Memorial of Saints (November 5)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Elizabeth and Zachary (or Zechariah)
• Galation and Espisteme
• Bertilla, virgin

Sts. Elizabeth and Zachary (1st Century A.D.) were the parents of John the Baptist. Zachary was a priest in the temple of Jerusalem and his wife Elizabeth was the cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Elizabeth was way beyond childbearing age.

Both St. Zachary and St. Elizabeth are mentioned in the gospel of Luke:

"Both were just in the eyes of God, blamelessly following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. They were childless, for Elizabeth was sterile; moreover, both were advanced in years. Once, when it was the turn of Zechariah's class and he was fulfilling his functions as a priest before God, it fell to him by lot according to priestly usage to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. While the full assembly of people was praying outside at the incense hour, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.(Luke 1:6-11), New American Bible Translation

The angel told St. Zachary that he and his wife would have a son and should name him John. When Zachary doubted this, he was struck dumb.

When Elizabeth was in her sixth month, Mary went to visit her. And Mary spoke the hymn of praise now known as the Magnificat. (This hymn of praise from the Mary is also written in the gospel of Luke 1:39-56, and is known in Tradition as The Visitation, which is also the 2nd Joyful Mystery in the prayer of the Holy Rosary).

After John the Baptist's birth, Zachary's speech was restored. And Zachary uttered a prophecy known as Zechariah's Canticle, Luke 1:67-79. [The Canticle of Zechariah is part of the Morning Prayer of the Breviary (after the Responsory and before the Intercessions)].

Today, November 5, the Society of Jesus traditionally honors all its members who are beatified and canonically elevated in the altar of Rome as Saints. This blog only mentions a few of these Jesuit saints and some books which refer to their religious order.

• St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest and founder of the Society of Jesus, Learn more
• "Heroic Leadership", by Chris Lowney, Learn more
• "Eight Days of the Spiritual Exercises", by Segura and Lumabao, Learn more
• St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Jesuit Scholastic, Learn more
• "Hearts on Fire", the prayers of Jesuits, Learn more
• St. Peter Canisius, priest, Jesuit, doctor of the Church, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (November 4)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Charles Borromeo, bishop
• Vitalis and Agricola, martyrs
• Pierius
• John Zedazneli and Companions
• Clarus, martyr
• Joannicus

Charles Borromeo (died 3 Nov. 1584 A.D.): at age 46; cardinal and secretary of state at age 22 for his uncle, Pope Pius IV; implemented reforms of Trent in his diocese of Milan; founder of seminaries; considered a model pastor by many bishops, including Francis de Sales; held five provincial councils and 11 diocesan synods; patron of catechists and of catechumens.

Prayer to St. Charles Borromeo

Most glorious Saint Charles, outstanding model to all of faith, humility, purity, constancy in sufferings, and of every best virtue, who devoted all the highest gifts received from God to promote His glory and the salvation of souls, even to the point of becoming a victim of your own zeal, we beseech you to obtain for us to be imitators of you as you were of Christ.

Obtain for pastors of souls a heart, like yours, full of charity; for missionaries, fortitude and courage; for us your children, firmness in our resolutions, spirit of sacrifice, an untiring zeal for the welfare of the emigrants; and for all Christians, fidelity to God, love for the Church, resignation in trials, and perseverance in doing good.

O God of mercy and Father of all consolation, who see the afflictions of the Christian family, and the dangers to which souls are exposed, be moved toward us; help us, save us. Do not look upon our unworthiness, but upon the merits of your servant and our protector Saint Charles. Hear his prayers in our behalf, now that he reigns triumphant in heaven, as You once heard the prayers he addressed to You for his people here on earth. Amen.

Memorial of Saints (November 3)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Martin de Porres, religious
• Winifrid, virgin and martyr
• Rumwald
• Hubert, bishop
• Pirminus, bishop
• Amicus
• Malachy, bishop
• Rupert Mayer

Martin: (died 1639 A.D.); born in Lima of a Spanish father and a black slave mother; O.P. lay brother who humbly ministered to the poor and the sick, especially African slaves; devoted to the Holy Eucharist; a close friend of Rose of Lima; patron of social justice and of peoples of mixed races.

Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ, (1876-1945 A.D.) was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1899 A.D. He became a chaplain in World War I where he lost a leg in action while giving absolution to a German soldier. After the end of WWI he worked among the poor in Munich. Upon Adolf Hitler's rise to power, he was one of the first German clergymen to challenge the Nazis, declaring 'a true Catholic cannot be a National Socialist.' The Nazis arrested him many times. In 1939 A.D., his arrest led to solitary confinement for four years and was finally released by Allied forces in 1945 A.D. He returned to Munich, renewed his apostolate to the poor and died among them.

The Jesuits of the Philippines composed a song in honor of Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ. The song is entitled, "Prayer of Rupert Mayer".

Lord, what You will let it be so
Where You will there we will go
What is Your will help us to know

Lord, when You will the time is right
In You there's joy in strife
For Your will I'll give my life

To ease your burden brings no pain
To forego all for You is gain
As long as I in You remain!

Because You will it, it is best
Because You will it, we are blest
Till in Your hands our hands find rest

Our hearts find rest
Till in Your hands our hands find rest