Catherine was born into a noble family and received a good education, especially in the sciences. When she was only eighteen years old, she  presented herself to the Emperor Maximinus, who was violently persecuting the Christians, where she upbraided him for his cruelty and attempted to prove how sinful and wrong was the worship of false gods.
 
Astounded at the young girl's audacity, but incapable to challenge her arguments, the emperor detained her in his palace and summoned numerous scholars whom he commanded to use all their skill in debate and rhetoric in order to get Catherine to apostatize. However, the young Catherine emerged from the debate victorious. Several of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death.

Furious at having his plans foiled, Maximinus had Catherine scourged and then imprisoned. Meanwhile the empress, eager to see so extraordinary a young woman, went with Porphyry, the head of the soldiers, to visit her in the dungeon. They too were convinced by Catherine's arguments, believed, were baptized, and immediately were martyred.

Soon afterward, the young saint, who had not forsaken her faith but rather, made many converts, was condemned to die on a spiked wheel. At her touch, the instrument of torture was miraculously destroyed. The emperor, enraged beyond control, then had her beheaded and angels carried her body to Mount Sinai. A church and monastery were later built in her honor on Mount Sinai, which are still in use today.

Her intercession is implored by theologians, apologists, pulpit orators, and philosophers. Before studying, writing, or preaching, they beseech her to illumine their minds, guide their pens, and impart eloquence to their words.

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