The legend of St. Catharine is unsupported by solid historical authority. Devotion to her began in the West about the Eleventh Century and was widely spread by the Crusaders. We have still much to learn about the personality of St. Catharine, but although the particulars of her life are uncertain, God has been pleased to glorify his saint on Mount Sinai, where her tomb is still venerated by pilgrims.

St. Gertrude, who from childhood had had a great devotion to St. Catharine, once asked of Our Lord to be allowed to see the heavenly glory of her patron. Her prayer was heard, and she beheld the virgin of Alexandria on a golden throne surrounded by the sages whom she had led to knowledge of the faith, and who formed her brightest crown in heaven.

(Source: Fr. Lasance, The New Roman Missal,)