Thursday, November 17, 2022
Each fall, the University community celebrates the Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of students, philosophers, and scholars. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to join us in prayer in Our Lady of Victory Chapel, followed by hot cocoa and cookies in the Derham Parlor.
All event photos by Rebecca Zenefski Slater '10 / By Rebecca Studios.
About Saint Catherine
In the Catholic tradition, Saint Catherine of Alexandria was a fourth-century Alexandrian noblewoman, Christian, and scholar. She suffered martyrdom for her faith after defeating the Roman emperor Maxentius in debate.
Historically, St. Catherine is in fact a composite of several women of Alexandria who defied Roman authority and were punished for their faith. In venerating the figure of St. Catherine, we honor these extraordinary women.
Today St. Catherine serves as the patron saint of students, philosophers, and scholars. For this reason, she was chosen by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as the namesake of our University.
Read more of the story and history of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in the Catholic tradition by Jane Lamm Carroll '80, PhD, with Sharon Doherty, PhD.
St. Catherine of Alexandria and her Sisters
2006, Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ ’62, gouache, water-based tempera paint.
Anonymous gift to the College of St. Catherine libraries.
Feast of Saint Catherine Reading List
All books are available through the St. Catherine University Library.
Non-Fiction
- Imperial Saint: The Cult of St. Catherine and the Dawn of Female Rule in Russia, Gary Marker, 2007
- The Cult of Saint Katherine of Alexandria in Late-Medieval Nuremberg: Saint and the City, Anne Simon, 2012
- The Life of Saint Katherine of Alexandria, John Capgrave
- The Cult of St. Katherine of Alexandria in Early Medieval Europe, Walsh, Christine.
- St. Katherine of Alexandria: Texts and Contexts in Western Medieval Europe
- The Legend of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Sister Eleanore Michel, 1967 (CSJ author!)
Fiction and Poetry
- De sainte Katerine : An Anonymous Picard Version of the Life of St. Catherine of Alexandria, The life of St. Catherine written as poem in Old French from Picardy region, translated into English by William MacBain