St. Catherine of Alexandria, Intercede for the Persecuted

Today (Nov. 25) we celebrate the memorial of the martyr St. Catherine of Alexandria.

This is the entry about her from the famous Butler’s Lives of the Saints (does anyone give a set as a wedding or Baptismal gift anymore?):

Catherine was a noble virgin of Alexandria. Before her Baptism, it is said, she saw in vision the Blessed Virgin ask her Son to receive her among His servants, but the Divine Infant turned away. After Baptism, Catherine saw the same vision, when Jesus Christ received her with great affection, and espoused her before the court of heaven. When the impious tyrant Maximin II came to Alexandria, fascinated by the wisdom, beauty and wealth of the Saint, he in vain urged his suit. At last in his rage and disappointment he ordered her to be stripped and scourged. She fled to the Arabian mountains, where the soldiers overtook her, and after many torments put her to death. Her body was laid on Mount Sinai, and a beautiful legend relates that Catherine having prayed that no man might see or touch her body after death, angels bore it to the grave.
Reflection: The constancy displayed by the Saints in their glorious martyrdom cannot be isolated from their previous lives, but is their natural sequence. If we wish to emulate their perseverance, let us first imitate their fidelity to grace.

In the Dominican breviary she is remembered with a hymn (that can be sung to the tune of the familiar Benediction hymn “Tantum Ergo”); it includes:

Sing, my tongue, the glory telling
Of this virgin-martyr’s fray:
May this gem, its light dispelling,
Down upon us shed some ray,
That all darkness in the dwelling
Of our soul may speed away.

Strives the king – but vain his luring –
This pure maiden to defile:
Scourges leave her faith enduring,
Nor could royal grants beguile:
Guarded then and chains securing,
Closed was she in dungeon vile.

Though imprisoned, her light shining
Won to Faith the captain bold:
He, with his own queen combining,
Bravely mid Christ’s friends enrolled;
In their wake, for Truth now pining,
Ten score pagans seek the fold.

Lauds and glory in completeness
Be to the Father and to Son:
Equal glory with all meetness
To the Paraclete be done
Theirs be praise in fullest sweetness
While unending ages run.

And, yes, she is a co-patroness of the Dominican Order. So this can be another for the #OPPower hashtag on Twitter that will someday trend. (Or so I — simple fan of St. Dominic and co. — and those raising money for deserving poor boys may dream.)

With or without the trending … St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us, and pray for those who, like you, know persecution. May they may be strengthened and be brought to great joy and consolation by the glory of He who endured his Passion and death for our salvation.