Today, November 13, is the memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa Scrilli. Foundress of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters Institute of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. When Maria was born in 1825, her parents were hoping for a boy. Her mother, who wanted a male heir, treated Maria indifferently. An unknown illness kept the adolescent …
Today, November 12, is the memorial of Saint Josaphat. Josaphat Kuntsevych was born in 1580 in the Ukraine. His family was from the Eastern Orthodox Church. In time, Josaphat became interested in the Catholic Church. Thus in his early 20s he became a monk of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. He was ordained …
Today, November 11, is the memorial of Saint Martin of Tours. Martin was born in what is now Szombathely, Hungary. He had pagan parents but, as a teenager, discovered Christianity. He was baptized into the Church at age 18. Since his father was an officer, Martin was obliged to join the military. Once, while on …
Today, November 10, is the memorial of Pope Saint Leo the Great. Doctor of the Church. He was born to the Italian nobility and was known as a strong student in scripture and theology. As a priest, he was recognized as an eloquent writer and homilist. He was Pope from 440 to 461 during the …
Today, November 8, is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity. Carmelite nun. Elizabeth was born in 1880 to Captain Joseph Catez and Marie Catez. Joseph died when the girl was seven, leaving her mother to raise Elizabeth and her sister Marguerite. Elizabeth was a bubbly and popular girl, extremely stubborn with a fiery …
Today, November 6, is the memorial of Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira. Carmelite lay brother and Portuguese military leader (“The Holy Constable”). Nuno was born in Portugal in 1360. He was the illegitimate son of Brother Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, Hospitalier Knight of St. John of Jerusalem and prior of Crato and Donna Iria Gonçalves do Carvalhal. …
Today, November 5, is the memorial of Blessed Frances d’Amboise. Carmelite nun. Frances was born in 1427 in a castle in Thouars, France. Her father was Louis d’Amboise, Prince of Talmont and Viscount of Thouars, and Louise-Marie de Rieux. At the age of three, Frances was already engaged to marry Peter II, a son of …
Today, November 4, is the memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo. Patron saint of seminarians and catechists. Charles was born in 1538 to a very wealthy and noble family. His parents were Count Gilberto Borromeo and Margaret de’ Medici. His maternal uncle was Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Medici, who became Pope Pius IV. Charles was made a …
Today, November 3, is the memorial of Saint Martin de Porres. Juan Martín de Porres Velázquez was born in Peru in 1579. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman, Juan de Porres, and a young freed black slave, Anna Velázquez. Martin and his sister Juana grew up in poverty after Juan abandoned the …
Today, November 2, is All Souls Day. “But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.” (Wisdom 3:1)