November 25 2024 - St. Catherine of Alexandria - Wisdom, Conviction, and Courage in spreading the Gospel

Today we celebrate one of the most revered Saints of the early Church and middle ages: St. Catherine of Alexandria. That her feast is now an optional memorial would baffle our forebearers, as she was one of the fourteen holy helpers and is invoked as patron saint Against sudden death and diseases of the tongue; patron of philosophers, theologians, maidens, female students, preachers, the dying, wheelwrights, mechanics, potters, and other artisans who work with wheels; invoked by students, orators, preachers, and lawyers for wise counsel and for eloquence.

Catherine was the daughter of the governor of Alexandria during the reign of emperor Maximian at the end of the 3^rd century.  Alexandria at the time was a great center of learning, and Catherine devoted herself to study from a young age. Around the age of 14, she converted to Christ and consecrated herself to Our Lord.

At the age of 18, the beautiful and wise Catherine of Alexandria had attracted the attention of the Emperor Maximiam. Having consecrated herself to Jesus, she refused the emperor’s advances. So the emperor sent his 50 wisest philosophers to convince Saint Catherine to change her mind. The philosophers however proved no match for Catherine’s superior intellect, in fact, Catherine’s defense of Christianity and her passion for the Lord were so persuasive, that she converted all 50 to Christ.

Furious, the Emperor had her imprisoned, but while in prison, Catherine continued to convert members of the emperor’s family and many soldiers—over 200 converts—before she was condemned to martyrdom on a spiked-wheel.

In the Gospel we hear the Lord teach his followers, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Catherine believed in the importance of remaining true to Christ, not only for herself, but for others. She used her intellectual gifts to persuade hundreds of people to open their minds and heart to Jesus.

Catherine cultivated her mind through study, and cultivated love for Jesus through prayer and charity. And when the time came for her to witness, she was ready.

Much of our culture now is aimed at entertainment rather than the true cultivation of the soul. So Catholics need to take seriously education, study, prayer, and charity all the more. Each of us has so much potential, we must turn away from the distractions of the world, so that we can become the instruments God made us to be. May St. Catherine inspire and assist us that we may grow in faith, hope, and love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that like St. Catherine, she may courageously proclaim the truth of the Gospel, even in the face of opposition and adversity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For educators, philosophers, theologians, and students, that through the intercession of St. Catherine, they may pursue wisdom and use their gifts to glorify God and serve others. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who suffer persecution for their faith, that they may find strength in the example of the martyrs and trust in God’s promise of eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord.

For young people, especially those discerning their vocation, that they may find inspiration in the saints’ dedication to Christ and the courage to follow His call. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who work with their hands—mechanics, potters, artisans, and wheelwrights—that through the intercession of St. Catherine, they may see their labor as a way to serve God and others. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all of us, that we may turn away from worldly distractions and grow in study, prayer, and charity, becoming instruments of God’s grace for His glory and the salvation of souls.

For the sick, the dying, and all who suffer sudden or serious illness, that through the intercession of St. Catherine and the Holy Helpers, they may find healing, peace, and hope in the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.

During this month of November, we continue to pray for all who have died, for the deceased members of our families, friends, parish, and benefactors, ethat they may share in the eternal glory of heaven, especially N.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty and eternal God, you gave St. Catherine of Alexandria wisdom and courage to defend the faith and witness to your love. Hear our prayers and grant us the grace to grow in faith, hope, and love, so that we too may glorify you in all that we do. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

November 25 2020 - St. Catherine of Alexandria - Sharing the faith with patience and love

 In the Gospel the Lord foretold how his followers would be seized, persecuted, brought before kings and imprisoned because of his name. This was certainly true for St. Catherine of Alexandria who was one of the most revered saints of the early Church and middle ages. That her feast is now an optional memorial would baffle our forebearers—in several dioceses in France her feast was observed as a Holy Day of Obligation, devotion to St. Catherine was so great. She is one of the 14 holy helpers whose intercession is sought especially during times of plagues.

The story of her martyrdom is still inspiring: the beautiful and wise Catherine of Alexandria had attracted the attention of the Emperor Maximiam. Having consecrated herself to Jesus, she refused the emperor’s advances. So the emperor sent his 50 wisest philosophers to convince Saint Catherine to change her mind. They however proved no match for Catherine’s superior intellect, and were so impressed with her that all 50 converted to Christ. Furious, the Emperor had her imprisoned, and whilst in prison, Catherine continued to convert members of the emperor’s family, including his wife, and many soldiers—over 200 converts—before she was condemned to martyrdom on a spiked-wheel. 

For her competency in explaining and sharing the faith, Catherine of Alexandria is invoked as Patron saint of Apologists, philosophers, scholars, students, theologians, and wheel-makers. 

The Old Mass for St. Catherine referred to a legend in which at the time of her death, angels carried her body aloft to Mt. Sinai, where God gave the law to Moses. During the middle ages, Christians would make pilgrimage to Sinai where a constant stream of healing oil was said to have flowed from Catherine’s relics. 

Tomorrow at the thanksgiving meal, we may find ourselves engaged in theological discussion, like St. Catherine, with those who do not share our faith. May we, like St. Catherine, always explain and share our faith competently and patiently, absolutely rooted in the truth of Christ and the love of Christ. As Augustine would say, “nothing conquers but truth, and the victory of truth is love.” Truth needs to be shared patiently and with understanding, even when it feels we are being tortured on spiked-wheel. 

May St. Catherine’s example guide us, and her heavenly intercession help us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May St. Catherine help all clergy and all catechists teach the truth with clarity and conviction and help us all share the faith patiently with non-believers.

May St. Catherine, heavenly helper and patron against plagues, help deliver us from the current plagues which afflict us. 

For peace and refreshment to all who prepare to gather for the Thanksgiving Holiday, bring safety to travelers, and protection from all disease.

For comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, and courage to the fearful. 

That the Lord welcome into his kingdom all the faithful departed, especially members of our families, friends, and parish, all clergy and religious, and N. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: Nov 25 2016 - St. Catherine of Alexandria - Virgin & Martyr

St. Catherine was one of the most revered saints of the early Church.  She lived at the end of the third century in the city of Alexandria in Egypt.  She was so beautiful and wise that she attracted the attention of the Emperor Maximian.  She however, would not marry the emperor because she had consecrated herself to Jesus.

The Emperor sent his 50 wisest philosophers to convince Saint Catherine to change her mind, but they proved no match for Catherine’s superior intellect; they were so impressed with her, and her explanation of the Gospel, that all 50 became Christian.

The Emperor had Catherine imprisoned; yet while imprisoned she converted the empress, the leader of the armed forces, over 200 soldiers, and other members of the emperor’s family,

The Emperor, infuriated that Catherine would not give up her faith and marry Him, ordered her to be tied to wheel affixed with sharp knives and spikes and tortured. From her lacerated body prayers ascended to heaven, and the wheel however was struck by ‘fire from heaven’ and was shattered.  This angered the emperor even more, so he had her beheaded. 

Neither political pressure, imprisonment, torture, or death could cause this great saint to compromise her faith.  Through her reception of the Eucharist, through prayer and study, Catherine was filled with tremendous faith and love of God which transformed the lives of others even as she suffered.

Yesterday, families gathered for the great thanksgiving meal.  It is a good and holy thing for families to put aside the worldly occupations in order to share a good meal with each other.  Yet, God calls us to gather as a family of faith every week, for the Eucharist.  Many would never dream of skipping thanksgiving dinner, but have no problem skipping Sunday Mass. 

Saint Catherine and so many thousands of martyrs, by their witness show us that the practicing our faith is more important than anything else; they reveal the urgency to form our minds and hearts through word and sacrament, study and charity; that we may be equipped for the building up of the kingdom.

Over the centuries Saint Catherine has been invoked as patron saint of Apologists; craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters; knife sharpeners, millers); archivists; attorneys; barristers; dying people; educators; girls; jurists; lawyers; librarians; libraries; maidens; mechanics; nurses; old maids; philosophers; potters; preachers; scholars; schoolchildren; scribes; secretaries; spinners; spinsters; stenographers; students; tanners; teachers; theologians; tire-repairmen; unmarried girls; wheel-makers.

Through her intercession and holy example may Saint Catherine help us to be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.