharine of Sienna (3d ed. 2 vols. 1899).—St Catharine of Bologna (1413-63; festival 9th March) and St Catharine of Sweden (died 1381, festival 22d March) are of less note.