Bl. Theophane Venard

Bl. Theophane Venard – November 6th

Even as a youngster this holy French priest dreamed of being a martyr. He went to study for the priesthood and then entered a college for future missionaries in Paris. His family, whom he dearly loved, were greatly saddened to think that after his ordination, he would leave them.

“My darling sister,” he wrote right afterwards, “How I cried when I read your letter! Yes, I well knew the sorrow I was going to bring on my family, and especially on you, my dear little sister. But don’t you think it cost me bloody tears, too, to take such a step, and give all of you such pain? Whoever loved his home more than I do? All my happiness on this earth was centered there. But God, who has united us all in bonds of most tender affection, wanted to draw me from it.”

So after being ordained a priest, Theophane set out for Hong Kong. He studied languages over a year there and then went on to Tongking. Two obstacles were in the way of this zealous missionary: his own poor health and a terrible persecution. Yet he struggled bravely on. Often he wrote to tell his beloved sister in France all his adventures and narrow escapes from his persecutors. At last, after bravely serving the many Christians in Tongking, Theophane was captured and chained in a cage for two mouths.

His gentle ways won even his jailers, and he managed to write a letter home in which he said: “All those who surround me are civil and respectful, and a good many love me. From the great mandarin down to the humblest private soldier, everyone regrets that the laws of the country condemn one to death. I have not been put to the torture like my brethren.”

After he had been beheaded, crowds rushed to soak linen handkerchiefs in his blood, so great was their love for this young martyr of the last century.

Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, because they will possess the earth.” This means that whoever is meek will be liked by all.

St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin de Porres – November 5th

Martin was the son of a Spanish knight and a Negro woman who had been freed from slavery. He himself looked like his mother. His father at first left Martin and his mother and sister alone in Peru. They were very poor and people looked down on them, but Martin grew up good and devout anyway. He was sent to learn the trade of a barber, and he also learned how to cure many diseases according to the practices of those days. Martin’s father finally decided to take care of his son’s education, but Martin had now decided he wanted to give himself to God as a Dominican brother.

Brother Martin soon proved to be a wonderful religious. No one was kinder or more obedient or holy. Before long, he began to work miracles, too. He cured so many sick people that everyone in the city of Lima would send for Brother Martin when there was sickness. He would go to them all, Negroes and whites alike, for he loved all men as his brothers in Christ. Great sums of money were given to this good, lovable Brother for his charities, because people saw how well he could organize works of charity.

Not even animals were forgotten by this kindhearted Saint. He excused the comings and goings of rats and mice by saying, “The poor little things don’t have enough to eat.” In his sister’s house, moreover, he kept a “home for wandering cats and dogs”!

Despite his fame in Lima, St. Martin always had a very low opinion of himself. His name for himself was, in fact, “Brother Broom.” And once, when his community owed a lot of money and could not pay it, Brother Martin said, “I’m the property of the Order-sell me!” When he died, this beloved Saint was carried to his tomb by bishops and noblemen, who wanted to honor the humble and holy Brother.

We are all children of God. God has no regard for the color of a man’s skin, but looks instead into his heart. He rewards everyone who is good and punishes everyone who is bad.

St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles Borromeo - November 4th

Charles was the son of a rich and holy Count of Italy. Like other young men of his high position, he went to the University of Pavia, but unlike many of them, he would have nothing to do with sinful activities. He seemed to be a slow student because he was not a good speaker at all, but he really made good progress.

He was only twenty-three when his uncle, Pope Pius IV, gave him many important duties. He managed to handle all his affairs well, but he was always afraid that he might stray from God because of the many temptations there were for the rich. For this reason he was always careful to deny himself many pleasures and to be humble and patient at all times.

As a priest and later the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, St. Charles was a model Shepherd of souls. He gave away great amounts of money to the poor, and at home had only one shabby cassock to his name. In public, though, he dressed as a Cardinal should and attended with great care to the dignity and proper respect owed to Church ceremonies. In Milan many had practices and much superstition was practiced. By wise laws, by gentle kindness and by his own marvelous example, St. Charles made his diocese a model for the whole Church. He was never a good speaker-people could barely hear him-yet his words took effect.

When a terrible disease caused a great many deaths in Milan, the Cardinal thought of nothing else but caring for his people. He prayed and did penance; he organized crews of attendants and went into dept to feed the hungry. He even had altars set up in the streets so that the sick could assist at Mass from their windows.

This great man was never too busy to help simple people. He once stayed with a poor little shepherd lad until he had taught him the Our Father and the Hail Mary. As he lay dying at the age of forty-six, St. Charles said peacefully, “Behold, I come!”

What a fascinating motto this would be: “To God all the glory, to my neighbor all the joy, to me all the sacrifice”!

St. Malachy O'More

St. Malachy O'More - November 3rd

At the time this Irish Saint was born in St. Patrick's city of Armogh, Ireland was suffering greatly from the effects of many attacks by the Danes. As a boy, Malachy went to the school in which his father taught. When his parents died, he asked a good hermit to bring him up. At the age of twenty-five, he was ordained by St. Celsus and sent to preach all over the neighborhood of Armogh. The people had fallen into many superstitions brought to Ireland by the pagan conquerors, so Malachy had to burn branches, thorns, and trees which were supposed to be magic! Feeling the need for more instruction, the zealous priest went to St. Malchus to learn as much as he could of Church law.

Next St. Malachy was made Bishop of Connor. Here he changed many wolves into lambs, that is, he converted hardened sinners into good Christians again. As Archbishop of the great diocese of Armogh, Malachy brought about a change in evil customs and established peace between enemies through his calm dignity and courage. Many other works the Saint performed for the good of the Church. Then, in spirit of obedience, he went to see the Pope to make sure he had made no mistakes.

It was a long journey from Ireland to Rome in those days, but one good part of it was that he met the great St. Bernard. The two became very close friends. On another trip to see the Pope, Malachy called on St. Bernard and his monks again. This time he fell very ill, and the monks took loving care of him. "All your efforts are useless," he assured them, "for I will not get better." Sick as he was, he insisted on going to the chapel to receive the Sacraments for the last time. He promised to remember all the monks when he was in heaven, and then died peacefully in the arms of St. Bernard.

When we ask advice from our parents and all those who are in charge of us, we are sure of not making mistakes.

St. Marcian

St. Marcian – November 2nd

This Syrian Saint came from a noble family, but he wanted to give up everything for Christ’s sake. He might have just given away his possessions, or left his home for a monastery. Marcian, however, left everything-family, money, and even country. He went to a far-away desert and into the most distant spot in the desert. There he built a low, narrow hut, in which he could not even stand up straight.

Marcian considered this lonely spot a heaven on earth. He spent his time praying, working and singing psalms. God gave him a wonderful knowledge of the great truths of our holy Faith, too. But despite his desire to remain hidden from the world, people began to learn of his holiness. In time, Marcian had a great number of followers, and he made his first disciple the abbot of the others.

Once St. Flarian and other bishops called on St. Marcian and asked him to speak to them of the things of God. The humble hermit was upset by the high position of his visitors and he was quiet for a while. Finally, when they urged him to speak, he said: “God speaks to us every day by His creatures and by this whole world we see. He speaks to us in His Gospel. In it He teaches us what we ought to do both for ourselves and for others. What more can Marcian say that can be of use?”

Because he worked several miracles, he was called a wonder-worker. This he did not like at all. One day a hermit came to ask him to bless some oil to cure a friend’s sick daughter. St. Marcian refused rather abruptly, because he did not want to be considered able to work miracles. Yet at that very hour, the girl was cured!

Because many people were arguing over who should have his body when he died, Marcian told his first disciple to bury it in a secret place.

I will make sure I have a copy of the Gospel for himself and I will read a page of it every day The Holy Gospel is the best book, for it tells me all about God.

Feast of All Souls Day

Feast of All Souls Day

– November 2nd
(On November 3, if the 2nd is a Sunday)

There is a natural close connexion between the feast of All Saints and the thought of the holy souls who are for ever securely established in grace and will one day enter heaven, but are detained in Purgatory to expiate their venial sins or suffer the temporal punishment due to sin. These other members of the Communion of Saints, the Church Suffering, therefore, fill the thought of the Church Militant on the morrow of her celebration of the glory of the Church Triumphant. “On this day”, says the Roman Martyrology, “the commemoration of all the faithful departed, in which their common loving Mother the Church, after celebrating with due praise all her children already in heaven, strives by her powerful intercession with Christ, her Lord and Spouse, to aid all those who are still suffering in Purgatory to come as soon as possible to the company of the inhabitants of heaven”. There is no more striking expression than this of the mysterious unity between the Church Triumphant, the Church Militant and the Church Suffering, no more effective means of fulfilling the duty of both justice and charity incumbent on every Christian through his membership of Christ’s mystical Body. There is no more consoling truth than the Communion of Saints; the fact that the merits and prayers of each one are able to help all; once this life is over, God’s justice applies in all its strictness, but the Church is able to join her prayer with that of the Saints in heaven; she can supply what is wanting to the souls in Purgatory by means of Holy Mass, indulgences and the alms and sacrifices of her children, offering to God on their behalf Christ’s infinite merits in his Passion and in his members. The sacrifice of Calvary, continued on the altar, is the centre of the liturgy, and this has always been the chief means offered us by the Church for fulfilling towards the dead the great commandment of charity, for relieving our neighbour’s needs as though they were our own, on account of the supernatural bond which unites us all, in heaven, on earth and in purgatory, in Christ.


Masses for the dead are already spoken of in the 5th century, but the commemoration of all the faithful departed together on the day after All Saints was instituted in 998 by St Odilo, fourth abbot of the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. Cluny’s great influence lead to the speedy adoption of the custom throughout Christendom. Benedict XIV granted priests in Spain and Portugal and their overseas possessions the privilege of saying three Masses on this day; on August 10, 1915, Benedict XV extended it to priests everywhere*.


In Mass the priest offers God Christ’s blood, the price of our Redemption; Christ Himself, present under the apprearance of bread and wine, offers himself to his Father in the very act of his Redeeming Sacrifice. Consequently, as the Council of Trent declared**, “the souls in purgatory are helped by all the suffrages of the faithful, but especially by the sacrifice of the Mass”. Every day the Church prays for the dead; in the Canon of the Mass a special Memento is made, calling to mind all who have fallen asleep in the Lord, and praying that they may be granted a place of rest, light and peace; but today is especially given up to them, so that no soul in purgatory may be left without our spiritual assistance, and all may be prayed for together by their common Mother (St Augustine at Matins). At Mass to-day, let us join with the whole Church in asking God to grant remission of sins and everlasting rest to the dead, who can now do nothing for themselves. Let us also visit the cemeteries where their bodies rest*** until the day when Christ’s victory over sin and death is perfected in them and they rise again glorious and immortal (Ep. Of 1st Mass).


* By this same institution the Holy See granted a plenary indulgence toties quoties on the same conditions as on August 2, applicable to the souls of the departed on All Soul’s Day, to all those who visited a church between noon on All Saint’s and midnight on the following day and prayed for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff.


** Sessio XXII., cap. II.


*** The word cemetery comes from a Greek word meaning a place where one rests in sleep.

St. Mary the Martyr

St. Mary the Martyr – November 1st

Mary was a Christian slave in the home of a Roman official named Tertullus. She was the only one in that household who was Christian. It was her delight to pray every chance she had, and she often fasted, too. Yet St. Mary knew that God is pleased only when we do our duty, so she never neglected her chores around the house. Moreover, she was very loyal to her mistress. Although this lady did not approve of so much prayer, she could not help but be grateful for the girl’s faithful service.

When persecution of Christians began, Tertullus did his best to make his slave give up her Faith, but she would not. He realized that if someone told the governor about her, he would he would lose her. Therefore, he whipped her without mercy and hid her in a closet. But somehow word of what had happened got around, and Tertullus was commanded to turn her in or pay the penalty of hiding a Christian.

A mob at the court was furious when Mary bravely said, “I am a Christian!” “Burn her alive!” they shouted. But Mary just kept praying to Jesus to give her courage so that she would not surrender when tortured. “The God whom I serve is with me,” she said. “I am not afraid of your tortures. They can only take away my life, and I myself am willing to lay it down for Jesus.” But when she was tortured, the sight was so terrible that the crowds cried, “Let her go! Stop this! Set her free!”

The judge gave St. Mary over to a soldier. Seeing how meek and good she was, he let her escape. St. Mary died a peaceful death later, but she is honored as a martyr because of all her sufferings.
I will think of what the martyrs went through and will not cry or complain any more over my small sufferings.

Feast of All Saints

Feast of All Saints

– November 1st

On May 13, 610, the pagan temple of Agrippa, called the Pantheon since its dedication to all the pagan gods under the Emperor Augustus, was consecrated as a Christian church by Pope Boniface IV, under the title of “our Lady and the Martyrs”, many of whose relics he brought there from the catacombs. The dedication later became more general as “our Lady and all the Saints”. Pope Gregory VII transferred the dedication feast of this church to November 1, on which day Pope Gregory IV had in 835 fixed the commemoration of all the Saints, previously celebrated on different days in different places. All Saint Day therefore commemorates Christ’s triumph over the false gods of the pagans, and the original dedication of the church accounts for the use in the Mass, on the feast as well as on the Vigil, of many texts from the liturgy of the martyrs.

The Epistle puts before us St John’s vision of heaven, the twelve thousand (twelve is a symbolic number signifying fullness) from every tribe of Israel and the numberless host from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clad in white robes, with palms in their hands. Christ, our Lady and the nine choirs of angels, the apostles and prophets, the martyrs in the crimson of their blood, the white-robed confessors and the choirs of chaste virgins form the majestic throng (Vespers hymn). All are there who here below followed Christ’s teaching: the poor in spirit, the meek, the afflicted, those who hungered and thirsted after justice, the merciful, the clean of heart of heart, peacemakers, those who suffered persecution for Christ; to all these Christ said: Rejoice, for a rich reward awaits you in heaven (Gospel, Comm.). Among these millions who served Christ faithfully on earth are some who were close to us, our relations and friends, our brethren in our parochial family: now they share in the glory of “the Lord, the King of kings, the Crown of all the Saints”. At Mass everything recalls this heavenly homeland we enter into communion with it: in the Preface we join in praise with the Angels; in the Communicantes we join in prayer with the Saints; our altar, where the Lamb of God is offered, is one with the heavenly altar where the lamb stands “upright, yet slain … in sacrifice”; it is the same priest, Christ, who offers himself unseen thereon and visibly in heaven.

St. Foillan

St. Foillan - October 31st

Foillan was an Irish monk whose two brothers were also Saints. They were some of the many zealous Irish apostles who left their homeland to help other countries with fewer priests than Ireland had.

Saints Foillan, Fursey, and Ultan went to England first of all and establish a monastery in Burgh Castle. From this spot they did missionary work among the people called the East Angles. When invaders of the land robbed the monastery of everything it had, Saints Foillan and Ultan decided to preach the Gospel in France. Their other brother, St. Fursey, had already worked as a missionary and died there.

King Clovis II welcomed the two holy Irishmen as he had welcomed their brother before them. Foillan was given land by Blessed Itta and her daughter. St. Gertrude asked him to preach to the nuns of the convent over which she was abbess. He did so, and had great influence on them. He also did missionary work among the Brabanters. In fact, St. Foillan is a well-remembered Irish Saint in Europe.

One day, after singing Mass for St. Gertrude and her nuns, the Saint set out with three companions to see his brother Ultan, who was preaching in another area. While passing through a forest, they were attacked by a band of robbers and killed. Their bodies were not found for about two and a half months, and then St. Gertrude had St. Foillan buried with honor in the abbey he had founded.

Let us say a prayer to Our Lord from our heart, that He may help us in the hour of our death. And let us offer Him all the sufferings which will come with death.

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez – October 30th

This Spanish Saint took over the family business of buying and selling wool when he was twenty-three. Three years later, he got married and God sent him and his wife Mary two children. But many sufferings now came to Alphonsus. Business began to be bad, his little daughter died and then his wife. Now this business man began to think of what God might have in mind for him. He had always been a devout Christian, but from then on, he prayed, did penance, and went to the Sacraments more than he had ever done.

When he was nearly forty, Alphonsus’ son died, too, and despite his great sorrow, he thanked God for having taken the boy out of the danger of sinning. Alphonsus soon asked to be admitted into the Society of Jesus, but he was told he must study first. So he went back to school, this man of forty, with little boys who made fun of him. He had to beg for his food, for he had given his money to the poor. At last, he was accepted as a lay-brother and was made door-keeper at a Jesuit college.

“That brother is not a man-he is an angel!” his Superior said of him years later. Priests who knew him for forty years never heard him say or do anything which could be criticized. His kindness and obedience were known to all. Once, all the chairs in the house, even the ones from the bedrooms, had been used for a forty hours devotion. By mistake, his was not returned until the following year. Yet, because of his humility, Alphonsus had never mentioned the fact to anyone. When he was over seventy and sick, the Superior tested his obedience by saying: “You are to go to the missions of the Indies.” St. Alphonsus went straight out to the college gate to go find out when the next ship was sailing-only to be told to go back to his Superior!

During his long life, the Saint had to conquer very strong temptations, besides physical pains. Even as he lay dying, he spent a half hour in terrible agony. Then, just before he died, he was filled with peace and joy. He kissed his crucifix, looked lovingly at his brothers, and died with the name of Jesus on his lips.

Saints became saints because they were humble. Jesus said that to enter Heaven we must become humble. Today I will imitate this saint by taking the last place and doing humble work cheerfully.