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November 1 |
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All Saints’ Day
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On this day, we remember all the men, women,
and children who followed Christ faithfully and heroically
during their lives and who now enjoy the presence
of God in heaven.
Some saints have been singled out for their own
feast day. The Church offers their witness of heroic,
joyful lives for Jesus. But there aren’t enough days of
the year to fit all the countless saints who walked
through this life witnessing to Jesus.
Some kept close to the Lord all their lives. Others
found him along the way. Some led good lives without
major difficulties. Others made big mistakes, but
found the Lord on the road of repentance and genuine
sorrow.
They made it! And we ask them to intercede for
us so that we will live holy lives, too, and reach our
heavenly homeland. We celebrate their journey that
led to eternal happiness with God. We celebrate our
own family members, relatives, neighbors, and friends
whom we believe to be in heaven.
Today we can rejoice in our hearts with all the
saints in heaven. We can speak to them, thanking
them for the witness of their lives. We can thank
them, too, for helping us overcome our difficulties
and temptations. Let’s ask them to help us on our
own journey through life.
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November 2 |
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All Souls’ Day
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This feast day is one of the most loving celebrations
in the Church’s liturgy. It is the day that we
especially remember all the faithful departed—those
who have passed from this life into the next.
We don’t know how long a particular individual
spends in purgatory. However, we do know that
purgatory is real. Today we stop to remember all
who have died. We especially pray for our own
ancestors, relatives, and friends who have died. We
pray for those who taught us good things. We pray
for those who made sacrifices for us. We pray for
those who prayed for us while they were on this
earth. We pray for the most forgotten souls. We
pray for those who had great responsibilities while
they were on earth.
We think of those holy souls in purgatory and we
realize that they are saved. Now they wait, being puri-
fied, until the moment when they can be with God,
face to face.
We can pray for the souls in purgatory and hasten
their journey to God: Eternal rest, grant to them,
O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
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November 3 |
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St. Martin de Porres
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Martin was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579. His father
was a knight from Spain. His mother was a freed slave
from Panama. At first, his father left Martin and his
mother and sister without support. They were very,
very poor.
Martin grew up devout and good. When he was
twelve, he was sent to learn the trade of a barber. He
also learned how to cure many diseases. Martin’s
father finally decided to provide for his son’s education.
However, Martin wanted to give himself to God
as a Dominican brother. Brother Martin soon proved
to be a wonderful religious. No one was kinder, holier,
or more obedient.
He served his fellow religious as a barber and
infirmarian. He was also in charge of giving food to
the poor who came to the doors of the Dominican
house. He founded an orphanage and a hospital, and
he cared for the sick around the city of Lima. Before
long, he became well known for his kindness to the
poor and sick. People admired him for his holiness of
life. Everyone in the city of Lima would send for
Brother Martin when there was sickness. He loved all
people as his brothers and sisters in Christ. Great
sums of money were given to this good, lovable
brother for his charities. People recognized how well
he could organize works of charity.
Not even animals were forgotten by this kindhearted
saint. He excused the comings and goings of
rats and mice by saying, ”The poor little things don’t
have enough to eat.” In his sister’s house, he kept a
“home for wandering cats and dogs.”
Despite his fame in Lima, St. Martin always had
a very humble opinion of himself. His name for himself
was, in fact, “Brother Broom.” Martin died on
November 3, 1639. When he died, this beloved saint
was carried to his tomb by bishops and noblemen.
They wanted to honor the humble and holy
brother. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope John XXIII
in 1962.
Our Heavenly Father has no preference when it
comes to the color of a person’s skin. Instead, he
looks into our hearts. We can ask St. Martin de
Porres to give us his love for all people. He’ll help us
to see people of all races, nationalities, and religions
as children of God.
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November 4 |
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St. Charles Borromeo
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Charles lived in the sixteenth century. He was the
son of a rich Italian count and the nephew of Pope
Pius IV. Like other wealthy young men, he went to the
University of Pavia. Unlike many of them, however, he
would have nothing to do with sinful activities. He
seemed to be a slow student because he was not a
good speaker, but he made good progress.
He was only twenty-three when his uncle,
Pope Pius IV, gave him many important duties. Charles
managed to handle all his affairs well. He was always
afraid that he might stray from God because of the
many temptations around him. For this reason, he was
careful to focus his attention on prayer and his duties
and to make the effort to be humble and patient.
As a priest and later as the cardinal archbishop of
Milan, St. Charles was a model for his people. He gave
away great amounts of money to the poor. He dressed
as simply as he could, but with the respectability
expected of a cardinal. He attended with great care to
the dignity owed to Church ceremonies. In Milan the
people had many bad practices and much superstition.
By wise laws, by gentle kindness, and by his own
marvelous example, St. Charles made his diocese a
model for the whole Church. He was never a good
speaker—people could barely hear him—yet his
words took effect.
When a terrible disease caused many deaths in
Milan, Cardinal Borromeo thought only of caring for
his people. He prayed and did penance. He organized
crews of attendants and went into debt to feed the
hungry. He even had altars set up in the streets. This
was for the benefit of the sick, who could assist at
Mass from their windows.
This great man was never too busy to help simple
people. He once stayed with a little shepherd boy
until he had taught him the Our Father and the Hail
Mary. As he lay dying at the age of forty-six, St.
Charles said peacefully, ”Behold, I come!” He died on
November 3, 1584, and was proclaimed a saint by
Pope Paul V in 1610.
If we are tempted to seek only comfort and fun
in our lives, we can say a prayer to St. Charles
Borromeo. We can ask him for a selfless generosity
in doing our duties and in reaching out to those
in need. Our lives will be more purposeful if we
each aim at doing something to make the world a
better place.
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November 5 |
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St. Bertilla
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Bertilla lived in the seventh century. The first
biography of her life appeared in Latin in the year
800. She was born in Soissons, France. While a
teenager, she felt the call to grow closer to God. She
began to realize that the life of prayer and sacrifice
that she wanted could be found in a monastery. She
went to her bishop, St. Ouen, and asked his advice. He
encouraged her to follow her calling. Her parents
sent her to a monastery of nuns who followed the
Rule of an Irish monk, St. Columban. When she
arrived, she knew that she had found peace. Years
passed. Bertilla spent her time praying and doing various
tasks. She was especially good at offering hospitality
to travelers and the sick who came to the
monastery. She also cared for the children who were
being educated at the monastery.
St. Bathildis, the wife of King Clovis II, started a
new monastery. She asked the abbess at Soissons to
send some nuns to begin the community. Bertilla was
among those chosen and she was appointed abbess.
She was very surprised but decided to do the best
she could. She knew that the Lord would help her in
every way. The community of nuns grew. Queen
Bathildis herself became a nun after her husband
died. Then, another queen, Hereswitha, widow of the
king of the East Angles, became a nun, too. Abbess
Bertilla must have been amazed to have two queens
in her community. But everyone lived in peace
because the queens were as humble as the abbess.
Bertilla lived a long life and ruled the monastery
of Chelles for forty-six years. She died around the year
705.
The Lord has a plan for each of us. He offers us
some task or path in life. Like St. Bertilla, we have to
give Jesus the chance to speak to us. We have to let
him be heard. We can ask St. Bertilla to help us recognize
and follow God’s will for us.
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November 6 |
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St. Theophane Venard
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Even as a youngster this holy French priest
dreamed of witnessing to the Gospel of Christ. He
went to study for the priesthood. Then he entered a
college for missionaries in Paris, France. His family,
whom he dearly loved, was greatly saddened to think
that after he became a priest he would leave them.
Theophane realized that the long ocean voyage to
the Far East would most probably separate him from
his family for the rest of his life.
“My darling sister,” he wrote in a letter, “how I
cried when I read your letter. Yes, I well knew the
sorrow I was going to bring on my family. I think
there will be a special sorrow for you, my dear little
sister. But don’t you think it cost me bloody tears,
too? By taking such a step, I knew that I would give
all of you great pain. Whoever loved his home more
than I do? All my happiness on this earth was centered
there. But God, who has united us all in bonds
of most tender affection, wanted to draw me from it.”
After being ordained a priest, Theophane set out
for Hong Kong. He sailed in September 1852. He studied
languages for over a year there. Then he went on
to Tonkin, present-day Vietnam. Two obstacles were
in the way of this zealous missionary: his poor health
and a terrible persecution. Yet he struggled bravely
on. Often he wrote to tell his beloved sister in France
all his adventures and narrow escapes from his persecutors.
At last, after serving the many Christians in
Tonkin, Theophane was captured and chained in a
small cage for two months.
His gentle ways won even his jailers. He managed
to write a letter home in which he said: “All those
who surround me are civil and respectful. A good
many of them love me. From the great mandarin
down to the humblest private soldier, everyone
regrets that the laws of the country condemn one to
death. I have not been put to the torture like my
brethren.” But their sympathy did not save his life.
After he had been beheaded, crowds rushed to soak
handkerchiefs in his blood. He was martyred on
February 2, 1861. Father Venard was declared a saint
by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988. He is one of
the martyrs of Vietnam celebrated on November 24.
St. Theophane didn’t spend a long time in
China and Tonkin. The great gift that he gave to
the people was his witness to the teachings of
Christ as a martyr. He teaches us that good example
is a wonderful influence on people. We can ask
St. Theophane to give us the courage to be witnesses
for Jesus by the way we live.
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November 7 |
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Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini
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Giuseppe was born on March 14, 1841, in Italy. His
parents were loving and devout Catholics, who made
sure their children received a good education and
Christian upbringing. Giuseppe’s father died when he
was eighteen, so he helped his mother financially in
raising his younger brothers and sisters. In the meantime,
he continued his education. He received a law
degree at about the same time that his mother died.
Soon after he began practicing law, he took a position
as assistant principal and teacher in a technical
school. He was well known for bringing out the best
in each of his students and in helping them realize
and use their own special talents.
In 1867, he met a young woman named Emilia
Corbolani. They soon fell in love and after a while
they got married. In the meantime, Giuseppe had
become the mayor of his hometown, devoting his
political career to helping improve the living conditions
of the people he was sworn to serve. As a Third
Order Franciscan, he especially felt the need to give
his attention to helping the poor and needy. He constructed
railroads to link rural areas with the city, and
improved people’s financial lives by founding banks
and credit unions, which focused on people instead
of money. He opened schools and supported the publication
of several newspapers.
Giuseppe and Emilia started a family, which in
time grew to include ten children. They were good
parents and set an example of faith and mutual love
and respect. Three of their children devoted themselves
to the religious life when they grew up.
Giuseppe was unstoppable in his activities for
social justice and service to the needy. But he
received the strength for this demanding activity
in prayer. He read the Bible every day, and drew inspiration
for his life from the Word of God. He attended
Mass each day and received Holy Communion with
reverence and love. He was very devoted to the
Eucharist and started the practice of perpetual adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament in the parish church
where he was later to be buried.
On January 16, 1897, worn out from his unceasing
activity, Giuseppe Tovini died at the age of fifty-six.
He was beatified on September 20, 1998, by
Pope John Paul II.
Blessed Giuseppe Antonio Tovini had a talent
for seeing the needs of others around him and
thinking up practical solutions to help. Let’s pray to
him and ask him to show us one small thing we
can do today to make someone’s life a little better.
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November 8 |
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St. Philip Howard
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Philip was the son of Thomas, duke of Norfolk.
He was born on June 28, 1557 when Queen Mary
was reigning and England had once again become
Catholic. Philip was baptized in the Catholic Church.
But the following year, Queen Elizabeth I took the
throne. She reestablished the Church of England, forbidding
anyone to practice the Catholic religion.
Philip’s father, Thomas, and his family joined the
Church of England.
When Thomas remarried, it was to a widow
named Elizabeth. It was arranged that Thomas’ three
sons would marry Elizabeth’s three daughters. So
Philip, then fourteen years old, married Anne. Philip
only cared about his social and political life, and
thought little about God or Anne. He became earl of
Arundel in 1580 and was welcome at the English
court as a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I.
But one day in 1581, Philip was at court to witness
a debate between the theologians of the Anglican
Church and a Catholic Jesuit priest named Edmund
Campion.(You can read about St. Edmund Campion on
December 1.) The words of this priest, who was martyred
after speaking them, were the beginnings of faith
for Philip. He gradually thought more and more of what
it means to be a Christian and gave less importance to
his career. He felt himself drawn to the Catholic faith,
and, at the same time, he realized how he had made his
wife suffer by neglecting her for so many years. Anne
became Catholic, and in 1584 so did Philip. He became
devoted to God, to the Church, and to his wife.
At the same time, he began to notice that he was
no longer Queen Elizabeth’s favorite. He knew that
his conversion to the Catholic Church would mean
danger for him. He wrote a letter to the queen,
explaining the reasons for his choice, and then he left
England. He was captured at sea and brought to the
Tower of London. Because he was an earl, he avoided
execution, but he would never leave his prison.
Philip’s cell became his chapel. He devoted hours
each day to meditation and prayer. This is how he
spent the last ten years of his life. He begged to be
allowed to see his wife and son, who was born after
he was imprisoned, but this was refused. The only
way he would be allowed to see his family would be
to renounce his Catholic faith. But the faith of Philip
and Anne was capable of seeing past the few short
years they would have enjoyed together on earth to
the eternal happiness of heaven.
Philip died in his prison on October 19, 1595, at
the age of thirty-eight. He was canonized by Pope
Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of Wales
and England.
After his death, these words were found
scratched by Philip into the wall of his cell: “The
more hardships we suffer for Christ in this world,
the more glory we have with Christ in the world to
come.” Does thinking of heaven help us get through
hard times?
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November 9 |
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Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
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The Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome is the
pope’s own church. It is considered the head and
mother of all the churches in the world. It is enriched
with relics of Christ’s suffering and death and of
many martyrs.
Originally, this basilica was the palace of a rich
Roman senator named Plautius Lateranus. When he
died, the emperor Constantine inherited the house.
Constantine built a chapel in its walls, which he had
dedicated to St. John the Baptist. There was a second
altar dedicated to St. John the Evangelist.
The popes lived at the Lateran Basilica until the
time of Pope Gregory XI. When this pope returned
from Avignon, he took up residence in St. Peter’s
Basilica, or the Vatican, and the popes have resided
there ever since.
Today’s feast day reminds us to value the church
buildings dedicated to the service and worship of God.
When we see a beautiful church, it should
remind us of all the people called together to worship
God. We, the People of God, are the living
stones of Christ’s Church. It is our lives of holiness
and service that make the Church most beautiful.
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November 10 |
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St. Leo the Great
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St. Leo, a Roman, lived in the fifth century. After the
death of Pope Sixtus, he became pope. Those were
hard times for the Church. Barbarian armies were
attacking Christians in many places. Within the
Church, some people were spreading errors about the
faith, too. But St. Leo was one of the greatest popes the
Church has known. He was absolutely unafraid of anything
or anyone. He had great trust in the help of the
first pope, St. Peter the apostle. He prayed to St. Peter
often.
To stop the spread of false teachings, St. Leo
explained the true faith with his famous writings. He
called a Council to condemn the wrong doctrines.
Those who would not give up their mistaken beliefs
were put out of the Church. And Pope Leo received
back into the Church those who were sorry. He asked
people to pray for them.
When a large army of barbarians, called the Huns,
came to attack Rome, all the people were filled with
fear. They knew that the Huns had already burned
many cities. To save Rome, St. Leo rode out to meet
the fierce leader, Attila. The only weapon he had was
his great trust in God. When they met, something
wonderful happened. Attila, the cruel pagan leader,
showed the pope great honor. He made a treaty of
peace with him. Attila said afterward that he had
seen two mighty figures standing by the pope while
he spoke. It is believed that they were the great apostles,
Peter and Paul. They had been sent by God to
protect Pope Leo and the Christians.
Because of his humility and charity, Pope Leo was
loved by all. He was pope for twenty-one years. He
died on November 10, 461.
We often read that the Church is suffering persecution
in some countries around the world. We
can ask St. Leo to protect the pope, bishops, priests,
religious, and lay people. We can ask him to help all
Catholics be courageous as he was.
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November 11 |
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St. Martin of Tours
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This soldier saint lived in the fourth century. He
joined the Roman army in Italy when he was only fifteen.
Although his parents were pagans, he began to
study the Christian religion. Those who study the
Christian religion are called catechumens until they
are baptized.
One very cold winter day, Martin and his companions
came upon a beggar at the gate of the city
of Amiens. The man’s only clothes were rags, and he
was shaking with cold. The other soldiers passed by
him, but Martin felt that it was up to him to help the
beggar. Having nothing with him, he drew his sword
and cut his long cloak in half. Some laughed at his
funny appearance as he gave one half to the beggar.
Others felt ashamed of their own selfishness. That
night, Jesus appeared to Martin. He was wearing the
half of the cloak that Martin had given away.
“Martin, still a catechumen, has covered me with
this garment,” Jesus said. Right after this wonderful
event, St. Martin went to be baptized. Soon after, he
left the army.
He became a disciple of St. Hilary, the bishop of
Poitiers, France. Because of his strong opposition to
the false Arian teaching in various cities, Martin had
to go into exile. But he was happy to live in the
wilderness with other monks. When the people of
Tours asked for him as their bishop, he refused. The
people would not give up, however. They got him to
come to the city to visit a sick person. Once he was
there, they took him to the church. He was named
bishop of Tours in 371. As bishop, St. Martin did all
he could to rid France of paganism. He prayed,
worked, and preached everywhere.
Our Lord let Martin know when his death was
near. As soon as his followers heard of it, they began
to weep. They begged him not to leave them. So the
saint prayed: ”Lord, if your people need me yet, I will
not refuse the work. Your will be done.” He was still
laboring for the Divine Master in a far-off part of his
diocese when death finally came in 397. St. Martin’s
tomb became one of the most famous shrines in all
of Europe.
It’s so easy to be concerned only about our own
interests. But, like St. Martin, we want to be aware
of the needs of others, too. We can ask St. Martin to
help us notice when the people around us need our
help and to do what we can to help them.
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November 12 |
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St. Josaphat
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Josaphat was born in Poland in 1580 and was baptized
John. He became a monk in the Ukrainian Order
of St. Basil and chose the name Josaphat. He was a
self-sacrificing, brave man. Because of his many natural
qualities, he was chosen for leadership roles. This
would eventually cost him his life.
Josaphat became an apostle of ecumenism. He
preached union among the Christian churches of the
Ukraine. There were three main categories of
Christians: the Latin Church, which was united with
the pope, the Orthodox Greek Church, and the Greek
Catholic Church.
Josaphat became a bishop and took over the diocese
of Polotsk in 1617. He spent the next ten years
helping the people to know and love their Catholic
faith better. He organized celebrations of prayer and
religion classes. He called clergy meetings and
worked with the priests to put into effect rules that
helped the people live closer to Jesus.
Archbishop Josaphat had great positive influence
on people. He was a dynamic leader. But some people
who did not want the Church to be under the authority
of the pope stirred up a mob against him. Josaphat
was murdered on November 12, 1623. His body
was thrown into a nearby river. He was proclaimed a
saint by Pope Pius IX in 1867.
St. Josaphat was a peacemaker and a healer. He
wanted to bring people together to live in peace. He
believed in stressing what unites people, not what
divides them. We can ask St. Josaphat to help us be
like him.
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November 13 |
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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
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Frances was born on July 15, 1850. As a child
growing up in Italy, she dreamed about being a missionary
to China. She sailed paper boats down a
stream, pretending they were ships bringing missionaries
to China. She also gave up eating candy because,
she reasoned, if she lived in China, she probably
wouldn’t be able to have any. When she grew up,
Frances tried to join two different convents. Because
of her poor health, she was not accepted. She taught
school for a while. Then a priest asked her to help
out in a small home for orphans. Things were very
hard for Frances because of the lady who ran the
house. Eventually, the bishop had to close the
orphanage because of this difficult woman.
At the same time, he asked Frances to begin a
community of sisters dedicated to teaching. Without
hesitating, Frances started at once. Before long, the
Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred
Heart began to grow, first in Italy and then in many
other countries. Frances, whom everyone called
Mother Cabrini, had always had her heart set on
going to China, but it seemed that God wanted her
to go to America instead. When Pope Leo XIII told
her, “Go West, not East,” the matter was settled. St.
Frances Xavier Cabrini sailed for the United States
and became an American citizen. She especially
helped large numbers of Italian immigrants. She was
a real mother and friend to them.
Mother Cabrini and her sisters had a very hard
time in the beginning. The archbishop of New York
even suggested that they go back to Italy. But
Mother Cabrini answered, “Your Excellency, the
pope sent me here and here I must stay.” The archbishop
admired her pioneer spirit, and so she and
her sisters were permitted to begin their great work
for God. Schools, hospitals, and homes for children
were opened up in different states. As the years
passed, Mother Cabrini made many trips to spread
her congregation and its works. There were always
difficulties, but she put all her trust in the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. ”It is he who is doing everything, not
us,” she would say.
Mother Cabrini died in Chicago on December 22,
1917. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in
1946.
Where did this frail, sickly woman get the
strength to do all that she did? Through prayer. We
can ask Mother Cabrini to teach us to value prayer
as she did.
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November 14 |
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St. Lawrence O’Toole
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Lawrence was born in Ireland in 1128. He was the
son of a chief. When he was only ten years old,
a neighboring king made a raid on his father’s territory
and carried him away. The boy suffered for
two years. Then his father forced the king to give
him up to the care of a bishop. When he did,
Lawrence’s father hurried to see his son. He gratefully
brought him home.
The chief wanted one of his sons to enter the service
of the Church. While he was wondering which
one it might be, Lawrence told him with a laugh that
he need not wonder anymore. “It is my desire,” said
Lawrence, ”to have for my inheritance the service of
God in the Church.” So his father took him by the
hand and gave him into the care of the bishop.
Lawrence became a priest and the abbot of a
great monastery. When food became very scarce in
the whole neighborhood of the monastery, the good
abbot gave great quantities away to keep the people
from starving. He had many problems to handle as
head of the monastery, too. Some of the monks criticized
him for being too strict. But Lawrence kept
right on guiding the community in the way of self-sacrifice,
despite the criticism. Then there was the
problem of the robbers and outlaws who lived in the
nearby hills. Yet nothing discouraged the fearless
Lawrence O’Toole.
He became so famous that before long he was
chosen to be archbishop of Dublin. In this new position,
he lived as holy a life as ever. Every day, he invited
many poor people to be his guests. He helped
many others besides. Lawrence dearly loved his people
and Ireland, his country, and he did all he could to
keep it at peace. Once, an enemy attacked him as he
was going up to the altar to say Mass. He was
knocked to the floor unconscious, but he came to
his senses right away. He had the wound washed at
once, and then continued with the Mass.
After years of labor for the Church, St. Lawrence
O’Toole became very ill. When he was asked if he
wanted to make a will, the holy archbishop smiled.
He answered, ”God knows that I don’t have a penny
in the world.” He had long ago given everything
he had to others, just as he had given himself completely
to God. St. Lawrence O’Toole died on
November 14, 1180. He was proclaimed a saint by
Pope Honorius III in 1225.
By the way he lived his life, St. Lawrence O’Toole
reminds us that our main concern in all we do
should be to please God. We can ask St. Lawrence
to help us to do what’s right even if we’re criticized
for it.
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November 15 |
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St. Albert the Great
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This saint lived in the thirteenth century. He was
born in a castle on the Danube River in Swabia, in
southwest Germany. Albert went to the University
of Padua in Italy. There he decided to become a
Dominican. His uncle tried to persuade him not to
follow his religious vocation. Albert did anyway. He
felt that this was what God wanted. His father, the
count of Bollstädt, was very angry. The Dominicans
thought that he might make Albert come back home.
They transferred the novice to a location farther
away, but his father did not come after him.
St. Albert loved to study. The natural sciences,
especially physics, astronomy, geography, and biology
also interested him. He wrote a great number of
books on these subjects. In one of his works, he
proved that the earth was round. He also wrote on
philosophy, mathematics, the Bible, and theology. He
was a popular teacher in different schools.
One of St. Albert’s pupils was the great St.
Thomas Aquinas. These two saints became lifelong
friends. St. Albert had guided St. Thomas in beginning
his great works in philosophy and theology. He
also defended his teachings after Thomas died.
As St. Albert grew older, he became more holy.
Before, he had expressed his deep thoughts in his
writings. Now he expressed them in his whole way
of living for God.
Two years before his death, St. Albert’s memory
failed him. His end came very peacefully, as he sat in
his chair talking with his fellow Dominicans. St. Albert
is the patron saint of students and of the natural sciences.
We can learn from St. Albert to appreciate and
use our minds. Let’s pray to St. Albert, asking him to
help us acquire a healthy curiosity about the world
around us, and especially about God, who created
all things and set the laws that govern nature.
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November 16 |
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St. Margaret of Scotland
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Margaret was an English princess born in 1045.
She and her mother sailed to Scotland to escape the
king who had conquered their land. King Malcolm of
Scotland welcomed them. He fell in love with the
beautiful princess. Margaret and Malcolm were married
before long.
As queen, Margaret changed her husband and the
country for the better. Malcolm was good, but he and
his court were very rough. When he saw how wise
his wife was, he willingly listened to her good
advice. Margaret helped him control his temper and
practice the Christian virtues. She made the court
beautiful and civilized. The king and queen were
wonderful examples because of the way they prayed
together and treated each other. They fed crowds of
poor people. They tried very hard to imitate Jesus in
their own lives.
Margaret was a blessing for all the people of
Scotland. Before she came, there was great ignorance.
Many people had bad habits that kept them from
growing closer to God. Margaret worked hard to
obtain good teachers and she encouraged education.
She and Malcolm had new churches built. She loved
to make the churches beautiful to honor God. In fact,
Queen Margaret embroidered some of the priests’
vestments herself.
Margaret and Malcolm had six sons and two
daughters. They loved all their children very much.
The youngest boy became St. David. But Margaret had
sorrows, too. In her last illness, she learned that both
her husband and her son, Edward, had been killed in
battle. She died four days later, on November 16,
1093. Margaret was proclaimed a saint by Pope
Innocent IV in 1250.
St. Margaret shows us the importance of doing
the right things for the right reasons. Her good
example was a genuine reflection of her faith in
Jesus. Her good deeds weren’t done to win praise.
She did what was right in order to please Jesus. We
can ask her to help us do the same.
The Church also celebrates the feast of St.
Gertrude on this day.
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November 17 |
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St. Elizabeth of Hungary
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This daughter of the king of Hungary was born in
1207. She married Louis, the ruler of Thuringia, while
she was very young. Elizabeth was a beautiful bride
who dearly loved her handsome husband. Louis
returned her affection with all his heart. God sent them
three children and they were very happy for six years.
Then St. Elizabeth’s sorrows began. Louis died of
the plague. She was so heartbroken that she cried,
“The world is dead to me, and all that is joyous in the
world!” Louis’ relatives had never liked Elizabeth
because she had given so much food to the poor.
While Louis was alive, they had not been able to do
anything to her. Now, however, they could, and they
did. Within a short time, this beautiful, gentle princess
and her three children were sent away from the castle.
They suffered hunger and cold. Yet Elizabeth did
not complain about her terrible sufferings. Instead she
blessed God and prayed with great fervor. She accepted
the sorrows just as she had accepted the joys.
Elizabeth’s relatives came to her rescue. She and
her children had a home once more. Her uncle
wanted her to marry again, for she was still very
young and attractive, but the saint had determined
to give herself to God. She wanted to imitate the
poverty of St. Francis of Assisi as a member of the
Franciscan Third Order. She went to live in a poor
cottage and spent the last few years of her life serving
the sick and the poor. She even went fishing to
try to earn more money for her beloved poor. St.
Elizabeth was only twenty-four when she died. On
her deathbed, she was heard to sing softly. She had
great confidence that Jesus would take her to himself.
Elizabeth passed away in 1231. She was pro-
claimed a saint in 1235. She is the patroness of the
Franciscan Third Order.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a model of family
love. Husbands, wives, parents, and children can
learn from her that by loving God above all things,
we’ll have a marvelous store of love and affection
for the members of our family. It was this love that
Elizabeth had for her husband and children that
kept her going in spite of difficulties and loss.
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November 18 |
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St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
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This saint labored for Jesus in the United States.
She was born into a wealthy French family in 1769.
As a youngster, there was nothing especially holy
about Rose. In fact, she often did her best to get her
own way. She ordered everyone else to do what she
wanted. In school, her favorite subject was history.
She later became very interested in stories about
Native Americans. At the age of seventeen, Rose
entered the convent. She was not allowed to take her
vows when the time came because of the French
Revolution. All the professed sisters were forced by
the revolutionaries to leave the country, and Rose had
to return to her family. Still, she did not give up her
desire to belong to Jesus. Several years later she
joined the newly formed Religious of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus.
Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne’s great desire
was to be a missionary. However, she was fifty before
she was sent to the United States. It was still a mission
land at this time. In Mississippi, she and a small group
of sisters started a free school for the children of
poor families. The work was hard because of the different
languages and ways of the people. Despite the
many difficulties, Mother Duchesne never lost her
youthful enthusiasm. As she grew older, she became
less commanding and more gentle.
Mother Duchesne was a real heroine. She nearly
died from yellow fever. She overcame all kinds of
obstacles to open convents in the New World. Then,
when she was seventy-one, she resigned her position
as superior. She went to Kansas to open a school
among her beloved Native Americans. She died in
1852 at the age of eighty-three. She was proclaimed a
saint by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
Sometimes we can have a way of postponing
hard duties. We can ask Mother Duchesne to
inspire us to put energy and love of God into what
we do.
The Church also celebrates the feast of the
Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and
Paul in Rome on this date.
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November 19 |
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Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo
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Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo is the first person
from Madagascar to be beatified. She was born in
1848, a princess of a ruling family of the Hovas tribe.
She was educated, and she followed the pagan religion
of her tribe.
The Sisters of St. Joseph came to Madagascar, and
Victoria was admitted to their school for girls. She
was impressed by the faith and lifestyle of the nuns
and asked to be instructed in the Catholic faith.
When she was fifteen, she asked to be baptized.
Victoria’s uncle, who was responsible for her, did not
approve of her new religion and tried to get her to
give it up. She remained steadfast and even wanted to
join the sisters and consecrate herself to God in the
religious life. But the sisters thought it would be better
for her to live a Christian life among her family
and people. They knew it would only make Victoria’s
powerful uncle angry if she became a nun.
A marriage was arranged for Victoria without her
consent, but she was allowed to have a Catholic
priest present for the ceremony. The husband that
was chosen for her was addicted to alcohol and lived
a scandalous lifestyle. Victoria’s uncle and the queen
tried to persuade Victoria to divorce him. But Victoria
did not want to give bad example to her fellow
Christians. As a princess, she could teach by her life
how to observe the laws of God, especially when it
came to the Sacrament of Marriage. She remained a
faithful wife, praying for her husband and offering
her sufferings for his conversion. Before he died in
1887, she was able to convince him to receive the
Sacrament of Baptism.
Victoria lived seven more years as an exemplary
Christian widow. Her virtuous life won her the
respect and admiration of important people in the
ruling class and as well as of simple people. By her
holiness of life, she was a convincing promoter of the
Catholic faith in Madagascar. She devoted herself to
hours of prayer each day, as well as to helping the
poor, the imprisoned, and lepers. She died at the age
of forty-six on August 21, 1894. Pope John Paul II
declared her blessed on April 30, 1989, during a visit
to Madagascar.
Blessed Victoria was true to her Catholic faith
even when it meant putting up with difficulties.
Our faith can be a source of consolation and
strength for us. But are we also ready to meet the
challenges that come as part of our faith commitment?
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November 20 |
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St. Edmund
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Edmund was an English king who lived in the
ninth century. He became king when he was only
fourteen. Yet his high position did not make him
proud or conceited. Instead, he took as his model the
Old Testament king, David. Edmund tried to serve
God as well as David had. In fact, Edmund even
learned David’s psalms by heart. The psalms are
beautiful hymns of praise to God contained in the
Holy Bible.
King Edmund governed wisely, showing kindness
to all his subjects. When Danish barbarians invaded
his land, he fought them bravely. Their army was
much larger than his. At last, the English king was
captured. The barbarian leader offered to spare
Edmund’s life if he would agree to certain terms.
However, since these terms were opposed to his
country and his religion, the king refused. He
declared he would never save his life by offending
God and his people. In anger, the pagan chief condemned
him to death.
St. Edmund was tied to a tree and then cruelly
whipped. The holy king endured it all patiently, calling
on Jesus for strength. Next, his torturers shot
arrows into every part of his body. They were care-
ful not to hit any vital organ, so his sufferings would
be prolonged. At last he was beheaded. King
Edmund died in 870.
Devotion to St. Edmund the Martyr became very
popular in England. Many churches were dedicated
in his honor.
We can pray to St. Edmund for the loyalty to God
and our country that he had. We can also follow his
example by reading and praying the psalms from
the Bible.
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November 21 |
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Presentation of Mary
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The Bible does not tell us anything about the
childhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But tradition
tells us that she was the daughter of St. Joachim and
St. Anne. (We celebrate their feast day on July 26.)
While still a young child, her parents brought Mary to
the Temple in Jerusalem and presented her to the
Lord. Mary’s whole life was to belong to God. He had
chosen her to be the Mother of his Son, Jesus. The
Blessed Virgin was happy to begin serving God in the
Temple. And St. Joachim and St. Anne were pleased
to offer their saintly little girl to God. They knew that
God had sent her to them.
In the Temple, the high priest received the child
Mary. She was placed among the girls who were dedicated
to prayer and Temple service. While Mary
received an education at the Temple, she also must
have been a wonderful example to her companions
of goodness and joy.
St. Joachim and St. Anne went back home. They
praised and thanked God for their blessed daughter.
And Mary remained in the Temple, where she grew in
holiness. She spent her days reading the Bible, praying,
and serving the Temple priests. She made beautiful
linens and splendid vestments. Mary tried to do
each of her duties well to please God. She grew in
grace and gave great glory to the Lord.
Mary lived her whole life to please God. She was
always aware of his divine presence. We can ask
our heavenly Mother Mary to teach us how to stay
close to Jesus every day.
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November 22 |
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St. Cecilia
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This patroness of music lived in early times. What
we know about her goes back to the fourth century.
Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman who had given her
heart to Christ. She wanted to be his bride, but
Cecilia’s father gave her in marriage to a young pagan
nobleman. It is said that during the wedding celebration,
the lovely bride sat apart. She was singing to God
in her heart and praying for his help. When she and
Valerian, her husband, were alone, she gathered up her
courage and said to him: ”I have a secret to tell you.
You must know that I have an angel of God watching
over me. If you let me keep my promise to be Christ’s
bride only, my angel will love you as he loves me.”
Valerian was convinced by Cecilia to honor her
vow of virginity and to become a Christian. His brother,
Tiburtius, also learned of the Christian faith from
Cecilia. She spoke so beautifully of Jesus that before
long he, too, was baptized. Together the two brothers
performed many works of charity. When they were
arrested for being Christians, they went bravely to
death rather than give up their new faith in Jesus. St.
Cecilia lovingly buried their bodies before she, too,
was arrested. She converted the very officers who
tried to make her sacrifice to false gods. When she
was put into a fire, it did not harm her. At last, a man
was sent to behead her. He struck her neck three
times, but Cecilia did not die right away. She lay on
the floor of her own home unable to move. Yet, by
holding out three fingers of one hand and one of the
other, she still professed her belief in the Blessed
Trinity: that there is one God in three divine Persons.
St. Cecilia’s faith was strong enough to convince
others to believe in Jesus. Her love was strong
enough to make her remain faithful to Christ even
in the face of danger. We can pray to St. Cecilia for
the same faith and love that made her a saint.
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November 23 |
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Blessed Miguel Augustin Pro
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Miguel Pro was born in Guadalupe, Mexico, in
1891. He was destined to become a martyr of the
twentieth century. The Mexican government’s persecution
of the Church began in 1910. Miguel joined
the Jesuit novitiate in 1911. He was twenty years old,
generous, courageous, and lively. By 1914, the revolution
had become severe. Jesuit novices were slipped
out of the country. They were sent to foreign seminaries
for their training. Miguel completed his priestly
studies in Belgium, and he was ordained in 1926.
The young priest’s health was poor. He was
especially troubled with constant stomach pains.
His return to Mexico was a joy on the one hand and
suffering on the other. He saw his people suppressed
by the government that should have been
serving them. Father Pro realized that he could
bring them spiritual comfort. He could bring them
God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. He could bring them the Eucharistic
Jesus to be their strength. Like all priests in Mexico
at this time, he was hunted by the secret police.
Because of this, he had to disguise himself. He
slipped in and out of buildings and rooms and lives.
He was always just on the verge of getting caught.
Then he would slip out of sight.
Father Pro performed his ministry heroically until
November 23, 1927. He was caught and, without a
trial, condemned for being a Catholic priest. As he
faced the firing squad, he stretched out his arms until
his whole body was a living cross. Then he called in
a loud clear voice: “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live
Christ the King!)
President Calles forbade a public funeral. He
threatened punishment for anyone who might
attend. Yet people lined up along the streets where
the body of the slain priest passed. They stood and
prayed in their hearts, thanking God for the life and
witness of Father Miguel Pro. He was proclaimed
blessed by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988.
Blessed Miguel Pro lived at a time when
Catholics were persecuted in Mexico. But he chose
to follow his religious vocation just the same. We
can ask Blessed Miguel Pro to give us the grace to
love our Catholic faith as much as he did.
On this date, the Church also honors St. Clement
I and St. Columban.
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November 24 |
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St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions
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Christian missionaries first brought the Catholic
faith to the people of Vietnam during the sixteenth
century. In the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth
centuries, Christians suffered persecution for
their beliefs. Many were put to death, especially during
the reign of Emperor Minh-Mang (from 1820 to
1840). Today we commemorate the 117 martyrs who
bore witness to their faith in the Gospel in Vietnam.
They were proclaimed saints by Pope John Paul II on
June 19, 1988.
This heroic group includes ninety-six people from
Vietnam, eleven from Spain, and ten from France.
There were eight bishops in the group. Of the fifty
who were priests, some belonged to the Dominican
Order and others were diocesan priests of the Paris
Mission Society. St. Andrew Dung-Lac, who represents
this group of heroes, was a Vietnamese diocesan priest.
St. Theophane Venard, whose feast we celebrate on
November 6, was also one of these diocesan priests.
There were also fifty-nine laypeople in the group.
The martyrs of Vietnam suffered in order to preserve
and pass on the greatest treasure that they possessed:
their Catholic faith.
We can join our prayers to the prayers of these
martyrs for the Catholic Church in Vietnam. We
can ask the Lord to bless this land that has suffered
so much for centuries.
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November 25 |
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St. Catherine of Alexandria
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Catherine lived in early Christian times. She
was the daughter of a wealthy pagan couple of
Alexandria, Egypt. She was a very beautiful girl whose
great interest was in learning. Catherine loved to
study deep questions of philosophy and religion. One
day she began to read about Christianity. Soon she
became a Christian.
St. Catherine was only eighteen when Emperor
Maxentius began persecuting the Christians.
Fearlessly, the lovely, young Christian woman went to
tell him what she thought of his cruelty. When he
spoke of the pagan gods, she very plainly showed
him that they were false. Maxentius could not answer
her arguments. Therefore, he sent for fifty of his best
pagan philosophers. Once again, it was Catherine
who proved the truth of her religion. All fifty philosophers
were convinced that she was right. In a great
fury, Maxentius had every one of them killed. Next,
he tried to win her by offering her a queen’s crown.
When Catherine absolutely refused it, he had her
beaten and thrown into prison.
While Maxentius was away at camp, his wife and
an officer were very curious to hear this amazing
Christian girl speak. They went to her cell. The result
was that they and 200 soldiers of the guard were converted.
For this, they were all put to death. Catherine
herself was placed on a wheel full of spikes to be tortured
to death. When the wheel began to spin, it mysteriously
snapped in two and fell apart. Finally, St.
Catherine was beheaded. She is honored as the
patroness of Christian philosophers.
St. Catherine of Alexandria appreciated the
beauty of her Christian beliefs. That’s why she
could so effectively convince others. We can ask St.
Catherine to help us grow in love for the truths of
our faith as she did.
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November 26 |
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Blessed James Alberione
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James Alberione was born on April 4, 1884 in
northern Italy, the fifth child of hardworking farmers.
He grew up in a deeply Christian atmosphere,
where faith was not only taught; but also lived. At
school one day, when he James was six years old, his
teacher asked her students what they wanted to be
when they grew up. When it was James’ turn, he
thought for a moment and then announced, “I am
going to be a priest.”
At sixteen, he entered the seminary of Alba, arriving
with his father in a cart pulled by an ox. Some of
the seminarians laughed, saying, ”He comes to study
with an ox!” But James, quick-witted and a good sport,
replied, ”As long as the ox doesn’t eat my books!”
On the night of December 31, 1900, the night that
marked the end of the nineteenth century and the
beginning of the twentieth, James received an unmistakable
call. After the midnight Mass, the seminarians
were free to remain in church as long as they wished.
The Blessed Sacrament was solemnly exposed, and
James stayed to pray for four hours. During that time,
he received a special light from the Eucharist. He
heard Jesus calling all people to himself, and he felt
the obligation to do something to bring the people of
the new century to the Lord.
James was ordained to the priesthood on June
29, 1907. He gave himself wholeheartedly to his
priestly ministry. He was spiritual director of the
seminary of Alba, as well as a history professor and a
catechist. In 1913, he was also asked to direct the
publication of the weekly diocesan newspaper. In
the midst of all this activity, he prayed and waited for
God to guide him in his particular mission in the
Church. He realized that he was being called to
begin a religious community dedicated to spreading
the Word of God using modern technology, in particular,
the printed word.
His dream started out small, like a seed, with a
handful of boys learning to run a printing press in a
rented building. But time and prayer and faith made
the seed grow into an enormous tree. The priest and
brothers of the Society of St. Paul, and the sisters of
the Daughters of St. Paul increased in numbers, and in
time they spread to other countries. They used modern
technology to bring the Gospel to modern people:
publications, radio programs, television. And as
new technology is invented, they continue to put it at
the service of Christ and his Church.
These two congregations were just the beginning.
Father James Alberione founded ten religious
communities and secular institutes, which make up
the Pauline Family. He became a spiritual father to all
his sons and daughters, passing on to them his unwavering
trust in divine providence and his devotion to
the Eucharist, the Word of God, the Church, and the
apostolate of the media.
When Vatican Council II was opened in 1962,
Father Alberione was one of the superiors general
invited to attend. From October 11, 1962 until
December 8, 1965, he attended all the Council meetings.
He sat silently, mostly unnoticed, listening and
praying. He was particularly interested in the document
on the media of social communications, discussed
by the Council fathers. It was a confirmation
of the work he and his Pauline Family had been carrying
out in the Church for the past fifty years.
As Father Alberione advanced in age, his activity
and energy continued to amaze those who knew
him. It was especially impressive considering he suffered
from acute spinal arthritis. It was only when he
turned eighty that a slow and steady decline was
noticed. As he was forced to give up more and more
of his active work, he devoted more time and energy
to prayer, which he called “working with his knees.”
Even when he could no longer read, he continued to
pray the Rosary.
From November 24 to 26, 1971, he suffered from
his final illness—bronchial pneumonia and kidney
blockage. He slipped into a coma and was unaware
when Pope Paul VI stopped in for an unscheduled
visit. The pope had a great amount of respect and
gratitude for Father Alberione and all that he had
accomplished during his life for the Church and the
world. About half an hour after the pope’s visit,
Father James Alberione died. He was proclaimed
blessed by Pope John Paul II on April 27, 2002.
Blessed James Alberione understood the value
of modern technology when properly used. Do we
use media in a way that will open our minds to
what is useful and good? Do we avoid media that
will not help us to become better?
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November 27 |
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St. John Berchmans
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This Belgian saint once said, ”If I do not become a
saint when I am young, I shall never become one.” In
fact, he died at the early age of twenty-two—and he
had, without any doubt, reached his goal of sanctity.
John was born in 1599. As a child, he stayed very
close to his sick mother. Still, he liked to join his young
friends in putting on plays about Bible stories. He was
especially good at playing the part of Daniel defending
the innocent Susanna. By the time he was thirteen, he
wanted to begin studying for the priesthood. However,
his father, a shoemaker, needed his help in supporting
the family. Finally, Mr. Berchmans decided to let John
become a servant in the household of a priest. From
there he could go to classes in the seminary.
Three years later, John Berchmans entered the
Society of Jesus. He prayed, studied hard, and enthusiastically
acted out parts in religious plays. He made
a motto: ”Have great care for little things,” and he lived
up to it. St. John Berchmans never performed any
great, heroic deeds, but he did every little thing well,
from waiting on tables to taking notes in class.
When he became sick, no doctor could discover
what illness he had. Yet John knew he was going to
die. He was very cheerful as always. When the doctor
ordered that his forehead be bathed with wine, John
joked: “It’s lucky that such an expensive sickness is
not going to last long.”
John Berchmans died in 1621. Miracles took place
at his funeral. Right away people began to call him a
saint. He was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII.
This saint can be a model for every young person.
He was a good son, a diligent student, and a
dedicated Christian. John worked hard to become a
saint. He prayed, especially to the Blessed Mother. We,
too, can pray to Mary, and ask her to show us the
way to be cheerful and helpful in our everyday lives.
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November 28 |
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St. Catherine Labouré
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Zoe Labouré, born in 1806, was the daughter of a
French farmer. Her mother died while she was still
very young. Zoe had to run the house when her older
sister became a nun. Because of this, she was the only
one of her large family who did not go to school. She
could not read or write.
Zoe, too, would have liked to enter the convent
when she was in her early teens. However, because
she was needed at home, she waited until she was
twenty-four. Zoe became a Sister of Charity of St.
Vincent de Paul, taking the name Catherine.
Shortly after she finished her training as a postulant,
Sister Catherine received a special privilege. One
night, she was awakened from sleep. A “shining
child” led her to the chapel. There, our Lady came to
talk to her. The Blessed Mother, in another vision,
showed herself standing on a globe with streams of
light coming from her hands. Underneath were the
words: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us
who turn to you.” Mary told Sister Catherine that a
medal was to be made of this picture. She was also
told that all who wore it would receive many graces
from Jesus through his Mother’s prayers.
Sister Catherine told her confessor and he later
told the bishop. So it was that the medal, that we call
the Miraculous Medal, was made. Soon many, many
people all over the world were wearing it. Yet no one
in the convent knew that humble Sister Catherine
was the one to whom our Lady had appeared. She
spent the remaining forty-five years of her life doing
ordinary convent tasks. She answered the door. She
looked after the hens that provided the nuns with
eggs. She also took care of elderly and sick people. She
was happy to keep her special privilege hidden, and
she was only interested in serving God as best she
could. Catherine died in 1876. She was proclaimed a
saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
We can wear the Miraculous Medal and often
repeat the prayer: “O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who turn to you with trust.”
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November 29 |
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Blessed Francis Anthony of Lucera
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This saint, born in 1681, was nicknamed Johnny
as a child. He was the son of an Italian farmer. His
father died before he was ten. His mother’s second
husband was good to him. He sent the boy to be educated
by the Franciscans.
When he was fifteen, Johnny asked to be admitted
to the Order. He became Brother Francis Anthony. He
did very well in all his studies and became a priest.
Father Francis Anthony became famous as a preacher
and teacher. He also was elected superior. He tried his
best to be of loving service to all the friars.
Father Francis Anthony had a special interest in
helping prisoners. The prisons of his day were terrible
places. He did his best to help the poor prisoners
in every way. His love went out to everyone in need.
It was he who began the custom of collecting gifts at
Christmas time for poor families. In Lucera, the city in
which he spent his life, it was said: ”If you want to see
St. Francis of Assisi, just look at Father Francis
Anthony!”
Blessed Francis Anthony had a great devotion to
Mary. He loved to pay special honor to her
Immaculate Conception. It was at the beginning of
the solemn novena for this feast that he died. Some
time before, when he was in good health, he had said
he would die soon. He had even suggested to a priest friend
that he come along. This good priest replied a
bit excitedly, ”Listen, Father, if you want to die, that is
your affair, but I’m in no hurry!” To this the saint
replied, ”We must both make this journey, I first and
you afterward.” And that is just what happened. The
other priest lived only two months after Blessed
Francis Anthony passed to his eternal reward. Father
Francis Anthony died in 1742 and was proclaimed
blessed by Pope Pius XII in 1951.
The saints were not afraid to die because they
had a lively faith in heaven. Heaven is a real place
where we’ll be happy forever with God. We can ask
Blessed Francis Anthony to show us how to make
each day a preparation for heaven.
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November 30 |
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St. Andrew
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Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman.
He became a disciple of St. John the Baptist.
However, when John pointed to Jesus and said,
“There is the Lamb of God,” Andrew left John at once
to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew
was walking behind him. Turning back, he asked,
“What are you looking for?” Andrew answered that he
would like to know where Jesus stayed. Our Lord
replied, ”Come and see.” Andrew had been with Jesus
only a little while when he realized that this was truly
the Messiah. From then on, he decided to follow
Jesus. He became the first disciple of Christ.
Next Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter)
to Jesus. The Lord received him, too, as his disciple. At
first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing
trade and family affairs. Later, the Lord called them
to leave their way of life behind and be his full-time
followers. He promised to make them fishers of men,
and this time they left their nets for good. It is
believed that after our Lord ascended into heaven, St.
Andrew preached the Gospel in Greece. He is said to
have been put to death on an X-shaped cross, to
which he was tied not nailed. He lived two days in
that state of suffering. Andrew still found enough
strength to preach to the people who gathered
around their beloved apostle.
Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their
patron—Russia and Scotland.
When St. Andrew saw the cross on which he was
to die, he exclaimed: ”Welcome, O good cross, made
beautiful by Christ’s body!” We can ask St. Andrew
to help us recognize our particular cross. He’ll
strengthen us to accept that cross generously.
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