From Vespers this evening:

Ant. Come, Bride of Christ, and take the everlasting crown * which the Lord hath prepared for thee.

V. Grace is poured into thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Let us pray.

O God, Who didst give the Law unto Moses upon the top of Mount Sinai, and there didst cause the body of thy blessed Virgin and Martyr Katharine to be marvellously laid by thine holy Angels, grant unto us, we beseech thee, for her sake and at her prayers, that we may finally attain unto that mountain which is Christ.

Enthroned Madonna with Angels and Saints Catherine of Alexandria, Augustine, Sebastian and Anthony the Abbot.  

St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr whose feast day is November 25th. She is the patroness of philosophers and preachers.

St. Catherine is believed to have been born in Alexandria of a noble family. Converted to Christianity through a vision, she denounced Maxentius for persecuting Christians. Fifty of her converts were then burned to death by Maxentius.

Maxentius offered Catherine a royal marriage if she would deny the Faith. Her refusal landed her in prison. While in prison, and while Maxentius was away, Catherine converted Maxentius' wife and two hundred of his soldiers. He had them all put to death.

Catherine was likewise condemned to death. She was put on a spiked wheel, and when the wheel broke, she was beheaded. She is venerated as the patroness of philosophers and preachers. St. Catherine's was one of the voices heard by St. Joan of Arc.

Maxentius' blind fury against St. Catherine is symbolic of the anger of the world in the face of truth and justice. When we live a life of truth and justice, we can expect the forces of evil to oppose us. Our perseverance in good, however, will be everlasting.

http://catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=341