Today, November 17, is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Born in present-day Bratislava, Slovakia in 1207, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and Queen Gertrude of Merania. She was the great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringia at age 13 (other accounts say 14). …
Today, November 16, is the memorial of Saint Gertrude the Great. Gertrude was born in 1256 in Thuringia within the Holy Roman Empire. At age four (some reports say five), she was raised in the monastery school of Saint Mary of Helfta. She was described as an extremely bright and dedicated student, she excelled in …
Today, November 14, is the feast of All Carmelite Saints. Who are the saints of Carmel? They are hermits of Mount Carmel who “lived in small cells, similar to the cells of a beehive, they lived as God’s bees, gathering the divine honey of spiritual consolation.” They are mendicants of the first medieval communities, who …
Today, November 13, is the memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa Scrilli. Foundress of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters Institute of Our Lady of Carmel. When Maria was born in 1825, her parents was hoping for a boy. Her mother, who wanted a male heir, treated Maria indifferently. An unknown illness kept the adolescent Maria …
Today, November 12, is the memorial of Saint Josaphat. Joseph 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 priest …
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 …
Today, November 10, is the memorial of Pope Saint Leo the Great. Pope and 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 …
Today, November 7, is the memorial of Saint Vincenzo Grossi. Founder of the Daughters of the Oratory. Vincenzo was born in 1845 in Italy. His mother taught him how to pray while his father instructed him on honest work and hard labor. After his First Communion, he announced to his family his desire to join …
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 religious and widow. 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 …