St. Catherine of Alexandria, November 25
By tradition, Catherine was a learned young woman of Alexandria who out-argued the emperor’s philosophers and was martyred in the fourth century, after the torture of the wheel. She is the patron of philosophers and students. The monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai bears her name.
On the General Roman Calendar, November 25 is an optional memorial: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr.
Name days on November 25
In countries that keep name days, November 25 is the day for people named Catherine, Katherine, Kathleen, and Kathryn. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
November 25 on the calendar
November 25 is the 329th day of the year (the 330th in a leap year), with 36 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | Saturday |
| 2029 | Sunday |
| 2030 | Monday |
Keeping November 25
November 25 falls in November, the month the Church dedicates to praying for the dead. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Catherine, Katherine, Kathleen, and Kathryn, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around November 25
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| November 22 | St. Cecilia |
| November 23 | St. Clement I |
| November 24 | St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions |
| November 26 | St. John Berchmans |
| November 27 | Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal |
| November 28 | St. Catherine Labouré |
The day before, November 24, is the day of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions. The day after, November 26, belongs to St. John Berchmans. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.