St. Clement of Rome was the third successor of St. Peter and the fourth pope of the Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of mariners.
St. Clement was Jewish by birth. He converted to Christianity and became a follower of St. Paul and St. Peter. He was ordained a priest by St. Peter. Because he knew the Apostles he is considered one of the five Apostolic Fathers.
As Pope, St. Clement wrote a letter to the Corinthian Church. The Corinthian Church was in turmoil. He urged charity and obedience. His letter brought peace and order to the Church.
St. Clement lived during a time of persecution. He was banished and sentenced to work with other prisoners in a stone quarry. He continued to successfully convert people. Because of the success he had in converting people, he was sentenced to death. He was put to death by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea.
“Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.”
The Feast Day of St. Cecelia is celebrated on November 22. She is a martyr and the patron saint of musicians.
St. Cecelia by Guarino
St. Cecelia was born in Rome to an esteemed family late in the first century. She lived a life of prayer. She was given in marriage to a young pagan named Valerian. Cecelia shared her promise of celibacy and consecration to God with her husband. During the wedding, it is said that she sat apart, singing to God in her heart with thanksgiving.
Valerian converted to Christianity and he honored her desire to remain a virgin. He helped Cecilia in her charity toward the poor. Because of this, he was arrested and put to death.
Almachius, the Prefect of Rome, feared her nobility and charity to the poor. He had her imprisoned in the steam bath of her own home, trying to suffocate her. After a full day and night in stifling steam, Cecilia survived without harm. This resulted in Almachius sending an executioner to behead her. She was struck three times, but she was not beheaded. She fell to the floor. After several days of bleeding in her own bath, Christians rushed in to help her. On the third morning the venerable Bishop Urban visited Cecilia. As she lay dying, she requested that her palace be made into a church for the poor. She died praying, after receiving the Eucharist. Her body was buried in the Catacomb of Saint Callistus. The year of her death is unknown bu it is believed her martyrdom took place during the pontificate of Urban I (222-230).
In 817, her tomb was discovered by Pope Paschal I. Her body was one of the first of over a hundred saints whose bodies were discovered to be incorrupt. Her body remained as it was when she died. Her relics were put into the crypt in the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trasrevere. When her tomb was opened in 1599, her body was perfectly incorrupt. Her neck still had marks of being struck with a sword.
St. Cecelia is the patron saint of musicians, because of the zeal with which she sang the divine praises of thanksgiving. Her spirituality included a love of music. St. Cecilia is often venerated in poetry and music.
The Feast Day of St. Edmund is celebrated on November 20. He is the patron saint of kings and against plaque and torture. St. Edmund is honored as a martyr of the church.
St. Edmund was crowned King of East Angles on Christmas Day in 855. He was only fourteen years old. He modeled himself after King David in the Old Testament. He tried to serve God in a way similar to King David. He memorized the psalms written by David and was known for his piety.
Kind Edmund was a wise ruler. He was a kind king who believed in justice. He cared for and served all in his kingdom, including the poor, orphans and widows.
When the Danish attacked, he fought back valiantly. However, he was outnumbered and eventually captured. The king was offered freedom in exchange for the Christian people. King Edmund refused, saying he would never offend God and his people in this way. He was then executed.
St. Edmund was tied to a tree and whipped. King Edmund called on Jesus for strength. He was then shot with arrows into all parts of his body. Finally, he was beheaded.
King Edmund died in 870. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death.
Faith furnishes prayer with wings, without which it cannot soar to heaven.
The Feast Day of St. Rose Phillippine Duchesne is celebrated on Nov. 18. St. Rose is the patron saint of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri
St. Rose was born in Grenoble, France in 1769. She was drawn to the contemplative life. During the French revolution she spent her time nursing prisoners. She soon joined the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
During Eucharistic Adoration she experienced a vision where she was serving God in the New World. Twelve years later , at the age of 49, she moved to the United States. She was sent to the Louisiana Territory.
In Louisiana, she opened the first free school west of the Missouri River. By 1828 she had founded six houses. She worked among the Potawatomie Indians who named her Quah-kak-ka-num-ad, “Woman-Who-Prays-Always”.
St. Rose died at the age of 83 at St. Charles, Missouri on November 18, 1852.
St. Rose was Beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940.
St. Rose was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
Humility is the virtue that requires the greatest amount of effort.”
The feast day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is celebrated on November 17. Elizabeth was a Princess born in 1207 to King Andrew II of Hungary. St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the patron saint of widows, charities, bakers and young brides.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was born in 1207 in Hungary. She was the daughter of Alexander II who was the King of Hungary. She was betrothed at the age of four to be married to Louis of Thuringa (a German principality). At the age of 14 she married Louis who was 21.
Elizabeth was very pious from a young age. Louis, also was quite religious. Their marriage was a happy and fruitful union. They had three children. Louis was a brave soldier. While he was away Elizabeth devoted herself to charity. She helped to build a hospital which had 12 beds.
He encouraged her works of charity. After six years of marriage Louis was killed during the crusades while she was pregnant with their third child at the age of 20. Elizabeth’s relatives resented how generous she was with the family’s money. They mistrusted her and eventually threw her out of the palace.
Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death, Elizabeth cried out,
“The world with all its joys is now dead to me.”
After finding care for her children, Elizabeth left the castle and became a Third Order Franciscan, joining them on Good Friday. She devoted herself entirely to helping the sick and poor. A Franciscan hospital was built in which she was able to care for the sick and suffering.
St. Elizabeth died at the age of 24 in 1231. Soon after her death miracles of healing were reported at her grave site
A legend exists that her husband met her unexpectedly as she went secretly on an errand to help the poor. The bread she was carrying was turned into roses. Pictures of St. Elizabeth often show her carrying bread or roses.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary died at the age of 24 in 1231 at Marburg, Germany of natural causes. She was canonized on May 27, 1235 by Pope Gregory IX.
The Feast Day of St. Laurence O”Toole is celebrated on November 14. He is the patron saint of the archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland.
St. Laurence was born in County Kildare, Ireland. At the age of ten, Laurence became a hostage of Dermod Mac Murchad, King of Leinster. The king gave him permission, when he was twelve, to enter the monastic school of Glendalough, where he studied for thirteen years. When he was only 25 years old, he became the abbot of the Abby of St. Kevin in 1150. He governed the monastery with virtue and prudence.
In 1162, St. Laurence was unanimously chosen as the Archbishop of Dublin. As Archbishop he focused on the reformation of the clergy. He spent much time in prayer, fasted often and prayed for those who had died. He was known for feeding the hungry and aiding the homeless.
St. Laurence participated in the Lateran Council which was held in 1179 by Pope Alexander III. He died in 1180 at the age of 52. Miracles were recorded after his death at his tomb. He was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1226.
The Feast Day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is celebrated on November 13. She is the patron saint of immigrants, orphans and against malaria.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850. She wanted to become a nun but was hindered by poor health. She became a teacher, teaching at a girl’s school for six years.
Frances took religious vows in 1877, adding Xavier to her name to honor St. Francis Xavier.
At the urging of Pope Leo XIII, she immigrated to the Unites States with six nuns to work with Italian immigrants. She crossed the Atlantic ocean in spite of her great fear of water.
She founded many schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the United States, England, France, Spain and South America. In New York City, St. Frances Cabrini founded Columbus Hospital and Italian Hospital. In the 1980’s they merged into Cabrini Hospital.
In 1909 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized United States citizen. She died from malaria at the age of 67, on December 22, 1917, at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, IL.
In 1931, her body was exhumed, found partially incorrupt, and is now enshrined under glass in the altar at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan.
The following prayer was written by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
Fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will. Amen
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Stretch every fiber of my being, dear Lord, that I may more easily fly towards you. May your Spirit, which once breathed over the chaos of the earth, give life to all the powers of my soul.
The Feast day of St. Martin of Tours is celebrated on November 11. He is the patron saint of soldiers and beggars.
St. Martin was born in 315 in Pannonia, a Roman Province. Martin’s father was an army officer. Secretly he became a catechumen (a student preparing to become Catholic) at the age of ten. He longed to be a monk so that he could be alone with God in prayer. He was forced to join the army at the age of 15 before he had been baptized. His job was to protect the emperor. He became an officer and was assigned garrison duty in Gaul.
He is portrayed in art helping a beggar who was freezing cold and in need of help. Martin removed his cloak, cut it in half with his sword and gave one half to the beggar. That night, Martin had a dream in which Jesus was wearing his cloak. The dream inspired Martin to immediately seek baptism. He was eighteen years old. Two years after his baptism Martin refused to fight any longer, saying,
I have served you as a soldier, now let me serve Christ.”
Martin was eventually ordained an exorcist. He was chosen as the Bishop of Tours because of his holiness. Martin lived outside the city because of his need for solitude.
St. Martin was known for his miracles and his compassion. St. Martin died on Nov. 8 and was buried at his request in the Cemetery of the Poor. Near the time of his death, St. Martin prayed the following prayer:
“Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Thy will be done.”
St. Charles Borromeo was born into a noble family in 1528. He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV. When he was twelve he was sent to a Benedictine Abby to be educated. St. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of catechists, catechumens and seminarians
St. Charles was an active leader in the Council of Trent. He was ordained a priest while the Council was in progress. That same year he became the Bishop of Milan. At the age of 22, he was named a Cardinal. While serving as the Cardinal of Milan, he enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent. He established seminaries and hospitals. During the plague of 1576, he worked with the sick and helped to bury the dead. For three months he fed 3000 daily with his own money. He founded a society for secular priests called the Oblates of St. Ambrosein 1578. It is now known as the Oblates of St. Charles.
St. Charles was very active in the Catholic Reformation, working to rid the church of corruption. He was the teacher and confessor to St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
St. Charles Barromeo died at the age of 46 in 1584.
“The candle that gives light to others must itself be consumed, Thus we also have to act. We ourselves are consumed to give a good example to others.”
St. Martin was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. He was the son of the governor of Panama. His mother Anna Martin was a freed black slave. St. Martin is the patron saint of social justice and barbers.
When he was 15, he became a Dominican Friar. He worked as a barber, farm laborer and in the infirmary. In the infirmary he cared for the sick. His medical knowledge regarding herbs was discovered and put to good use.
He begged from the rich to support the sick. His desire was to become a foreign missionary and earn martyrdom. Because this was not possible he offered his body to God. He received many spiritual gifts in return for his penances. Martin loved both humans and animals. He established an orphanage and children’s hospital. He also established a shelter for cats and dogs. He was a friend to St. Rose of Lima. St. Martin de Porres is the first black saint from the Americas.
St. Martin de Porres had many spiritual gifts. He had healing power and a prophetic gift. He could see into the future and read hearts. St. Martin died Nov. 3, 1639. His body is incorrupt.
Miracles were reported at his tomb.
St. Martin was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962.
The Feast Day of St. Simon and St. Jude is celebrated on the same day…October 28. They were both Apostles and Martyrs. St. Simon is the patron saint of tanners. St. Jude is the patron saint of impossible causes.
St. Simon was the second Bishop of Jerusalem. He preached in Egypt and Persia with St. Jude where both suffered martyrdom.
There are two stories of his death. The first has him dying by crucifixion in Samaria. The second has him sawed in half in Persia.
St. Simon and St. Jude
St. Jude was the son of Cleohas, who died a martyr and Mary who stood at the foot of the cross. He was the brother of St. James the Lesser, and a cousin to Jesus. He was a fisherman. He is not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, who was a traitor. After the resurrection, Jude preached in Syria and Persia with St. Simon. He was a healer and an exorcist. He was beaten to death with a club then beheaded in Persia. His relics are at St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome. As apostles, both St. Simon and St. Jude became close to Jesus. They truly believed he was the Lord. After the Resurrection Hey spent their life spreading the good news of salvation. Their martyrdom shows us the depth of their love for Jesus.
Come my light and illumine my darkness.
Come my Life and revive me from death.
Come my physician and heal my wounds.
Come, Flame of Divine Love and burn up the thorns of my sins.
kindling my heart with the flame of thy love.
Come my King, sit upon the throne of my heart and reign there,
For you alone are my King and my Lord.
Prayer of St. Dimitri of Rostov; Feast Day October 28
The Feast day of St. Frumentius is celebrated on October 27. St. Frumentius was born in Lebanon. He helped bring Christianity to Ethiopia and is considered the patron saint of Ethiopia.
Around the year 330, Frumentius and his brother Aedesius took a voyage to the coast of Arabia. They were both students. On the trip home their ship docked at an Ethiopian port. A great riot occurred in which the natives massacred the crew and passengers. The only two to survive were the two brothers who were studying under a tree.
When they were found, they were taken to the king. He was so impressed with their knowledge that he made Aedesius his cupbearer, and Frumentius his secretary. Before the king died, he granted the two brothers liberty in gratitude for their service. The Queen, however, requested that they stay and help her. They agreed to do so.
Frumentius encouraged merchants to settle in the country by granting them privileges and freedom of worship. When the young prince became king the two brothers resigned their posts even though the young king wished them to remain. Aedesius returned to Tyre and was ordained a priest. Frumentius discussed his desire to help in the conversion of Ethiopians with St. Theodosius in Alexandria. He was consecrated bishop of Aksum to allow him to do this work in around the year 350.
He led many souls to the faith. He was known for miracles and his preaching. When he died around the year 383 he was reverently called Abuna which means Our Father and Aba Salama which means Father of Peace. To this day Abuna is the title of the primate of the Church of Ethiopia.
For whoever seeks God while wanting to hold onto his own likes and dislikes, may seek him night and day but will never find him.
