Saint of the Day

October 25. Born in Guarantingueta near São Paulo, Antônio attended the Jesuit seminary in Belem but later decided to become a Franciscan friar. Invested in 1760, he made final profession the following year and was ordained in 1762.

October 26. Saint Peter of Alcantara lived in the 16th century, a time of great Church reform. He was confessor for Saint Teresa of Avila, another great reformer. Saint Peter was known for his life of penitance and the virtue of patience. He founded a branch of the Franciscans known as the Alcantarines.

October 27. Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, a Dominican, challenged the heresies of his day. Known for his ability to preach, he overcame his adversaries and helped his diocese become more loyal to Rome in a time when anti-papal feeling ran high.

October 28. Legend has it that Saints Simon and Jude traveled to Persia together where they were both martyred. This may explain why they share the same feast day. Saint Simon is usually referred to as "the Zealot,” and Saint Jude, also known as Thaddeus, is often considered the brother of Saint James the Lesser.

October 29. Some speculate that Saint Narcissus lived well beyond 100; some say he lived to 160. We don't know much about him, but a number of miracles are attributed to him. Narcissus served as bishop of Jerusalem in the late 2nd century.

October 30. Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez lost his mother, wife, and daughter within a period of three years. He retired to his sister’s home, and after the death of his son, he entered the Jesuit Order, where he served as college porter. Saint Peter Claver was a seminarian during Saint Alphonsus’ time at the college.

October 31. Saint Wolfgang served many years as a teacher before becoming a Benedictine monk. He was named the bishop of Regensburg by the emperor and served reluctantly but well until his death in 994.

November 1. While many saints have a specific feast day on which we celebrate their lives and work, the vast majority of the saints of heaven do not. Today we celebrate all of those men, women, and children who have gone before us and on whose shoulders we stand in our faith.

November 2. Following the ancient tradition within the Church of offering prayers for the faithful departed, today we offer our prayers for all of our deceased relatives and friends, trusting in the power of prayer and the infinite mercy of God.

November 3. Due to racial and social prejudices, Saint Martin de Porres might have grown to be a bitter man, but he did not. Instead, he turned to the needs of others and generously cared for the poor and downcast. He was known for his goodness to, and love of others, regardless of their race.