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

Memorial of Saints (November 25)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr
• Mercurius, martyr
• Moses, martyr

St. Catherine of Alexandria: (died ca. 310 A.D.) this martyr was a learned woman of the early fourth century, who, following her conversion at the age of eighteen, preached the Gospel throughout Alexandria in Egypt. While imprisoned by the emperor Maximus, she converted both the empress and the leader of the armed forces and for this she was martyred. St. Catherine was condemned to death on a spiked wheel, but when the wheel miraculously broke, she was beheaded. Catherine is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is the patroness of philosophers, maidens and preachers.

In the Byzantine Calendar of Saints: November 25

• Clement, Pope of Rome
• Peter, Bishop of Alexandria

Related blog post:

• The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints whose intercession is known to be very effective - especially against ailments and many various diseases. They were heavily invoked when a serious plague struck Europe, Learn more

Solemnity of Christ the King (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

34th Sunday of the Year (B), November 25, 2012

Solemnity of Christ the King

Liturgical readings

Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33b-37

"As it is, my kingdom is not here."

The gospel passage from John presents Jesus being interrogated by Pilate with the initial question, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Then the First Reading from the Book of Daniel presents the image of the Son of Man, who upon reaching the Ancient One, received dominion, glory and kingship. The responsorial psalm (Psalm 93) chants with the response: "The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty." And the Second reading, which is from the book of Revelation, begins with the sentence: "Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first-born, from the dead and ruler of the kings of earth." All four Scripture passages (First reading, Responsorial psalm, Second reading, and Gospel) refer to the theme of Jesus as Lord and King.

The Kingdom Jesus wants to establish began with His public ministry in the unpaved roads of biblical Palestine. This ministry continued throughout Church history through the initial work of St. Paul, and then with the many missionaries of Eastern and Western Europe, who brought the gospel to the new world. It continues to this day to be established in every baptism celebrated in parishes all over the world - when the family and the sponsors affirm their faith in God and His Kingdom. This is the task of every missionary of the Church: to renew baptismal vows for the baptized, and to bring the gospel and the Sacraments to the unbaptized and the unbelievers. This Kingdom is not only the responsibility of the clergy, the religious and the Church's many missionaries; it is also the responsibility of the lay faithful who are called to witness the faith in the very professions they work on and in the families they build their lives with.

God's kingdom is also rekindled and made stronger in every Eucharistic celebration, but especially in the renewal of one's Christian commitment in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. For the Kingdom Jesus preached is where God's boundless mercy and justice abide. All members of this Kingdom are called to do their part that the Church may be a leaven and a light to the world - bringing the light of Christ's truth to all. How can this kingdom be built at its basics? How can it be brought to every family? One tradition is the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the home. A priest officiates the rite of enthronement. Once the Sacred Heart is already enthroned in a home, all that is needed is to renew that consecration by the family. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus helps the family to see God as the true King and Lord of both the family and the home.