DRIA, a virgin of royal descent in Alexandria, who publicly confessed the Gospel at a sacrifi cial feast appointed by the Emperor Maximinus, and was therefore put to death, after they had vainly attempted to torture her on toothed wheels, 307 A.D. Hence the name of Catharine wheel (q.v.). No less than 50 heathen ophers sent by the Emperor to convert her in prison were themselves converted by her win ning eloquence; whence she is the patroness of philosophers and learned schools. Hav ing steadily rejected all offers of earthly marriage, she was taken in vision to heaven, where Christ plighted his troth to her with a ring. This subject has been a favorite one with many artists (as signifying the union of the redeemed soul with Christ) ; the Christ being usually represented as an infant. It has been suggested that the attributes of the unhistorical Saint Catharine seem to have been derived from those of the actual Hypatia, a heathen who suffered death at the hands of Christian fanatics. Saint Catharine's festival falls on 25
November. 2. SAINT CATHARINE OF SIENA, one of the most famous saints of Italy, was the daughter of a dyer in Siena, and was born there in 1347. While yet a child she practised extraordinary mortifications and devoted her self to perpetual virginity. She became a Dominican, and therefore afterward a patron saint of the Dominicans. Her enthusiasm con verted the most hardened sinners, and she was able to prevail upon Pope Gregory XI for the sake of the Church to return from Avignon to Rome. She was given, it was said, extraordi nary tokens of favor by Christ, whose stigmata were imprinted upon her body. She wrote de votional pieces, letters and poems, an edition of which is Tomasseo's (Florence 1860). Her festival falls on April 30. 3. SAINT CATH ARINE OF BOLOGNA (1413-63), festival 9 March, S and SAINT CATHARINE OF WEDEN (d. 1481; festival 22 March), are of less note.