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.
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!
Catherine of Alexandria vs. Catherine of Siena
- Catherine of Siena (61%, 3,419 Votes)
- Catherine of Alexandria (39%, 2,191 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,602
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you have the wrong candidates on the ballot today!
It must be Catharine of Alexandria in honor of the fabulous Rubens, “The Crowning of St.Catharine”, gracing The a Toledo Museum of Art. I feel lucky to see this masterpiece regularly.
The VOTE boxes are for Nicholas or John — NEITHER are for Catherine – EITHER Catherine.
ERROR! Please correct the voting choices!
Ditto Susan.
Ah, the voting boxes are wrong, neither box are for either Catherine. A little too much St. Patrick’s day revelry maybe?
Help! Please avert this crisis of voting. I need to vote for a Catherine this morning, but am faced with Ridley and John.
Incorrect voting choices! Please give us the two Catherines…
Patiently waiting for the correct voting choices to appear before I vote for my favorite Catherine. Of Siena.
Okay, okay, it’s fixed! Please note: you get what you pay for.
Well said. Cheers
Thanks for the fix – so good to know that we all watch out and eagerly anticipate our Catherines – and have such energy for voting in LM. Thanks for being the brainchild of this and bringing it to such a wide audience!
Talk about Evangelism!
…and it’s worth what we pay: NOT! (You are welcome for the 90’s trope.)
Graciously said… NOT!!!
Thank you, O dour unsmiling one.
Maybe what we need here is Lent Madness Prime, where people can pay triple what they do now and get almost error-free interweb tech support 7/24, unlimited kvetching, and a free pass to the International House of Virgins.
Don’t we already have unlimited kvetching rights?
Kvetching rates vary according to region, time of day, and allegiance to Fred Rogers.
Hahahahaha! So true. That’s why I wait until the bugs are found by the early risers before I vote! BTW, Catherine of Siena wins my vote, and if we didn’t already have Stephen, she would make a great patron saint for deacons!
We’ll pay! I am happy to ship some sunshine from California to snowbound Ohio. 😉
I revoted in today’s cotest, but I’m wondering…will the vote I cast earlier today for tomorrow’s contest be counted tomorrow, or should I revote? I don’t want to fall under your wrath.
Revote tomorrow! We’ll clear that brief poll (16 people voted). Spiritually savvy not to want to fall under our wrath…
“You get what you pay for”
Set of Saintly Score Cards: $25
Bracket showing who is going to win: $5
Second bracket so I can vote for the saints I want: 5$
Large Lent Madness bracket: $10
Talking Saints instead of College Basketball at coffee hour: Priceless
I bought the Saintly Scorecard! And it has been really helpful. Thanks for fixing the ballot.
Please correct the voting choices on the website so that we can vote for the Catherine of our choice.
Milk, not blood? Highly unlikely, not to say repulsive. I’m voting for the other Catherine.
The “milk of human kindness”, perhaps.
Thank you for your prompt response to the voting glitch this morning.
Same name, similar greatness in two ladies. For the patroness of philosophers and librarians .. a vote for Catherine of Alexandria.
Sadly, Catherine’s visit with Dominic happened a hundred years after Dominic’s death.
Visitation maybe?
It says vision of St. Dominic.
I have lots of Katherines, Katharines and Katys in the family. Strong women all and very determined,
Two great, women, without a doubt, and a tiny bit hard to tell them apart… but in honor of my bookaholic, and intelligent daughter (who is not a Kate, et al), my vote is for C. 0f Alexandria, the patron saint of girls and librarians.
As a librarian, who else would I vote for?
My thoughts exactly. As a Librarian, I have to go with Catherine of the Wheel.
Given Catherine of Siena’s wisdom, and the trust placed in her by not one but two popes, perhaps she should be the patron saint of philosophy and girls! I love the crazy miracle story of Catherine of Alexandria, but choose to vote for the Catherine whose miracle was being taken seriously by the powerful men of her day.
Well said, thank you!
I have voted for Catherine of Siena. Sometime ago I was the chair of governors at a new C of E primary school. We agonised over the choice of a name and the head suggested Catherine of Alexandria. I protested on the grounds she was not historically well attested and that as a role model for young women she left a lot to be desired. In spite of my protestations my views lost out in the voting. The Head teacher bought a copy of a painting of Catherine by Raphael for the school hall. Whilst undoubtedly a lovely image, Catherine looked like a week of wet Wednesday’s. Give me Catherine of Siena any day. She combined mysticism with activism, a devotion to the poor and wasn’t above knocking heads together in the cause of peace.
It was Catherine of Sienna’s call to ””renew the Body of Christ through the “total love of God.”’ that made me able to choose. Even today, we are called to renew the Body of Christ through the total love of God…. So, a message that is eternal to the followers of Jesus.
That strikes me to the core. I would love to meditate on that one sentence today, live it out tomorrow, and proclaim it to the world.
Was worrying that I made a flip choice with CofA, then remembered, “It’s Lent Madness. It doesn’t really matter who wins, in a sense.”
You had me at “furious hegemon.”
Voted for C. of Alexandria in honor of my Lovely Wife, a Katharina full of learning and a powerful teacher.
Tough choice again!!!! I finally decided on Catherine of Siena. She began her journey of faith very early in her life and never changed her mind, no matter what obstacles faced her!! Catherine of Alexandria did great things, but her journey seemed a bit easier than Catherine of Siena.
How can being thrown in prison and having your head chopped off be an easier journey? Anyone who loses their life for Christ and spreading the gospel gets my vote over someone who dies of natural causes.
Thank you so much for fixing this glitch so fast. I post the link to Lent Madness, along with other devotionals, to my church facebook page. As such I like giving the correct information. Tell us the truth, was there a little too much imbibing of the green ale yesterday?
If anyone from Richmond, Va is participating in Lent Madness, Catherine of Alexandria is the namesake of St. Catherine’s school.
that’s good to know -I’m not from Richmond however I am your neighbor down the street in Williamsburg
Actually, the school is St. Catherine’s namesake.
Actually either way is OK. Namesake is defined as a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another; especially, one who is named after another or for whom another is named. That is the definition given by both the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary. I was named for my father, Philip, but it is perfectly acceptable to say that the Apostle Philip is my namesake or vice-versa. Both definitions are acceptable English usage.
Since I belong to St Catherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church in Nehalem OR – I have to vote for her.
Catherine of Alexandria all the way! I am a spinner (handspinner, on a spinning wheel) and she is the patron saint.
Hi, Anne of Burton! This match up of Kate’s will be interesting- who has the squeakiest wheel- so to speak- to win this smackdown round!
As a librarian, I have to go with Alexandria, gory details not withstanding…
As the librarian’s spouse I too voted for the Alexandrian, gore and all!
I voted for the African Saint.
Phew….Catherine really needed my vote!
A martyr for the faith will always get my vote!
Two of my favorite saints but since I’ve seen Catherine of Siena’s head how could I not vote for her?
Years ago I prayed to Catherine of Siena to see if I should become a nun (Episcopal, obviously). The answer was a clear no, and I’ve been a bit cross with her ever since. So Catherine of the wheel it is. #grudge
Hi Marguerite! I’m reminded of a favorite poem by the late great Ogden Nash regarding grudges:
Any hound a porcupine nudges
can’t be blamed for harboring grudges.
Why, I know one hound who laughed all winter
at a porcupine that sat on a splinter!
There is a summer chapel in Rye Beach, NH which has a stain glass window dedicated to Ogden Nash who was the secretary for 25 years. His signature/caricature can be seen in the lower right portion of the window. I was seated next to it some years ago and was quite surprised. Here’s a link if you want to see it.
http://blog.ogdennash.org/2008/06/ogden-at-st-andrews-by-sea.html
By the way, it’s an Episcopal chapel.
A vote for the martyr.
“Karen” is also a derivative of “Katherine.” And today’s is an impossible choice! Has there ever been a tie?
Hard choice since both are mystical brides of Christ. However, K of A is the subject of a movie due out this year, said to include the last appearance of Peter O’Toole, so I voted for her.
Hi I get the e mail every morning but when I scroll down to vote there is gobbldygook there and no way to vote. Anyone else have this problem Anyway to fix?
Thanks
I have that problem as well. I just click on the link to the comments which takes me right to the website where I can vote. I don’t have an issue with that little problem
Two Catherines and two mystical marriages?!? What an awesome day. I love C. of S., and hope to visit Tuscany one day to see where she trod, but I was charmed by the nerdy girl, C. of A., for being a philosopher who could convert 50 philosophers, not to mention the wife and household of a brutal dictator. Plus, I can’t wait to hear some quotes or trivia related to her. Amen and bless them both!
Catherine of Alexandria also gives her name to the Catherine Wheel, a type of spinning firework. She was a smart girl and a brave one, too. But Catherine of Siena won me over with the her life of hands-on helping, healing, and unifying. She had a steady and beautiful light all her own.
I’m a sucker for hard evidence (like writings) as opposed to legend. The wheel left me spinning. I voted for Catherine of Sienna.
I’m a Kathryn and this was hard today. But Catherine of Siena’s diplomatic skills in reuniting the church carried the day for me.
Difficult choice but in the end, Catherine of Sienna gets my vote. She helped the poor. I’m financially challenged(rich in other ways tho’!). Nuff said.
I second the comment about financially poor, but rich in so many other ways!!!! Praise to Catherine of Sienna. As I said earlier this is as tough a choice as the others so far. Enjoying a cup of tea in the Golden Halo cup of Frances Perkins’s.
Catherine of Sienna for me today and many days. What a woman! Moving from contemplation to action; advising two popes! What patience, what devotion – to be willing to listen, to learn, to go and do. Wisdom, fairness, and mercy. What a wonderful combination of gifts she offered to the church.
A thousand thanks for the quick fix so we can vote for the Catherine of our choice. Possibly the glitch was the result of pressure from that glorious St. Paddy’s Day hat you were wearing!!
Besides, anyone who has the gumption to hack their hair off, whatever the reason, is not lacking in Intestinal Fortitude i.e. Guts. I sure couldn’t do it!
Poor Catherine of Alexandria. I was happy to learn about you, but I’m not sure I believe in you. I think it was the milk instead of blood that finally put it over the top. Had to go with the Siena Catherine.
My vote goes to St. Katarina de Siena. “Be who God want you to be, and God will set you on fire.” h+++
True that. Just ask Hus (among others).
Other places quote her as saying “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire” but both statements carry some serious double-edged truth. Love it.
Easy choice for me today. I went with my elementary school alma mater, St. Catherine of Siena.
…any woman who can get powerful men to litem to her gets my vote!
litem, perhaps…listen, definitely:)
Definitely a positive trait!!!! We need more women like Catherine of Sienna. Slowly, I think we are getting them!!!!
This myth of Catherine of Alexandria is just plain silly …
There seems to be more history than legend in the bio of Catherine of Sienna, so she gets my vote today.
Correction: Siena. “Sienna” is the minivan.
“Sienna” is the traditional English name of the city. So not wrong, though maybe a little dated these days.
My oldest daughter is named for Siena so here’s a vote for her!
As a potter, I will have to vote for Catherine of Alexandria (Saint Catherine of the Wheel)
Today, I’ll vote for the reconciler, Catherine of Sienna, who aspired to a total love of God. It was nice getting to know Catherine of Alexandria (even if aspects of her reported story appear to be perhaps questionable) as she is not on our calendar.
And my eldest daughter is named for Alexandria (though we spell her name Katharine), and has embraced her patroness whole-heartedly! So, there’s my vote: K/C of A!
Thank you for another fantastic matchup! Lent Madness has become my main Lenten activity the past 2 years and I continue to spread your good word! The write-ups and comments form the basis for my daily reflection….. so thank you! For today -anyone that can recognize the beauty and interconnectedness of all creation; broker peace deals; and have the ear of two popes has to get my vote. Speakng as a cradle RC, here’s hoping she can get the ear of Pope Francis regarding women’s ordination. Go C of S!
I first heard of Catherine of Siena in a seminary class in Christian mysticism, taught by a Methodist clergywoman named Evelyn Newman. She is a wonderful example of the power of a truly God-centered loving life! So she gets my vote!
St. Catherine of Siena has been one of personal patron saints since college. My vote goes to her.
I was named for C of A, so this was the easiest Lent Madness vote so far. Whew!
As a Catherine who named her first born Alyxandra, I really only have one choice. I love that both women are primarily praised for their intelligence and valued for their opinions in addition to their faith. I’ll cheer on Catherine of Alexandria, but will gladly take up the cause for C. of Siena if she moves to the next round!
I love the way Catherine of Alexandria used her gift – learning – to Gods use after her conversion. And that she never used violence, but fought for herself. It suggests that faith is the weapon, and on it’s own can make us strong. As a scholar (and sometime potter) I have to vote for her. (And as a historian, I don’t worry about the legend – what’s remembered and put into the story is a teaching, a reminder about what faith means.)
My church, St Paul’s in Alexandria VA, has a stain glass window above the cross of a a Catherine Wheel, just guess who I had to vote for!
Catherine of Sienna – what a gutsy activist! She walked fearlessly into the middle of the mayhem surrounding the Pope and made those bad boys behave. I would vote for her anyway, but I was privileged to visit one of her, um, burial sites (is there a special word for “just her head is there in a shrine”?) in Sienna. The rest of her is interred in Rome. It seems that she was so beloved by both Siennans and Romans that they couldn’t decide who would have the honor of receiving her body.
Catherine of Alexandria must have existed; elsewise, we contend that Joan of Arc conversed with imaginary beings. Catherine of Alexandria inspires with her consecration to a greater ideal. Go, Catherine pg the Wheel!
Catherine of Alexandria stood up to the power and held her own, for a time. She converted many to Christianity and fought bravely to the end, how could you not vote for that? I’ll tell you how. Catherine of Siena also stood up to the power (even though it was her parents and not the emperor), she did God’s work among the downtrodden and helped mend the schism in the Church. Another tough decision, good job SEC.
If I had been K of A and all those people had died because/after I converted them I would have reconsidered my strategy… I vote for K of S.
“Reconsidered my strategy”? How do you convert someone in a time of persecution and yet see to it that they don’t become martyrs?
I see an unspoken contest here between two schools for girls in New York City: Chapin, whose seal is the spiked wheel of Catherine of Egypt, and the Dominican Academy.
Tough choice! I taught myself how to read when I was three years old and have been reading ever since. So for my love of books and the fact that she was martyred for her faith, I voted for Catherine of Alexandria!
Alexandria is beautiful and an apt converter
Thanks for the corrected ballot. At early morn, when I had come to the place where the names were to have been reposed, with my eyes barely opened I had suspected that tomorrow’s candidates had attempted a proleptic act of voter suppression, in the quite reasonable fear that either of them would eventually lose to either of the Cats. Glad to see now that they have been turned back and that the time-space continuum has been restored to its intelligently designed balance.
Married to a Kate, this is a conundrum. But my Kate being a librarian by profession, and amateur potter by avocation, the not clearly goes to Catherine of Alexandria, otherwise known as Catherine of the Wacky Wheel
make that “nod”, not “not”
We visited Catherine of Siena’s home in, well, Siena, last year. It was wild to stand in this now very ornately decorated space, and to see the cell she stayed in.
Catherine of Siena would have made a great pope!
Catherine of Alexandria gets my vote.
I changed my mind just before I voted — I should have stayed with CofS who I decided on two weeks before Ash Thursday, oh well… what is that old saw about changing horses in the middle of the stream? LOL
Both ladies are interesting, but I must offer my vote to Catherine of Alexandria as she struck a chord in me, or was it a wheel…..
As a Roman Catholic Lay Dominican (formerly called tertiary), a preacher, and one’s whose collie is named Siena, GO CATHERINE of SIENA.
I am so heartened to see non-RC Christians voting for her. (Wasn’t sure if her work with Popes would be a turn off. Did I mention I preach as an ecumenical preacher at 2 Episcopal churches? :-). )
The bio left out her working with ppl who had the plague–although the collect hints at this.
CATHERINE OF SIENA for the WIN!
Why do I have to go to another site to vote…The FM site that is sent me via email is not active…have to click around until I get the colorful LM site..weird!
Gotta go with C of A, I’m a librarian who collects pottery
Easy choice.
Though I bought St Catherine of Siena’s ‘Dialogues’ in Siena, and think them superb, she has far too many facts. Plenty of biography, but not enough legends. So much tedious realism, in fact, that she could be a CEO or a ‘role model’ or something else sadly earnest. Maybe a patron saint of scheming church politicians. No story, no meaning, no point.
St Catherine of Alexandria, in contrast, has an extraordinary number of legends even for a saint of the C3. Eg the bland example above– ‘As a young woman, she converted to Christianity after a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving her in mystical marriage to Christ.’ A poster hereabouts considers even that one to be so bad that he calls it a ‘myth.’ High praise indeed. Story, meaning, point– St C of A appeals in an alexandrine way to the spiritual imagination. Did we think that this was about anything else? St Catherine of Alexandria.
I’m a little afraid of what could happen to me if I voted against Catherine of Alexandria.
As a Catherine who at a very early age was given an icon of Catherine of Siena, I must vote for C of S. My life has not resembled hers, however, having neither visions of a mystical marriage with Christ nor causing any riots of which I am aware. I have not been a personal advisor to any popes … happy voting, everyone!
I felt I had no choice but to vote for Catherine.
I see what you did there Leroy.
In the Diocese of Indianapolis we vote regularly for two Bishop “Kates”…spellings are different but both reflect the strength of today’s candidates. Having been fortunate to visit Siena twice, I admit to seeking out the the head of Catherine and insites into her story. Difficult not to vote for a potter, but I cast a vote for Catherine of Siena
Patron of philosophers and students, who spoke, along with Ss Michael & Margaret to St Jean d’Arc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and co-patron of St Clement’s, Philadelphia. St Catherine of Alexandria it must be.
For those grousing about the hagiographies of her life, let me quote Joseph Campbell, “Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.”
Love that quote of Joseph Campbell’s! Thanks for posting it.
Still not quite sure which Catherine gets my vote. Both were strong women and good role models.
Just a friendly reminder to the SEC that anyone I vote for is in the absence of him who should be in the bracket, namely the wonderful, inspiring, not to mention famous FRED MCFEELEY ROGERS. And no I have no intention of knocking it off. Bet you thought I had. Not a chance, ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! 🙂
I second your motion. Somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard of New England there is an Episcopal Church with a stained glass window of him. It is the parish where he and his wife worshipped when they were at their summer home. The window is near the pew where they sat.
Go Mister Rogers Go!
Yes! Mr. Rogers!
I just put the documentary, “Mr Rogers and Me,” on hold at the library. Perhaps someone will send a copy to the SEC…
Kathryn is an alternative spelling as in my oldest daughter. I had to vote for the one who is patron saint for mechanics.
My sister is Catherine, and my grandmother was Catherine, so this is a fun contest for me. Since both my parents were librarians, I have to go with Catherine of Alexandria….I also love the church by that name in Manzanita, Or…
Catherine of Alexandria because her story inspires me. Win or lose, her story reveals truths in me I am better for:)
If you’ve ever been to Siena, you’ll vote for Catherine of Siena. And perhaps, you’ve seen Catherine’s head there (an object, not a location.)
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 :-)!!
Another tuffy!!!! I adore books and libraries. My daughter-in-law is a librarian. My middle son adores philosophy and hopes to work it into something for his Masters degree. But…..I had to go w/ Sienna. Her life long call and devotion to a life of faith, her obedience to Gods direction. She just spoke to my heart.
I loved these stories but the comments were puzzling. I saw it mentioned more than once that we should vote for one over the other because great men listened to her. Really? Is that how we measure a woman’s success, because she can get men to listen to her? I feel a little sad.
My vote is for Catherine of Siena. It’s amazing that she was given such a high level of respect and prestige in that era. It also helps that Catherine of the Wheel’s story is incredible in the literal sense.
As a retired librarian, I have to vote for Catherine o Alexandria. But Maybe Catherine of Siena should be the patron saint of political activists and that would fit me too as a former union activist.
Catherine of Alexandria, for all the bookish, quiet thinkers of the world. And for my mom, who was a librarian for 30 years.
As a third grade confirmandee, I chose Catherine of Siena as my confirmation name. I grew more in admiration as I learned more about her. Thanks for including her in this study.
You guys are not making this easy!!!! I love Catherine of Sienna but was fascinated by the story of Catherine of Alexandria. I had to send my vote to “St Catherine of the Wheel” — most interesting lady!!
Catherine of Siena, hands down. I saw a fabulous one-woman show of her life a couple years ago by Sr. Nancy Murray. It was *really* well done and brought Catherine to life for me: a strong, feisty character who was extremely influential in the reform of the papacy.
In 1970, she and Teresa of Avila were named Doctors of the Church by Pope Paul VI – the first women to ever be awarded the papally-bestowed title which is given to the theologians who have greatly influenced the church. The Catholic Church has bestowed this title to only 35 persons.
Ah! The mystics! They give us new ways to see the gospel of Jesus unfold in unexpected ways. Ways we are mostly unprepared to experience or understand.
Got to love the mystics! There is always something more to be said for or quietly done for Christ. The mystics tend to do the ‘something more’, whatever it may be.
I’m voting for Catherine of Alexandria because of the MYSTERY; because of her being the patron saint of spinners (that is, spinning wool into yarn on a WHEEL); because of librarians and philosophers. I am a spinner.
Got home late to discover I hadn’t voted yet. So I went for the underdog–must be a better term–and voted for Catherine of Alexandria because I’m a retired library technician and also I thought she could use a little consolation. Gotta admire C of S, though.
Both of them strong women!
Did our PB weigh in on this one? 😉
Well, at 6:30 EDT the voting error has been corrected!
Both women are admirable and worthy of a saintly crown, so I hesitated over my choice. Catherine of Siena finally won the day. She was a strong woman, taking on leadership to the point of advising even popes in a Church that has for centuries so often seemed misogynistic. Catherine of Siena shows modern women that we can indeed have a place in leadership in the church, and have a positive influence.
Both amazing women! What courage, commitment, loyal, conviction and faith.