Patron Saint of Unmarried Young Women

Category: Family & States of Life

In Catholic tradition, patron saints are holy men and women whose lives and intercession are considered especially suited to particular needs, groups, or situations. The Church's practice of invoking saints reflects the doctrine of the Communion of Saints — the belief that the faithful departed remain united with the living in the one Body of Christ and can intercede before God on our behalf.

The designation of a patron saint for "Unmarried Young Women" reflects centuries of Catholic popular devotion and, in many cases, formal proclamations by popes or bishops recognizing a saint's particular connection to this intention through the circumstances of their life, death, or documented miracles.

Patron Saint of Unmarried Young Women

Formally proclaimed patronage — sourced from canonized saints in the Roman Calendar.

Primary Patron
Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Feast Day
November 25

Saint Catherine of Alexandria is invoked as patron of unmarried young women. Catherine of Alexandria was traditionally venerated as a noblewoman of fourth-century Alexandria, martyred in the persecution of the Emperor Maximinus II (or possibly Maxentius) around 305-313. Her legendary Acts, which circulated widely in the East from at least the seventh century, present her as a learned Christian virgin who, when summoned by the emperor to defend her faith in public disputation, confounded fifty pagan philosophers, who were converted and executed; condemned to be broken on a spiked wheel, she was delivered when the wheel itself shattered; and was finally beheaded.The historical core of her cult is uncertain - she is not mentioned in the most ancient martyrologies - but her veneration was firmly established by the ninth century and exploded in the Latin West after the discovery of relics venerated as hers at the great monastery of Mount Sinai (now Saint Catherine's Monastery), an attribution that gave the monastery and the surrounding mountain her name. Sources: https://www.usccb.org/resources/2026cal.pdf.

Read full biography of Saint Catherine of Alexandria →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the patron saint of unmarried young women?

Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the primary patron saint of unmarried young women. Their feast day is November 25.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is a holy man or woman canonized by the Church whose life and heavenly intercession are considered especially powerful for particular needs, groups, or situations. Catholics ask patron saints to intercede — to pray to God on their behalf — drawing on the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.

How do I ask for Catherine of Alexandria's intercession?

To ask for a patron saint's intercession, Catholics typically pray directly to the saint, saying something like: "Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us." You may also light a candle, attend Mass on their feast day, or make a novena — nine days of consecutive prayer — asking for their help before a particular need.