Memorial of Saints (November 28)

St. Catherine Labouré joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1830 A.D., and was then sent to the Rue de Bac Convent in Paris. It was in this Convent that she experienced visions of Mary as the Immaculate Conception. The result of these apparitions was the minting and distribution of the popular "Miraculous Medals" all over the world (died ca. 1876 A.D.).

St. James of the March joined the Franciscans at Assisi in 1416 A.D. James was ordained and became a missionary to the northern, central and eastern parts of Europe. Then he became part of the Inquisition in 1426 A.D. The last three years of his life was spent at Naples, Italy (died ca. 1476 A.D.).

St. Stephen the Younger entered St. Auxentius Monastery and eventually became abbot. He soon resigned this post to live as a hermit. At the time, Emperor Constantine engaged in iconoclastic activities. Stephen was against this and as a result was arrested. When he continued to insist on the veneration of holy relics, Stephen was scourged, dragged through the streets, and killed (died ca. 764 A.D.).

St. Simeon Metaphrastes compiled a 'Menology' of legends and stories of the Byzantine saints. This work is one of the popular medieval Greek collections. Aside from his Menology, Simeon also wrote a chronicle, prayers, letters, and a collection of maxims from St. Basil and Macarius of Egypt (died ca. 1000 A.D.).

Memorial of Saints (November 27)

St. Maximus of Riez became a monk at Lérins (off the coast of Cannes, France) under St. Honoratus. When Honoratus was named bishop of Arles, Maximus was named abbot. St. Maximus attracted many to the monastery because of its reputation for holiness. When he was offered the see of Fréjus (in modern southeastern France), he refused; but he reluctantly had to accede to be bishop of Riez. Maximus was a good and holy administrator who worked in his see till his last years (died ca. 460 A.D.).

St. Virgil was an Irish monk who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in ca. 743 A.D. He spent two years in France, went to Bavaria, and then was appointed bishop of Salzburg, Austria, in ca. 765 A.D. Virgil rebuilt the cathedral at Salzburg and sent missionaries to Carinthia - the southern state of Austria which borders Italy and Slovenia. Because of his good missionary works, St. Virgil is venerated to this day as the apostle of the Slovenes (died ca. 784 A.D.).

St. James the Persian was the friend of the pagan king of Persia. Tradition says that he wanted to abandon his Christian faith when the local bishop provoked the anger of the King against his Christian community. James' apostasy distressed his wife and his mother. But when his friend the king died, the entreaties of his wife and mother moved James to return to the faith. The new king however who replaced James' friend summoned James, and condemned him to death. St. James suffered a most gruesome martyrdom; but, witnesses say he miraculously remained calm and cheerful throughout the execution (died ca. 421 A.D.).

St. Secundinus was sent to assist St. Patrick in the mission at Ireland. He became the first bishop of Dunslaughlin in Meath, and then auxiliary bishop of Armagh. Secundinus wrote several hymns - composing one in honor of St. Patrick (Audites, omnes amantes) and Sancti, venite, Christi corpus sumite (died ca. 447 A.D.).

St. Cungar became a monk and then founded a monastery near Yatton, Somerset. When the Saxons invaded his land, he fled to South Wales and founded a church near Cardiff. Cungar then accompanied St. Cybi to Ireland, and later to Anglesey (an island off the northwestern tip of Wales) where he founded a church at Llangefni (died ca. 6th century A.D.).

St. Fergus went to Scotland as a missionary and settled at Strathearn, Perthshire. Founding several churches there, he became a bishop of the Scots and attended a synod in Rome in 721 A.D. (died ca. 8th century A.D.).

Memorial of Saints (November 26)

St. Silvester studied law at first but then switched to theology. He was ordained, and became a canon at Osimo, northeast of Rome in central Italy. He resigned in 1227 A.D., and lived an eremitical life near Osimo and then at Grotta Fucile. When he began to have followers, he organized them 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. Peter of Alexandria was named head of the catechetical school in Alexandria because of his learning and knowledge of Scripture. In 300 A.D., he was named Patriarch of Alexandria. Peter had to contend with Bishop Meletius, who was causing a schism in Alexandria. He also had to contend with the Christian persecutions under Emperor Diocletian and then continued by Emperor Maximin. It was under Maximin that Peter was arrested and then executed (died ca. 311 A.D.).

St. Siricius was elected Pope in 384 A.D., succeeding Pope Damasus. Siricius upheld the truth on the perpetual virginity of Mary against the monk Jovinian, and insisted much on clerical celibacy. He supported St. Martin of Tours and excommunicated Felix of Trier for causing the execution of Priscillian (died ca. 399 A.D.).

St. Basolus was a soldier who left the military to become a monk at the monastery of Verzy. He then became a solitary on a hill overlooking Rheims and remained there the last forty years of his life. Also known by the name of Basle, he is reported to have performed numerous miracles (died ca. 520 A.D.).

St. Conrad of Constance was educated at the cathedral of Constance and was ordained. He was made provost of the cathedral and was elected bishop in 934 A.D. Coming from the noble Guelph family, he gave his share of inheritance to the Church and to the poor, and built many churches in the diocese of Constance. During the forty-two years that he was bishop, he avoided secular affairs to concentrate on his ecclesiastical duties and responsibilities (died ca. 975 A.D.).

St. Nikon "Metanoeite" became a monk at Khrysopetro. After 12 years, he was sent as a missionary to the island of Crete. Nikon was successful in reconverting many of the Cretans from Islam back to the Christian faith. He earned the surname "Metanoeite" because of his practice of beginning every sermon with the word "metaoneite" which means, repent. Nikon then preached to various parts of Greece and was known for his miracles (died ca. 998 A.D.).

St. John Berchmans as a youth wanted to be a priest and so became a servant in the household of John Froymont - a cathedral canon at Malines. In 1615 A.D., John entered the Jesuit college at Malines, and the following year he became a Jesuit novice. He was sent to Rome in 1618 A.D. for further studies. John was known for his diligence and piety, impressing many with his holiness and emphasis on perfection in little things. He had a short life and passed away in Rome (died ca. 1621 A.D.).

St. Leonard of Port Maurice 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, he preached all over Tuscany with tremendous success. 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 (died ca. 1751 A.D.).