But if she will be baptised I will consent to put the nuptial ring on her finger." Desiring to marry the King of Heaven, Catherine went to ask for baptism at the hands of the hermit Ananias, who lived in Armenia on Mount Negra.

A few days afterwards, when she was praying in her room, she saw Jesus Christ appear in the midst of a numerous choir of angels and of saints.

He drew near unto her and placed his ring upon her finger.

Then only did Catherine know that her bridal was a spiritual bridal.
In those days Maxentius was Emperor of the Romans.

He commanded the people of Alexandria to offer great sacrifices to the idols.
Catherine, as she was at prayer in her oratory, heard the chanting of the priests and the bellowing of the victims.