Living Catholicism: Feast Days for the Month of November

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November 01, 2004

Feast Days for the Month of November

The month of November contains several solemnities and feast days that beautifully express the "universal" attribute of our beloved Catholic Faith.

November 1 - All Saints - This solemnity of the Catholic Church recognizes and celebrates all those holy men and women who now live in eternal glory with Christ our Lord.

November 2 - All Souls - This feast is in memory of all those who have passed from this life, emphasis is placed on offering prayers for deceased loved ones and friends.

November 3 - St. Martin de Porres - the famous Dominican brother from Lima who was known for his great devotion to the Eucharist and his complete dedication to serving poor and needy. He built a children hospital and orphanage for the poor children of the slums of Lima. He is the first black American saint. Patron of Peru, African Americans, barbers/hairstylists, public health, innkeepers, inter-racial justice and many other things.

November 4 - St. Charles Borromeo - The great apostle of the council of Trent. This beloved archbishop of Milan, Italy founded schools, hospitals, seminaries, and was one of the major influences on the Council of Trent. He is also know for instituting children's Sunday school. He was the teacher, confessor and friend of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He was known for his life of penance and love for the poor. Patron of bishops, catechists, seminarians, stomack ulcers, colic, stomach diseases, and many other things.

November 9 - Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - at first we may tend to think this isn't a major feast day. Yet we should know the history of this holy place. Given to the Church by Constantine in the year 313 A.D. it was the residence of the popes until 1308. Twelve Church councils were held there between the years 649 and 1512 A.D. It is one of the four major basilicas in Rome.

November 10 - St. Leo the Great - pope from 440 - 461 A.D., St. Leo is known for his famous confrontation with Attila the Hun, when Attila attempted to invade Rome. Attila claimed to have seen a vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword, and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey Pope Leo. It was known that Pope Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter, therefore it has generally been believed the first pope was the visionary opponent to the Huns. When Genseric invaded Rome, Pope Leo's sanctity and eloquence saved the city again. Equally important though was the contributions of St. Leo in terms of his writings, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1574 A.D.

November 11 - St. Martin of Tours - Baptized at the age of 18, Martin is was a Roman soldier and the spiritual student of Saint Hilary at Poitiers. When Hilary, who had been in exile, returned Martin joined him and became a hermit. He would go on to be declared the bishop of tours and was known to have visions. Patron of soldiers, reformed alcoholics, beggars, riders, wine makers/growers, horses, against alcoholism and poverty.

November 13 - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - Arriving in America in 1889 with six other sisters, at the request of Pope Leo XIII, to work with the immigrants and the poor. Mother Cabrini founded 67 institutions including schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the United States, Europe and South America. She became a US citizen and died in Chicago, IL (1918). She was the first US citizen to be canonized a saint. Patroness of emigrants, hospital administrators, immigrants, and orphans.

November 15 - St. Albert the Great - best known for being the mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas and for his writings. He is a Doctor of the Church. Patron of the archdiocese of Cincinnati Ohio, medical technicians, natural sciences, philosophers, schoolchildren, scientists, students, and students of theology.

November 16 - St. Margaret of Scotland - Margaret married King Malcolm III Canmore of Scotland in 1070,thus becoming the Queen of Scotland. They had eight children, one of whom as Saint Maud, wife of Henry I. Margaret founded abbeys and used her position to work for justice and improved conditions for the poor. Patroness of the death of children, large families, learning, queens, Scotland, and widows.

November 16 - St. Gertrude - this isn't a misprint, she shares Nov. 16 with St. Margaret. St. Gertrude studied the Bible and the works of the Church Fathers. Received many visions and mystical instruction, which formed the basis of her writings. Helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart. Her writings have been greatly praised by Saint Teresa and Saint Francis de Sales, and continue in print today. Patroness of nuns, travellers, and the West Indies.

November 17 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Great friend and patroness of the poor of Hungary, Elizabeth built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood; tended to the sick herself. When her husband, King Louis, died, Elizabeth sold all that she had, and worked to support her four children. Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine stricken Germany, led to her patronage of bakers and related fields. Patroness of bakers; beggars; brides; charitable societies; charitable workers; charities; countesses; exiles; falsely accused people; hoboes; homeless people; hospitals; in-law problems; lacemakers; lace workers; nursing homes; nursing services; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety; Sisters of Mercy and other things.

November 18 - Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul in Rome - a feast day dedicated to two other basilicas in Rome. Within these two beautiful basilicas are kept the remains of St. Peter and St. Paul. The Vatican resides in and around St. Peter's Basilica. The dedication of these basilicas reminds us of the lives these Apostles of Christ lived and the holy deaths they died.

November 21 - Christ the King - This solemnity is to remind all of us that we have great king in our Lord Jesus Christ. The other reality that this feast illuminates is that the Catholic Church is not a democracy, it is a monarchy with Christ as our King. We are his subjects and subjects of the teaching authority of His Church. Here is the prayer for this great solemnity:

Almighty and merciful God, you break the power of evil and make all things new in your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As well as a link to a wonderful homily on this solemnity given by Archbishop John Francis Donoghue of Atlanta, GA.
Solemnity of Christ the King

November 22 - St. Cecilia - Cecilia vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. She told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised.
The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. They were martyered themselves. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; she refused, she too was martyred.
The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.

November 30 - St. Andrew - the first of the Apostles, the brother of St. Peter, he was a Missionary in Asia Minor and Greece, and possibly areas in modern Russia and Poland. Martyred on an saltire (x-shaped) cross, he is said to have preached for two days from it. Patron of fishermen, Scotland, Russia, sore throats and many other places and things.

May the Holy Family continue to bless and guide you and your family. Amen.

Posted by HolyFamily at November 1, 2004 11:03 AM