History of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
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History of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine was born in the year 300, in Alexandria, Egypt, at a time when there was a strong persecution of Christians. Belonging to a noble family, she studied philosophy, theology and other sciences. In addition to being very intelligent and cultured, she was endowed with singular beauty.
Fascinated by her charms, Emperor Maximino Daia sought to divorce his wife to marry Catherine. Upon her refusal, he summoned fifty sages with the aim of convincing her that Jesus had no power to make her give up her faith. However, the Saint not only refuted the positions of the sages, but she converted them to Christianity.
Furious at the defeat, Maximino had all the wise men executed and tortured under a wheel with iron spikes that, in contact with her body, broke in half and did nothing against her. Because of this, Saint Catherine is invoked by those who work with wheels. It was then ordered that she be beheaded. When her head was cut off, milk began to flow from her neck instead of blood, hence, she was invoked by mothers who, having little milk, need to breastfeed their children.
Her martyrdom accounts continue. They say that angels descended from heaven and took her body to Mount Sinai, where later a monastery consecrated to her memory would have arisen.
Santa Catarina was one of the voices that Saint Joan of Arc heard.
In praise of Saint Catherine, numerous churches were built throughout Europe. By her wisdom, the Saint is invoked as protector by students, intellectuals and philosophers. Literature and art celebrated her praises and immortalized her figure. The University of Paris chose her as its patron saint. And Brazil is honored to have her protector of a State, which bears her name. November 25th is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
The image of Santa Catarina de Alexandria was placed in the chapel built in Santos around 1540, at the foot of the hill that was named after her, by the couple Luiz de Góes and Catarina de Aguillar.
In 1591, the chapel was partially destroyed and the image thrown into the sea by the privateers of Thomas Cavendish and, after 72 years, in 1663, it was casually collected by Jesuit slaves. On the initiative of Father Alexandre de Gusmão and with the help of the people, the chapel was rebuilt, this time on top of Outeiro. In the 19th century, the chapel was demolished for the opening of Rua Santa Catarina, today Visconde do Rio Branco.
The image of Santa Catarina de Alexandria, a wooden piece from the 16th century, measuring approximately 90 cm in height, today belongs to the collection of the Museum of Sacred Art of Santos and is the oldest in the place, having great artistic, historical and affective value.
PRAYER TO SAINT CATHERINE
Saint Catherine, you broke the wheel of the gear in the hands of torturers and for this reason you are invoked as a protector against accidents; I beg you, protect me from any and all accidents. Traffic accidents, firearm accidents, accidents involving falls and falls, accidents on foot and on horseback, accidents with work instruments, accidents with poisons and pesticides, accidents with machinery and explosives, accidents with snake or spider bites, accidents at home, on the road, in the fields, in the countryside or in the woods. Protect my body from any and all dangers that I am subject to facing at every moment. Also defend my soul against spiritual dangers, which are so many, everywhere. Santa Catarina, protect me and save me. Amen !