November
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All Saints' Day (November 1st, Solemnity)
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1st Reading for All Saints' Day Mass
(Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14)
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
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The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day)(November 2nd, Solemnity)
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On All Souls' Day, we pray for the faithful departed in Purgatory. Take some time today to pray the Fatima Prayer, the Requiem aeternam (Eternal Rest) Prayer, or the De profundis (Psalm 130) for the souls who have gone before us.
“Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin” 2 Maccabees 12:46
Psalm 130 (De profundis)
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the sound of my pleadings.
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
I wait for the LORD,
my soul waits and I hope for his word.
My soul looks for the Lord
more than watchmen for daybreak.
More than watchmen for daybreak,
let Israel hope for the LORD.
For with the LORD there is mercy,
in him is plentiful redemption.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
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1st Reading for All Souls' Day Mass
(Wisdom 3:1-9)
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in Him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with Him in love: because grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with His elect.
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St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (November 8th)
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Elizabeth Catez was born on July 18, 1880 in a military camp in Bourges, France. As a young girl, she was popular, lively, and had great reverence to God, but she also tended to be very stubborn and angry as a child. As she grew up, she developed much more peace and self-discipline. Elizabeth was a talented pianist and singer, had a gift for making friends, and had a very active social life. She spent her time using her gifts to help those in need: she visited the sick and taught catechism to children. In 1901, Elizabeth entered the Discalced Carmelites and took the name Elizabeth of the Trinity. She was greatly remembered for her spiritual growth, but she also experienced periods of spiritual dryness, even darkness. She embraced the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux and persevered through her formation, eventually taking final vows at the age of 23 and becoming a spiritual director for numerous people. Elizabeth died on November 9, 1906 at the age of 26 in Dijon, France. She left behind a legacy of letters and retreat guides. In 1984, she was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II. She was canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis. She is one of the patron saints of sick people.
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St. Martin of Tours (November 11th)
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"Born of pagan parents in what is now Hungary, and raised in Italy, this son of a veteran was forced at the age of 15 to serve in the army. Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, he refused a war bonus and told his commander: 'I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight.' After great difficulties, he was discharged and went to be a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers."
Click Here for Franciscan Media's info on St. Martin
St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!
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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (November 13th)
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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini dedicated her life to religious works at a young age.
While she planned to continue her mission by going to China, Pope Leo XIII urged her to come to the United States.
Mother Cabrini founded many orphanages, schools, and hospitals while in the US, including Cabrini High School here in New Orleans.
“If you are in danger, if your hearts are confused, turn to Mary. She is our comfort, our help. Turn towards Her and you will be saved”
-St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!
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St. Cecilia (November 22nd)
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Saint Cecilia was a Roman virgin who beseeched the angels and saints to protect her virginity. She believed an angel watched over her and once baptized, her husband believed also. With his brother, the three of them buried the martyrs slain by Turcius Almachius.
Her preaching had converted over 400 people. She was eventually arrested and sentenced to death. She was buried by Pope St. Urban I and his deacons.
St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married. She has also become a symbol of the Church’s conviction that good, sacred music is an integral part of the liturgy.
St. Cecilia, pray for us!
Click Here for Catholic.org's info on St. Cecilia
Click Here for Franciscan Media's info on St. Cecilia
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St. Andrew Dung-Lac (November 24th)
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Andrew Dung-Lac was a Catholic convert and a priest of the Paris Mission Society.
In the early 17th century, Christianity came to Vietnam through Catholic missionaries.
Severe persecutions of these missionaries took place throughout these times, lasting until the late 19th century.
Andrew was one of the 117 people martyred in Vietnam between 1820 and 1862.
These 117 people were later canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988.
In 1989, November 24th became the official day in the liturgical calendar to commemorate these holy martyrs, and St. Andrew Dung-Lac’s name is listed, followed by the term “and companions.”
May these holy martyrs always be an inspiration to us and a reminder to “seek what is above.”
St. Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions, pray for us.
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