Saint of the Day

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.

November 4. Saint Charles Borromeo lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and helped with the reform of the whole Church during the final years of the Council of Trent. He also reformed the Catholic life of his diocese. Charles Borromeo was a member of the Medici family, but unlike many of his relatives, he devoted his life to the Church.

November 5. Today we celebrate a Doctor of the Church, Saint Peter Chrysologus, which means "of the golden words." As bishop of Ravenna, Saint Peter taught and led his diocese, showing them his commitment to the faith and to the Church’s authority. His writings have come down to us as masterful treatments on what we believe.

November 6. Saint Nicholas Tavelic and his companions were martyred in the Holy Land in 1391. While their method of evangelization is different from what we would use today, their zeal and courage are evident in their actions. They stand alone as canonized Franciscan martyrs of the Holy Land.

November 7. Saint Didacus was a Spanish Franciscan known for his spiritual insights and his penitential practices. He was a missionary to the Canary Islands and aided the sick in Rome. His travels and ministries did not distract him from prayer and contemplation.

November 8. Blessed John Duns Scotus was one of the most influential Franciscans in the worlds of philosophy and theology. He is probably best known for his defense of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Scotus served on the faculties of both Oxford University and the University of Paris.

November 9. As the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome, Saint John Lateran is the cathedral of the pope, the bishop of Rome. Long before the Vatican was constructed, Saint John Lateran was the home of the popes and the focal point for the Church. Saint Francis visited Pope Innocent at the Lateran Palace.

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.