November 25
St Catherine of Alexandria
Wednesday, week 34 in Ordinary Time — Year II
St Catherine of Alexandria is honored as one of the early virgin martyrs and a figure of spiritual wisdom and courage in the Church. According to tradition, she lived in Alexandria, Egypt, probably during the early centuries of Christianity, though the precise historical facts are uncertain and her story was especially popularized in the Middle Ages. Tradition holds that Catherine, renowned for her intellect and eloquence, confronted the pagan emperor and defended the Christian faith with such skill that she converted many of the philosophers sent to dispute her. Refusing both to sacrifice to pagan gods and to become the emperor’s wife, she suffered imprisonment, torture, and finally martyrdom, steadfastly holding to Christ. Her cult spread widely in both the Eastern and Western Church, and she was counted among the 'Fourteen Holy Helpers' during medieval times. Catherine is often depicted with a wheel, recalling her legendary torture instrument, and with a book as a symbol of her learning. The Church remembers St Catherine as a patroness of philosophers, students, and all who seek truth with courage, fidelity, and intellect.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingAp 15, 1-4
I, John,
saw in heaven another sign, great and wondrous:
seven angels holding seven plagues;
these are the last,
because with them the wrath of God is completed.
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire,
and those who had conquered the Beast, its image,
and the number that corresponds to its name:
they stood on this sea of glass,
they held harps of God in their hands.
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb.
They say:
“Great and marvelous are your works,
Lord God, Ruler of the universe!
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
Who would not fear you, Lord?
Who would not give glory to your name?
Yes, you alone are holy!
Yes, all the nations will come
and bow down before you;
yes, your judgments have been revealed.”
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 97 (98), 1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done wonders;
with his holy arm, with his mighty hand,
he has ensured victory for himself.
The Lord has made his victory known
and revealed his justice to the nations;
he has remembered his faithfulness and his love
for the house of Israel.
Let the sea and all within it resound,
the world and all its inhabitants;
let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing for joy.
In the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to govern the earth,
to rule the world with justice
and the peoples with uprightness!
GospelLc 21, 12-19
At that time,
Jesus said to his disciples:
“They will lay hands on you and persecute you;
they will deliver you to synagogues and prisons,
they will bring you before kings and governors,
because of my name.
This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
So make up your minds
not to worry about your defense.
For I myself will give you words and wisdom
that none of your adversaries
will be able to resist or contradict.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and some of you will be put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name.
But not a hair of your head will be lost.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org