If your name happens to be Catherine (or Katherine or Cate or Katy or even Katharine -- like a certain Presiding Bishop of a certain mainline denomination) this is your day. No matter which Catherine emerges victorious -- of Alexandria or of Siena -- you win! Of course after 24 hours one Catherine will be discarded onto the Lent Madness heap of irrelevance. But that's okay because this is your special day!
In yesterday's action, Lydia defeated Moses the Black 60% to 40% and will advance to face the winner of Nicholas Ridley vs. John of the Cross.
And if for some (inexcusable) reason, you missed yesterday's edition of Monday Madness with Tim and Scott, you can watch it here. Basically we DVR it for you so you can watch in peace without pesky commercial interruptions for saintly products like St. John's Wort or Yves Saint Laurent.
Catherine of Alexandria
Many legends surround the life and death of Catherine of Alexandria. Tradition tells us Catherine was born at the end of the third century to Roman rulers in Alexandria, Egypt. An incredibly beautiful and intelligent woman, with every privilege at her disposal, Catherine excelled in her studies and developed renown for her ability in the arts and sciences, especially philosophy. As a young woman, she converted to Christianity after a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving her in mystical marriage to Christ.
Some years later, during the persecution under the Roman Emperor Maxentius, Catherine scolded the vicious ruler for killing Christians and for his own idolatry. In response Maxentius gathered together fifty philosophers to engage her in debate. Impressed by her erudition and the force of her arguments, the philosophers converted to Christianity and were summarily burned alive by the humiliated despot. Maxentius jailed Catherine for her insolence. While she was in jail, Maxentius offered to release Catherine if she would marry him. She refused, claiming that she was married to Christ. Later, Catherine converted many in his household, including his wife. The furious hegemon executed his wife and 200 servants and condemned Catherine to death.
The executioners put her to the spiked wheel, but at her touch the wheel shattered and instead killed many of her assailants. Maxentius commanded his soldiers to behead Catherine. When the blade sliced through her neck, milk, not blood, flowed. Legend has it that her body was taken by angels to the Sacred and Imperial Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount of Sinai, which today is commonly referred to as Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Perhaps not coincidentally, this is the same monastery that until the late nineteenth century housed one of the oldest, complete manuscripts of the Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus.
Saint Catherine of the Wheel, as she is sometimes called, was for centuries an important saint in popular piety. She appeared to Joan of Arc, who believed Catherine had been appointed as her advisor. Today she is seen as a patroness to philosophers, girls, librarians, and ironically, people who work with wheels (such as potters, spinners, and mechanics).
Collect for Catherine of Alexandria
O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Catherine, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- David Creech
Catherine of Siena
Catherine of Siena is one of the foremost mystics, reformers, and politicians of all saintly history. Born Caterina di Giacomo di Benincasa on March 25, 1347, she was five or six years old when she had her first vision and seven when she vowed to give her life to Christ.
But before she could take any vows, her older sister, Bonaventura, died in childbirth, and her parents wanted her to marry the widower. Catherine said no. She stopped eating and chopped off her hair (in order to thwart her mother’s wishes that she look attractive in order to catch a husband). Successfully staving off marriage, Catherine basically formed a one-woman Dominican order, living an active, prayerful life devoted to quiet service to the poor, while still living with her family.
This irritated her parents, but Catherine was immovable, especially after receiving an encouraging vision from Saint Dominic. Eventually, she prevailed on her parents to let her join a tertiary order of the Dominicans; she remained in quiet contemplation and service to the local community until she was about 21.
Then, there was a turning point. Catherine had a vision of a “mystical marriage” to Christ, and an overpowering sense of God’s love and closeness to all creation. This vision compelled her to join public life and leave her life of solitude.
No longer content to live quietly at home, Catherine became more involved in aiding people, not just through charity but through politics and advocacy. She gained a reputation for wisdom, fairness, and mercy, and her opinion was widely sought. She travelled around northern Italy, advocating for clerical reform and renewal of the church in every place, asking that people themselves, as well as the institution, renew the Body of Christ through the “total love of God.” She organized against the anti-pope—an illegitimately elected rival pope. Catherine urged Pope Gregory XI not to give in to schism but to move the papacy back to Rome from Avignon. She badgered Gregory with letters until he eventually gave in. We might say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, if this didn’t appear to be an endorsement of Catherine of Alexandria.
Pope Gregory XI came to rely on Catherine so much that he sent her as a peace emissary to the warring states of Florence and Rome. Gregory unexpectedly died soon after Catherine arrived in Rome, and riots broke out. In the ensuing chaos, Catherine was nearly assassinated. But she was undeterred and achieved a peace deal a few months later.
The new Roman pope was a fan as well, and Urban VI soon brought her to the papal court in Rome to be his personal adviser. She helped calm the waters during the Western Schism—a split within the Roman church with rival popes claiming to be the true leader. She argued for the legitimacy of Urban in Rome until her death at age thirty-three of a stroke.
Collect for Catherine of Siena
Everlasting God, you so kindled the flame of holy love in the heart of blessed Catherine of Siena, as she meditated on the passion of your Son our Savior, that she devoted her life to the poor and the sick, and to the peace and unity of the Church: Grant that we also may share in the mystery of Christ’s death, and rejoice in the revelation of his glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Vote![poll id="83"]
184 comments on “Catherine of Alexandria vs. Catherine of Siena”
With a daughter named Catherine, I'm grateful that there will be a Catherine going into the second round, particularly since both options spell their names the way we chose for our daughter! Both Catherines are surrounded by some degree of legend, both had visions, both married Christ. My choice is for Catherine of Alexandria. True, her legends seem filled with incredible violence, but as a lover of wisdom I'm drawn to the patroness of philosophy. No real wrong choice here, I suppose, but it's Catherine of Alexandria for me!
My vote is for Catherine if Siena, hands down. I was educated by Dominican sisters. Their chapel has stained glass windows depicting the Dominican doctors of the church, including Catherine!
Catherine of Alexandria for the win! Not only is she the patron saint of librarians, she has a medieval torture device, a 90's alt band, fireworks and a crochet stitch indirectly named after her. What's not to love?
I like that the Catherine from Siena left her solitary life to go out into the world and hash it out ... she gets my vote today.
My daughter Katie, age 11, told me to vote for Catherine of Siena because she helped people and men in high places listened to her. For me, it was the "overpowering sense of God's love and closeness to all creation" and her response - and that men in high places listened to her.
Both are great women of faith. Just had to vote for C of Alexandria. Librarians rule!
Going for Catherine of Siena for her influence on lay spirituality in the Dominican spirit.
As someone who has been known to badger clergy, I have to go with Catherine of Siena.
Badger clergy?! Perish the thought! 🙂
Catherine of Siena is quoted as saying: "All the way to heaven is heaven". Can't beat that!
Too many people dying with Catherine of Alexandria - have to go with Catherine of Siena. Thank you for this fun way to spend Lent meditations!
Both Catherines are great saints.
We've been to St. Catherine's in the Sinai desert (home of the burning bush) and toured the library there. Many works of art and many rare books have been sent and stored there for safe keeping during the Wars in Europe. I loved the myths and stories of C. of Alexandria and her great faith. And I was almost named Alexandria, so my vote goes to C. of A.
C. of Siena for balancing her calling, duties, and assignments with less fanfare. Nothing against martyrdom, if that's your thing, but C of Siena got a lot more done with much less drama.
I so agree.
I have a book that says that C of A was one of Fourteen Holy Helpers and largely discredited in the '60s, but that C of S was a Doctor or the Church. A scholar who could not write, against the patron of librarians? Even cheating doesn't help.
I vote for Catherine......that way I can not lose.
As a librarian and philosopher, I have to vote for Catherine of Alexandria! I've been a fan of hers for a very long time!
As a newbie to the universe of Lent Madness I seem to have a knack of voting for the losers in the daily match ups. It's become quite comforting in a
way, and somehow appropriate to season, to be found to not be standing with the majority.
There's a lot of that going around, Jim.
I like both of these saints a lot, but went with the one from Siena because of her movement from a life of solitude which seemed to have prepared her and grounded her to become an amazing diplomat in a male-dominated political church world.
To Miss Jan and Carolyn: thank you, ladies! 🙂 I was beginning to think that mine was the only(or maybe just the loudest) voice who has been nagging the sec about this and your support warms my heart. Just as he did.:-)
You are NOT alone!!
Sister, I am glad to hear it I am a survivor of childhood bullying. When I came home with my self esteem in shreds, his calm gentle presence assured me that I have value. Fred Mcfeely Rogers was balm to me in ways that I am discovering to this day. So. This is why I continue to pester the sec! Come on guys, just put this wonderful man in the bracket next year and I will hush up. If you don't then I hope you enjoy being nagged...
In 2011 - my husband and I went to St. Catherine's Monastery, saw the burning bush, wonderful pictures, icons and also climbed Mt. Sinai - what an adventure that day was in our trip - I continue to be reminded of it and amazed by how that trip transformed us!!!!
Virgil Thomson's lovely of Kenneth Koch's moving poem "A Prayer to Saint Catherine" [that would be of Siena] is downloadable from iTunes separately or as part of an album of songs of Thomson's called "Nothing Divine is Mundane." if you're on the fence, this just might put the Sienese alternative over the top for you.
"lovely setting", sorry.
As a librarian (and a girl), I also had to vote for C of A.
I was struck by the fact that both of these saints had visions of a mystic marriage to Christ. It seems to me that many other female saints have had similar visions. It would be interesting to research all the saints who considered themselves to be married to Christ, and figure out if he was ever a bigamist (or trigamist or....)
Christine, MLS
Catherine of Siena is my patron saint...I've known this since I was a little girl...and now I know more about why!
My mother was brought up by secular parents so we've never been quite sure who her patron ought to be. I'll be sure to show her these write-ups to help her inform her choice!
Again two difficult choices but I did vote for Catherine of Sienna since her greater historical data.
With two librarians in the family and an amazing, strong girl granddaughter, I had to vote for C of Alexandria. She's always fascinated me, even though her stories are a bit mythical! C of Siena is also one of my icons! She'll most likely take the round and deserves to do so! SHE should have been Pope! So wonderful that we have a PB who is also a strong woman, another of my hero's and named Katharine. I'm glad I live in this day!
growing up in a world of Charlottes, I was always told that I was named Catherine for nobody. Now I have two good choices to vote for. Think I'm going with Siena.
I'm not sure I was actually allowed to vote, but my intention was to go w/ Siena. I just can't deal w/ all the violence in the other Catherine's life. And anyway, working toward straightening out the papal schism seems to me a good thing.
Go Catherine of Alexandria! My mother went to St. Catherine's in Iowa for high school and I wear her signet ring everyday, which features the wheel and "in pureness and knowledge" in Greek. Because of her I get to be married and have a brain (and use it!)
An active and educated mind, a patron of librarians, girls, philosophers, and spinners? Both worthy, I'm going for Catherine of Alexandria. I will think about her when I get out my spindle tonight, win or lose.
I'm also really good at badgering, in fact if there was such a thing as a professional badgerer I would make a nice living :-)!!