November 10

Saint Leo the Great held strong convictions about the importance of the Bishop of Rome and of the Church. He viewed the Church as the presence of Christ in the world. Dedicated to building up the Church in all areas, Saint Leo the Great was also a man of deep spiritual convictions.

November 11

Saint Martin of Tours is often depicted as a soldier mounted on a horse sharing his cloak with a poor man. He became a monk and then a bishop, but he never lost his love for the poor. He spent a good deal of energy fighting for the Church, and for mercy toward heretics.

November 12

. Saint Josaphat dedicated his life to healing the split within the Ruthenian Church. While he made some headway, sadly the division extends to today. But his life and efforts were not in vain, for both influenced many Orthodox to be united with Rome.

November 13

Although she was born in Italy, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. She was sent to the United States by Pope Leo XIII and spent the rest of her life working with the Italian immigrants, particularly in New York City and Chicago.

November 14

Saint Gertrude, a Benedictine nun, was one of the great mystics of the 13th century. Her form of spirituality was a blend of liturgical and personal prayer rooted in the Scriptures.

November 15

Saint Albert the Great was a highly influential 13th-century German Dominican. Probably best known in philosophical circles as the master of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Albert deserves recognition on his own. He was a voracious writer who composed a compendium of all knowledge.

November 16

Saint Margaret of Scotland was Scottish because her family was rescued by the King of Scotland as they fled William the Conqueror. She married the King and introduced him and his country to more cultured life. They had six sons and two daughters.

November 17

She died before her 24th birthday, but in those few years Saint Elizabeth was a wife, mother, queen, widow, the founder of a hospital, and did other charitable works of mercy. For the last three years of her life she was a Secular Franciscan and worked tirelessly for the poor.

November 18

St. Peter Basilica is probably the most famous church in Christendom and the largest in the city of Rome. St. Paul Outside-the-Walls is second in size only to St. Peter’s. Built over the presumed graves of these two saints, they are attractive places of prayer for the faithful.

November 19

Often confused with Saint Agnes of Bohemia to whom Saint Clare wrote her famous letters, Saint Agnes of Assisi was Saint Clare’s younger biological sister as well as first follower in the way poverty.

November 20

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, a Sister of the Society of the Sacred Heart and French by birth, was an early missionary to the United States. There she and her sisters faced formidable difficulties, but finally settled in Missouri and built the first free school west of the Mississippi in the town of St. Charles.

November 21

This feast celebrates Mary's presentation in the Temple by her parents Anna and Joachim. While it is not mentioned in Scripture, there is early evidence that this event was celebrated in both the Eastern and Western Churches.

November 22

Although there is little historical evidence concerning the life of Saint Cecilia, she is one of the famous martyrs of the Church in Rome. She is mentioned in the list of saints in the first Eucharistic Prayer--Roman Canon. Cecilia is often depicted playing an organ.

November 23

Faced with persecution and possible death, Blessed Miguel Pro returned to his native Mexico after his ordination to minister to the people of God. Within a couple of years, he was arrested on trumped-up charges and executed.

November 24

Saint Andrew Dung-Lac was one of the 117 people martyred in Vietnam between 1820 and 1862. While members of this group were beatified on four different occasions between 1900 and 1951, all were canonized by Pope John Paul II.

November 25

According to the Legend of St. Catherine, this saint was instrumental in the conversion of 50 pagan philosophers as well as over 200 soldiers and royal family members.

November 26

Saint Columban was an Irish missionary who worked on the European continent. He and 12 companions traveled to Gaul where they won the respect of the people. Columnban established several monasteries in Europe.

November 27

Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani was a Conventual Franciscan who taught the younger members of his community and served in administration. He was recognized as a great preacher and confessor. In the minds of the local people Francesco was considered a saint at his death.

November 28

Saint James was born in the Marche of Ancona. Before joining the Friars Minor, he earned doctorates in canon and civil law at the University of Perugia. He lived a very austere life, and was an extremely popular preacher, who spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.

November 29

Saint Clement was the fourth pope of the Church, living toward the end of the first century. He is known for his letter to the Church at Corinth, in which he tried to reestablish peace between the clergy and the faithful

November 30

Saint Andrew was Saint Peter’s brother, and was called by Jesus along with Peter. We know very little about Andrew except that he too was a fisherman, and a disciple of Saint John the Baptist.