November
1 - All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day is for all the known and unknown saints who have
died and gone before us and who are at rest with Christ. Simply
put, to be a saint is to do God's will each day throughout one's
life to the best of one's ability. This is God's call for each
of us who have been brought into His Body, the Church, through
Baptism. The origin of this feast day can be traced back to the
4th century. Ephrem of Syria and John
Chrysostom, both Eastern Church Fathers,
called this day the feast of martyrs of the whole world. In 835
Pope Gregory IV made November 1st as the feast day for all the
Saints.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God: blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall
be called the children of God: blessed are they that are persecuted
for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
(St. Matt. 5: 8-10). (The day's
communion, page E 133, The People's Anglican Missal).Vigil Propers + Prayer
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November
2 - All Souls (Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed)
On this feast day the Church Militant prays for all the faithful
departed, setting aside this day for those who have died and
gone before us and for which we pray at each mass, with the words
of the liturgy, And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy
servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching
thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service.
(pgs 74, 75, BCP).
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord:
and let light perpetual shine upon them. (From
the day's introit, page H 1, The People's Anglican Missal).The day's propers
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November
4 - St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop, Confessor (1538-1584) (Davies
Jewelry has Medals of this Saint)
Charles Borromeo was one of the chief reformers of the Roman
Catholic Church during the 16th century. His devout faith, intelligence
and hard work helped in the success of the Council of Trent,
which was instrumental in addressing abuses in the Church. Concerned
about the moral lapses of clergy, as well as the lack of religious
knowledge among the laity, he established seminaries and a confraternity
to teach Christian doctrine to Sunday schools children. He also
held synods and councils, and established several colleges.The day's propers
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November
7 - St. Willibrord of Frisia, Bishop, Confessor (658 - 739)
Saint Willibrord is considered the apostle of Holland. He was
born in Yorkshire, England, in 658. He received his education
in Ireland, culminating in his ordination to the priesthood.
Most of his work was as a missionary in France, Denmark, Holland
and Luxemburg. He provided the catalyst for the future missionary
activity in these lands which, over time, led to their conversion.
He destroyed pagan idols, freed slave boys and taught them the
Christian faith, and built churches and monasteries. Even though
the pagan ruler Radbod of Frisia destroyed a lot of Willibrord's
churches and killed many of the priests, it only served to embolden
Willibrord to evangelize other neighboring lands. His preaching
and ministry were very effective, due to his devout study of
scripture and prayer life.
Blessed is the man that feareth the
Lord: he hath great delight in his commandments (Ps. 112). (From the day's tract, page F 23,
The People's Anglican Missal).The
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November
11 - St. Martin of Tours, Bishop, Confessor (c. 316 - c. 397)
Martin was born in Hungary around 316. Like his father, he became
a soldier in the Roman army. However, from an early age, he always
wanted to become a Christian, and he found that to do so he could
not continue being a soldier. As a result, he was imprisoned,
and after many struggles with the military he was discharged.
At this low point in his life, upon meeting a naked beggar at
Amiens, Martin tore his own coat in two and gave half of it to
the beggar. Shortly after this, he had a dream in which he saw
Christ wearing the cloak he had given away.
Along with Hilary of Poitiers, Martin
built the first monastery in Gaul at Liguge. At the request of
clergy and people, he was ordained bishop of Tours. Blessed
is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching:
verily I say unto you, that he shall make ruler over all his
goods (St. Matt. 24). (From the day's communion, page E 135,
The People's Anglican Missal). The
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November
17 - St. Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop, Confessor (c. 1135 - 1200)
Saint Hugh was born around 1135 at Avalon in Burgundy. He became
a monk at age 24 and later, at the request of King Henry II of
England, was called to be the prior of the first Carthusian house
in England, located in Somerset. Under his direction the house
flourished, and he became the bishop of Lincoln, in 1186.
Under his bishopric, he chose learned men to help him govern,
rebuilt his cathedral, held synods and visited the parishes of
his diocese confirming, baptizing, and consecrating churches.
He was not afraid to excommunicate lay people who refused to
recant their heretical views, nor to admonish kings, and would
not appoint unbelieving men of wealth to church benefices. He
encouraged his lay people to have a charitable heart, to be careful
with the wiles of the tongue and to live chaste lives. May we
too seek to follow his example and heed his admonitions.The day's propers
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November
19 - St. Elisabeth of Hungary, Widow (1207 - 1231)
Elisabeth was born the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary
in 1207 and was later in her life given in marriage to Louis
IV of Thuringia. Married to her handsome, talented and charming
husband, she bore him three children. During her marriage, she
cared for the poor and orphans, distributed alms and founded
hospitals.
With the death of her husband in 1227,
she became very distraught and was forced by her relatives to
leave her castle. She devoted the rest of her life as a Franciscan
tertiary carrying on the work of helping the sick, orphaned and
homeless as she had before. However, her confessor, Conrad of
Marburg, was very cruel to her, no doubt born out of jealousy
of her goodness. Her austere life and harsh treatment from her
enemy led to an early death at the age of 24.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for
her price is far above rubies.' . . .'Favour is deceitful, and
beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall
be praised (Proverbs 31:10,31).
(The day's lesson from the Book of Proverbs, page F 44, The People's
Anglican Missal). The
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November
21 - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This feast day, while not based on Scriptural fact, but rather
pious tradition, deals with the presentation of the Virgin Mary
when she was three years old at the Temple in Jerusalem. Tradition
also has it that she spent a good deal of time there as a child
with other children. Whether this is true or not is not significant.
What is important is that Mary was no doubt raised in a Godly
home which nurtured her sanctity. May we make the sacrifice of
raising our children in God's House, the Church, by having them
attend Sunday School and in encouraging their religious life
at home as well.
November
22 - St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr (3rd Century)
Almost nothing is known of this Roman martyr of the 3rd century
and it could be that she never existed. However, it seems that
those who suffered similar martyrdom with her did exist.
Pious tradition has it that she was a Christian virgin, who was
forced to betroth a pagan named Valerian. She had previously
taken vows of celibacy wishing instead to remain married to Our
Lord. When she refused to consummate her marriage, claiming that
a guardian angel protected her virginity, Valerian vowed he would
respect her request if he himself saw the angel. He did, leading
to his conversion. However, he along with his brother, Tibertius,
who himself became a Christian, were martyred shortly thereafter
for their conversion to the Faith. Cecilia was martyred later
as well.
What we know today is that many gave their lives for their faith
in Christ in the early period of the Church. May God give us
the grace to risk all out of love for him if we are called to
do so.
I will speak of thy testimonies also
even before kings, and will not be ashamed: and my delight shall
be in thy commandments, which I have loved exceedingly (Ps. 119). (The day's introit, page E 137, The
People's Anglican Missal)The
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November
23 - St. Clement of Rome, Martyr Saint Clement was the Bishop of Rome in the late 90's
A.D. He was preceded by Cletus, Linus and Peter in apostolic
succession. Clement is best known for his epistle to the Corinthians,
written around 96 A.D. In it, is revealed that early on, bishops,
such as himself, exercised authority over their flocks. His work
also bears testimony of the martyrdoms of the apostles Peter
and Paul. Clement was martyred under Trajan around 100 A.D.
Blessed is that servant whom his
lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you,
that he shall make him ruler over all his goods (St. Matt. 24:46-47). (The day's communion,
page E 139, The People's Anglican Missal)The
day's propers + Catholic
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November
24 - St. John of the Cross, Confessor, Doctor (1542-91) Saint John was a monk and a brilliant writer of mystical
theology and poetry. He became a monk when entering the Order
of Mount Carmel. His many writings deal with the passion of Our
Lord. He believed that when one has a deep faith and love of
God while undergoing suffering, one's soul is purified and brought
into greater union with God. Because suffering is inherently
implicit in the human experience, his emulation of Christ's passion
through self denial gives us hope that our suffering can be instruments
through which we can love God and others.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7)
(The day's epistle, page F 27, The People's Anglican Missal).The day's propers
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November
25 - St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr There is no historical evidence of the existence of
this saint. However, pious tradition holds that she was born
at Alexandria and became a highly educated young Christian youth
who later refused marriage to the Emperor, claiming that she
was espoused to Christ. The Emperor forced her to debate with
the most learned men of her day, hoping she would commit apostasy,
but her arguments for the faith led some of them to be converted.
For these reasons, and because of her opposition to Christian
martyrdoms, she herself was tortured and martyred during the
persecutions of the Roman Emperor Maxementious.
I deal with the thing that is lawful and right: O give me not
over unto mine oppressors. Therefore hold I straight all thy
commandments: and all false ways I utterly abhor (Ps. 119). (The day's communion, page E 140,
The People's Anglican Missal).The
day's propers + Catholic
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November
30 - St. Andrew the Apostle (Davies
Jewelry has Medals of this Saint)
Saint Andrew was one of the twelve apostles. He lived in Capernaum
where he made his living as a fisherman. He was the brother of
Simon Peter and a follower of John the Baptist before becoming
a disciple of Christ. In the Gospels we learn of him helping
in the distribution of the loaves and fishes to feed the 5000,
and for bringing certain Greeks to meet Jesus (John 12: 20-22).
There is no record as to where he was sent to proselytize following
Our Lord's ascension, but legend holds that it was Greece. He
died around 60 A.D. Vigil
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The Advent Season
The season of Advent (the word means `Coming') is that period
of time in the Church year in which we prepare for the celebration
of Our Lord's birth on Christmas. Also, since the eighth century,
the West has used it to mark the beginning of the Church calendar
year. In the early Church, Advent lasted forty days beginning
on St. Martin's Day and ending on Christmas Day (Sundays excluded).
It is considered a penitential season in which we commemorate
the Son of God becoming incarnate in the Blessed Virgin's womb
to redeem mankind. It is also a time in which we meditate on
His second coming when he will judge both the living and the
dead.
