Today, the Church celebrates and prays with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who lived in the latter part of the third century and the first part of the fourth century A.D. At a time when Christianity was not yet a recognized religion, she is reported to have received a vision of Mary and the baby Jesus which persuaded her to become a Christian.
When the persecutions began under Maxentius, being herself of noble birth, she went to the emperor and rebuked him for his cruelty. The emperor summoned 50 of the best pagan philosophers and orators to dispute with her, hoping that they would refute her pro-Christian arguments, but Catherine won the debate. Several of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death.
She was then cruelly tortured and imprisoned, yet people continued to visit her. As a result of her testimony, many of them converted to Christianity even though to do so meant their certain death. Infuriated by her obstinacy, the Emperor ordered her to be put to death. When he ordered her to be beheaded, she herself called for the execution to begin.
Saint Luke's gospel speaks today of the witness given by a widow who placed two small coins in the temple treasury (Lk 21:1-4). Jesus saw her gesture and understood immediately that this poor widow has put in more than all the rest of the people who were passing by. Let us ask Saint Catherine to pray for us today, that we too will put all that we are at the service of our God.
Have a great day.
No comments:
Post a Comment