St. Catherine of Alexandria Coloring Page
This St. Catherine of Alexandria coloring page shows the young princess-saint wearing a crown and a royal gown, holding a book and a palm branch, with a large wooden wheel beside her. The PDF is free to print. Catherine was a brilliant, faith-filled young woman and is the patron saint of students.
The story of St. Catherine
The story of Catherine is very old, and people have told it with love for more than a thousand years. Here is how they tell it.
Long ago in Alexandria, a great city in Egypt with a famous library and a tall lighthouse, lived a young woman named Catherine. She came from a royal family, and she was very smart. She loved to read and study, and she knew more than most grown-up teachers. Best of all, she came to know and love Jesus, and she gave her heart to him.
At that time, the Roman emperor was hurting Christians. Brave Catherine went to see him herself and told him he was wrong to worship false gods. The emperor was surprised that a young woman would speak to him like that! So he called in fifty of the wisest men in the empire to argue with her and prove her wrong.
But Catherine answered every one of their questions, and she spoke about Jesus so wisely that the wise men decided to follow Jesus too!
The emperor was furious. He ordered that Catherine be put on a great wheel. But when she was brought to it, the wheel broke into pieces. In the end Catherine gave her life for Jesus. People say that angels carried her body to the top of Mount Sinai, where a famous monastery still bears her name today.
St. Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of students, philosophers and librarians. We celebrate her on November 25.
What to color
- Her crown: gold, because she came from a royal family. It is also a sign of the crown of heaven.
- Her gown and mantle: red, blue, green and gold, like a princess's royal clothes.
- The book: her love of learning. Give it a bright cover.
- The palm branch: green, the sign of a martyr.
- The wheel: brown wood. It is her special sign, the wheel that broke.
- The lighthouse and sea: white stone, a yellow light on top and blue water.
A prayer to pray together
Students have asked Catherine's prayers before their studies for many centuries. Children can pray before homework or a test:
St. Catherine, pray for us, and help us learn and understand.
You can find more prayers before an exam.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on November 25, St. Catherine's feast.
- Visit your library and pick out a book about God or the saints.
- Don't mix her up with St. Catherine of Siena, who lived much later and wore a black and white habit. Compare their pictures!
- Look up Mount Sinai on a map, where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where St. Catherine's Monastery stands.
- Talk about it: Catherine used her smarts to tell people about Jesus. How can you use your gifts for God?
Read the full story: St. Catherine of Alexandria in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Catherine?
Painters often dress Catherine in a deep red mantle over a blue or green gown with gold trim. Make her crown and halo gold, the palm branch green and the wheel brown wood.
Why does St. Catherine have a wheel?
Her story says the emperor ordered her to be put to death on a wheel, but when she was brought to it, the wheel broke apart. That's why her wheel is her special sign. The spinning firework called a Catherine wheel is named after her.
Was St. Catherine of Alexandria a real person?
Christians have loved and honored her for many centuries, especially at the ancient monastery named for her on Mount Sinai. But her story was written down long after she lived and filled with wonderful details, so we can't be sure of all of it. We tell it the way the Church has long told it.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.