Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. , at
sacred-texts.com 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