Read entire reflection online >>> Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe—Solemnity Last Sunday in Ordinary Time Liturgical Color: White or Gold Quote: Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 24: Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest and his Companions, Martyrs—Memorial Seventeenth–Nineteenth Centuries Patron Saints of Vietnam Canonized by Pope John Paul II June 19, 1988 Liturgical Color: Red Quote: I, Paul, in chains for the name of Christ, wish to relate to you the trials besetting me daily, in order that you may be inflamed with love for God and join with me in his praises, for his mercy is forever. The prison here is a true image...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 23: Saint Columban (Columbanus), Abbot—Optional Memorial 543–615 Patron Saint of motorcyclists Invoked against floods Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote: All we Irish dwelling on the edge of the world are disciples of Saints Peter and Paul and of the disciples who, under the Holy Spirit, wrote the Sacred Canon. We accept nothing outside this evangelical and apostolic teaching. There was no heretic, no Jew, no...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 23: Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr—Optional Memorial c. 35–c. 99 Patron Saint of sailors, mariners, sick children, and stonecutters Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Concerning the things pertaining to our religious observance which are most profitable for a life of goodness to those who would pursue a godly and righteous course, we have written to you, men and brethren, at sufficient length. For concerning...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 23: Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest and Martyr—USA Optional Memorial 1891–1927 Invoked by the Mexican Church and in times of political persecution Beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988 Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Deceitful are the ephemeral pleasures and joys of this world. Our supreme comfort in this life is to die to the world that we may live with Jesus crucified. Let others seek gold and other earthly treasures. I...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 22: Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr—Memorial Late Second or Early Third Century Patron Saint of bodily purity, composers, luthiers, martyrs, music, musicians, musical instrument makers, poets, and singers Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Almachius urged, “Set aside your delusions and worship the gods.” Cecilia responded, “You’re blinded. What you call gods, we see as mere stones. Touch them, and you’ll...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote: And the child was three years old, and Joachim said: Invite the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled, and let them take each a lamp, and let them stand with the lamps burning, that the child may not turn back, and her heart be captivated from the temple of the Lord. And they did so until they went up into the temple of the Lord. And the priest...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 18: Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles—Optional Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote: But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 18: Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin—USA Optional Memorial 1769–1852 Invoked for perseverance amid adversity and against the opposition of Church authorities Canonized by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 1988 Liturgical Color: White Quote: You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 17: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious—Memorial 1207–1231 Patron Saint of Third Order Franciscans, bakers, beggars, brides, charitable societies and workers, exiles, falsely accused people, homeless people, hospitals, lacemakers, nursing homes, nursing services, people ridiculed for their piety, widows Invoked against in-law problems, the death of children, and toothache Canonized by Pope Gregory IX on May 27, 1235 Liturgical Color:...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 16: Saint Margaret of Scotland—Optional Memorial c. 1045–1093 Patron Saint of learning, parents of large families, parents who have lost a child, queens, and widows Canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1251 Liturgical Color: White Quote: She was called Margaret, and in the sight of God she showed herself to be a pearl, precious in faith and works. She was indeed a pearl to you, to me, to all of us, yea, to Christ Himself, and being Christ’s...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 16: Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin—Optional Memorial 1256–1302 Patron Saint of nuns Invoked for poor souls in Purgatory Equivalent canonization in 1606 Added to the Universal Roman Calendar by Pope Clement XII in 1677 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Let the Abyss of Uncreated Wisdom invoke the Abyss of Omnipotent Power to praise and extol the amazing charity which, by an excess of Thine infinite mercy, O most sweet God of my life and...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 15: Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial c. 1200–1280 Patron Saint of scientists, medical technicians, natural sciences, philosophers, schoolchildren, and theology students Canonized by Pope Pius XI on December 16, 1931 Declared a Doctor of the Church (Universal Doctor) during his canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote: I have felt moved to write a few last thoughts describing, as far as one may in this...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 13: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin—USA Memorial 1850–1917 Patron Saint of immigrants, emigrants, hospital administrators, and orphans Invoked against malaria Canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946 Liturgical Color: White Quote: How lovely and sweet it is to undertake a sea voyage when one is tired and worn out with the labors of the Missions! The day was fixed, the cabins were secured, and September the 2nd came all too...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 12: Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial 1580–1623 Patron Saint of Ukraine Invoked for the reunification of Eastern and Western Christians Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867 Liturgical Color: Red Quote: You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace. I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that I...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 11: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop—Memorial 316 or 336–397 Patron Saint of beggars, cavalry, equestrians, geese, horses, innkeepers, Pontifical Swiss Guards, quartermasters, reformed alcoholics, soldiers, tailors, and winemakers Invoked against alcoholism and poverty Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote: Accordingly, at a certain period, when he had nothing except his arms and his simple military dress, in the...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 10: Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor—Memorial c. 400–461 Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754 Liturgical Color: White Quote: He conquered that we too might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly beloved, without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst of...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 9: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica—Feast Liturgical Color: White Quote: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. ~John 2:19–21 Prayer: Christ our Savior, through the intercessions of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, I pray for the...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 4: Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop—Memorial 1538–1584 Patron Saint of apple orchards, bishops, catechism writers, catechists, catechumens, seminarians, starchmakers, and spiritual directors Invoked against abdominal pain, colic, stomach diseases, and ulcers Canonized by Pope Paul V on November 1, 1610 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Most dearly beloved brethren, If you should look diligently into what was written in the Old Law about the...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 3: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious—Optional Memorial 1579–1639 Patron Saint of African-Americans, biracial people, barbers, innkeepers, the poor, Peru, public health workers, public schools, television, and interracial and social justice Canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 6, 1962 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Certain that he deserved more severe punishment for his sins than others did, he would overlook their worst offenses. He was...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 2: All Souls’ Day—Commemoration Liturgical Color: White, Violet, or Black Quote: Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 1: All Saints’ Day—Solemnity Holy Day of Obligation Liturgical Color: White Quote: 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.” ~ Revelation...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast First Century Patron Saint of curriers, woodcutters, and tanners (Simon); hopeless causes and hospital workers (Jude) Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop—Optional Memorial 1807–1870 Patron Saint of the Catholic press, textile merchants, and weavers Canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Love in a man who preaches the Word of God is like fire in a musket. If a man were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if he takes this same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can...