Catherine was born circa 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. According to the traditional narrative, Catherine was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Egyptian Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Maximian (286 - 305). From a young age, Catherine devoted herself to study; when she was a teenager, she had a vision of the Madonna and the Child that persuaded her to become a Christian. When the persecutions began under Emperor Maxentius, Catherine went to him and rebuked him for his cruelty. Hoping to discredit her, Maxentius summoned fifty of the best pagan philosophers and orators to debate with her and refute her pro-Christian arguments. However, Catherine won the debate and some of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians; they were condemned to death. As a result of the debate, Catherine was scourged and then imprisoned. During her imprisonment, over 200 people came to visit her, including Maxentius' own wife, Valeria Maximilla. Catherine ...