Memorial of Saints (November 26)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Silvester, abbot
• Peter of Alexandria, bishop and martyr
• Siricius, pope
• Basolus
• Conrad of Constance, bishop
• Nikon "Metanoeite"
• John Berchmans
• Leonard of Port Maurice

St. Silvester organized his followers into a monastery at Monte Fano, thus founding the Silvestrine Benedictines. The congregation was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1247 A.D. and grew to eleven monasteries before Silvester's death (died ca. 1267 A.D.).

St. Leonard Casanova of Port Maurice (1676-1751 A.D.) entered the Jesuit Roman College at thirteen years of age. His uncle Augustine wanted him to become a physician. Leonard refused and instead joined the Franciscans of the Strict Observance at Pontcelli, Italy in 1697 A.D. After his ordination in 1703 A.D., he preached all over Tuscany with tremendous success. For six years, Leonard directed retreats for religious in and around Rome. In his missions, he started to attract huge crowds. He was an ardent promoter of the Stations of the Cross, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacred Heart, and Mary. He was sent to Corsica for a mission but was unsuccessful there. Suffering from exhaustion, he returned to Rome were he passed away at the age of 75 (died ca. 1751 A.D.).

Saints of November 26, Learn more

In the Byzantine Calendar of Saints, November 26

• St. Alypius, Stylite

Historical trivia:

The top five (not in a specific order) religious orders in the Catholic Church who produced the most number of Saints and Blesseds are believed to be the Benedictines, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites and the Jesuits.

Many see the Benedictines occupying the topmost honor. This statistic may be derived from the fact that St. Benedict founded his first monastery in the year 529 A.D.

The Carmelite hermits existed since the 6th century A.D. but they were formally organized in the year 1150 A.D., with laws and regulations between 1206-1214 A.D.

The Franciscans and the Dominicans began in the early 13th century A.D. St. Francis founded the Order in 1209 A.D., while St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers in 1216 A.D.

St. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 A.D.

While the exact ranking may vary depending on specific criteria and historical context, these five orders undoubtedly have a significant number of canonized saints.

Citations from Google Gemini:

• Mt. Carmel, Carmelite, Learn more
• Jesuits, Learn more