St Catherine

[doristwonk]

In a quiet corner of out village is a little sign that says St. Catherine's Well. Did anyone know that she'd been ill?

[darth vader]

I think you've misinterpreted the sign. It was meant to indicate that she's put on a bit of weight

[answerbonk]

ILL !!! She certainly was !!! She was proper poorly and died on 29 April 1380 of a mysterious and painful illness that came on without notice, and was never properly diagnosed.
She was Canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Her name means "pure one".
Her patronage is; against fire, bodily ills, Europe, fire prevention, firefighters, illness, Italy, miscarriages, nurses, nursing services, people ridiculed for their piety, sexual temptation, sick people, sickness, Siena Italy, and temptations.
Full title; St Catherine of Siena.

[Ember]

Not much into Saints, but didn't St Catherine get martyred on a fiery wheel, hence the firework's name "Catherine Wheel". I don't know where I got this information its just been lurking in my memory like a load of other rubbish I have there.

[answerbonk]

That was St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr whose feast day is November 25th. She is the patroness of philosophers and preachers. Her biography is more legend than fact and comes mainly from the Golden Legend.
St. Catherine is believed to have been born in Alexandria of a noble family. Converted to Christianity through a vision, she denounced Maxentius for persecuting Christians. Fifty of her converts were then burned to death by Maxentius.
Maxentius offered Catherine a royal marriage if she would deny the Faith. Her refusal landed her in prison. While in prison, and while Maxentius was away, Catherine converted Maxentius' wife and two hundred of his soldiers. He had them all put to death.
Catherine was likewise condemned to death. She was put on a spiked wheel, and when the wheel broke, she was beheaded. She is venerated as the patroness of philosophers and preachers. St. Catherine's was one of the voices heard by St. Joan of Arc.

[darth vader]

I heard they named a shipping port after her M.D., called St. Catherines Doc