Feast Of All Saints - 1 November

Quoted from Catholic News Agency [1]:

The Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated on the first of November. It was instituted to honour all of the saints, both known and unknown, and, according to Pope Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.

In the early days of the Church, the Christians were accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of a martyr's death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. In the fourth century, neighbouring dioceses began to interchange feasts, to transfer relics, to divide them, and to join in a common feast; as is shown by the invitation of Saint Basil of Caesarea (397) to the bishops of the province of Pontus. Frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration.

In the persecution of Diocletian, the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each, but the Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all. The first trace of this we find is in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost. We also find mention of a common day in a sermon of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (373), and in the 74th homily of Saint John Chrysostom (407).

At first only martyrs and Saint John the Baptist were honoured by a special day in the Liturgical Calendar. Other saints were added gradually, and increased in number when a regular process of canonization was established.

Still, as early as 411 there is in the Chaldean Calendar a "Commemoratio Confessorum" for the Friday after Easter. In the west, Pope Boniface IV on May 13, 609 or 610, consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs, ordering an anniversary. Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of Saint Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for November 1.

A basilica of the Apostles already existed in Rome, and its dedication was annually remembered on May 1. Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration on November 1 to the entire Church. The vigil seems to have been held as early as the feast itself. The octave was added by Sixtus IV (1471-84).

[1] https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-saints-day-40

Feast Of Christ The King - Last Sunday Of October = 30 October 2022

 Quoted from Aleteia [1]:

When the world was in turmoil and the increasing growth of secularism was spreading throughout the world, Pope Pius XI sought to combat it with an affirmation that Jesus Christ is the true king to whom we owe allegiance.

He did this by establishing a feast in honor of “Our Lord Jesus Christ the King” in 1925, through his encyclical letter Quas Primas. Pius XI explained, “We firmly hope … that the feast of the Kingship of Christ, which in future will be yearly observed, may hasten the return of society to our loving Savior.”

Initially this feast was celebrated on the last Sunday of October, immediately preceding the feast of All Saints Day on November 1. This was a deliberate choice and Pius XI explains why he chose that date.

The last Sunday of October seemed the most convenient of all for this purpose, because it is at the end of the liturgical year, and thus the feast of the Kingship of Christ sets the crowning glory upon the mysteries of the life of Christ already commemorated during the year, and, before celebrating the triumph of all the Saints, we proclaim and extol the glory of him who triumphs in all the Saints and in all the Elect. Make it your duty and your task, Venerable Brethren, to see that sermons are preached to the people in every parish to teach them the meaning and the importance of this feast, that they may so order their lives as to be worthy of faithful and obedient subjects of the Divine King.

In this way Pius XI was linking our quest for holiness to the kingship of Christ.

[1] https://aleteia.org/2019/10/27/why-the-feast-of-christ-the-king-was-originally-celebrated-in-october/, quoted without bold type.

Saint Simon And Saint Jude Apostles Feast Day - 28 October

Quoted from Saints Resource [1]:

Both Simon and Jude were ordinary men who were chosen by Jesus himself to teach others about God’s love and to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Their lives help us to understand that even the most average people can become saints when they decide to follow Jesus.

Both of these men were known by other names during their lives. Simon was often called “the Zealot.” A zealot is a person who is strongly committed to something. In Simon’s case, he firmly believed in the importance of people following Jewish law. Once he met Jesus, his life was changed and he became convinced that the most important thing was to follow Jesus and his teachings. We believe that another reason Simon had a nickname was to keep people from confusing him with the other apostle named Simon, the one Jesus called Peter.

Jude was also known as “Jude Thaddeus.” People used this formal title so that he was not confused with Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be arrested. Jude is the patron saint of hopeless cases and desperate situations. People often pray to Jude when they feel that there is no one else to turn to. They ask Jude to bring their problem to Jesus. Because Jude had such great faith, we know that nothing is impossible for those who believe in the Lord.

Simon and Jude traveled together to teach others about Jesus. Because of their eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ miracles and his death and Resurrection, many people became believers and were baptized. Simon and Jude died for their faith on the same day in Beirut. Jude’s body was later returned to Rome where it was buried in a crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica.

[1] http://saintsresource.com/simon-and-jude-thaddeus-apostles/

Holy Archangel Raphael Feast Day - 24 October

Quoted from straphaeloil.com [1]:

St. Raphael the Archangel whose name means “Medicine of God” or “God heals” in Hebrew; is one of the seven Archangels that stand before the throne of GOD.

“I am Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.” [Tob. 12: 15] When we pray for his help he intercedes directly to God the Father. He is one of the three angels mentioned by name in holy scripture. St. Raphael appears in the deutero-canonical Book of Tobit, a beautiful narrative in the Old Testament.

He heals Tobit of blindness, he protects and guides Tobias on his travels and he delivers Sarah from an evil demon. Tobit, Tobias and Sarah were beset by trials and difficulties to purify them, but they remained steadfast in their faith during the period of testing, and eventually enjoyed God’s blessings and mercy. All prayed for deliverance and God sent St. Raphael. The longest recorded speech of an angel is Chapter 12 of the Book of Tobit.  He is the healing and deliverance Archangel, patron of the sick and sickness, travelers, the blind, bodily ills, nurses, physicians, medical workers, happy meetings and marriages.

The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel.

[1] https://straphaeloil.com/st-raphael/, quoted without italics and bold print.

Saint Luke The Evangelist Feast Day - 18 October

Quoted from catholicfaithpatronsaints.com [1]:

The feast day of St. Luke the Evangelist is celebrated on October 18.  He is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

St. Luke was born in Antioch, Syria.  He did not know Jesus.  However, he converted from paganism and became a companion of St. Paul.  He accompanied him on his missions and into prison two different times.

St. Luke is the author of the third Gospel.  His gospel focuses on the merciful heart of Jesus.  We also learn about the childhood of Jesus in his Gospel.   Three canticles (hymns)  were preserved by St. Luke:  The Benedictus, the Magnificat and the Nune Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon).

Legend tells us that St. Luke was also an artist and painted the portrait   of the Blessed Virgin.

St. Luke became the patron saint of physicians because he was a physician.

St. Luke died in Achaia (Greece) at the age of 84.  It is unknown if he was a martyr.

There is a 2013 movie entitled Paul The Apostle  on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlb8AXfNRHU&t=7s

Another 2018 movie entitled Paul, Apostle of Christ  is only available to buy or rent on YouTube  at this time.

[1] https://catholicfaithpatronsaints.com/prayers-quips-and-quotes-st-luke-the-evangelist-feast-day-october-18/, quoted without hyperlinks.

Saint Marguerite-Marie Alacoque Feast Day - 17 October

Quoted from Saints Resource [1]:

Feast Day: October 17

Canonized: May 13, 1920

Beatified: September 18, 1864

It’s hard to imagine spending five weeks in bed, let alone five years. But in 1657, when Marguerite Marie Alacoque was 10 years old, she became very ill with a disease that left her paralyzed. So for five years she stayed in bed—long before television or video games could provide amusement. So what did she do? She prayed.

During those years of illness in her village in France, the young woman offered her suffering to God and spent the time reflecting on her faith. She promised the Blessed Mother that if she ever regained her health, she would become a nun. Her health improved. Despite her family’s pleas, she refused to be married and entered the Visitation convent.

Marguerite, or Margaret, as she is sometimes called, is referred to as a mystic, a person with a special spiritual communication with God. Jesus told her that he wanted devotion to the Sacred Heart to be increased. Some people, including some of the other nuns, did not believe that she had visions of Jesus, but one priest who heard confessions for the nuns did. Eventually, a chapel devoted to Jesus’ Sacred Heart was built at the convent, and soon other Visitation convents also began the devotion.

Marguerite Marie died in 1690 and was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.

[1] http://saintsresource.com/marguerite-marie-alacoque/

Saint Francis Of Assisi Feast Day - 4 October

Quoted from Britannica [1]:

St. Francis of Assisi, Italian San Francesco d’Assisi, baptized Giovanni, renamed Francesco, in full Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone, (born 1181/82, Assisi, duchy of Spoleto [Italy]—died October 3, 1226, Assisi; canonized July 16, 1228; feast day October 4).

Quoted from Britannica [2]:

In the summer of 1224, Francis went to the mountain retreat of La Verna (Alvernia), not far from Assisi, to celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) and to prepare for St. Michael’s Day (September 29) by fasting for 40 days. He prayed that he might know how best to please God; opening the Gospels for the answer, he came upon references to the Passion of Christ three times. As he prayed during the morning of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14), he beheld a figure coming toward him from the heavens. St. Bonaventure, minister-general of the Franciscans from 1257 to 1274 and a leading thinker of the 13th century, wrote:

As it stood above him, he saw that it was a man and yet a Seraph with six wings; his arms were extended and his feet conjoined, and his body was fixed to a cross. Two wings were raised above his head, two were extended as in flight, and two covered the whole body. The face was beautiful beyond all earthly beauty, and it smiled gently upon Francis. Conflicting emotions filled his heart, for though the vision brought great joy, the sight of the suffering and crucified figure stirred him to deepest sorrow. Pondering what this vision might mean, he finally understood that by God’s providence he would be made like to the crucified Christ not by a bodily martyrdom but by conformity in mind and heart. Then as the vision disappeared, it left not only a greater ardour of love in the inner man but no less marvelously marked him outwardly with the stigmata of the Crucified.

For the remainder of his life, Francis took the greatest care to hide the stigmata (marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Jesus Christ). After the death of Francis, Brother Elias announced the stigmata to the order by a circular letter. Later, Brother Leo, the confessor and intimate companion of the saint who also left a written testimony of the event, said that in death Francis seemed like one just taken down from the cross.

Francis lived two years longer, in constant pain and almost totally blind (he had contracted an eye disease while proselytizing in the East in 1219). Medical treatment at Rieti was unsuccessful, and after a stay at Siena, he was brought back to Assisi, where he died at the Porziuncola. He was buried temporarily in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi. On July 15, 1228, concluding a process of unprecedented speed, Francis was canonized by his former protector, Pope Gregory IX. On the following day, the pope laid the foundation stone for the basilica that Brother Elias would build in Francis’s memory, and in 1230 the saint’s body was transferred to the lower church of the basilica.

The First Life of St. Francis  by Thomas of Celano can be read at: https://dmdhist.sitehost.iu.edu/francis.htm.  It is also available at Franciscan Seculars:

https://franciscanseculars.com/thomas-celano-first-life-of-francis/

Chapter 3 of The First Life of St. Francis  states: "6. Being therefore changed (but in mind, not in body) he now refused to go to Apulia."  Several other sources state that he did go, this is one of them: "In 1202, Francis fought in a war between Perugia and Assisi. The enemy captured him and held him as a prisoner for a year. After his release, he fell gravely ill. Once he recovered, Francis attempted to join Count Gentile’s papal forces in 1205 against Emperor Frederick II in Apulia. During his journey, Francis had a vision that he should return home to Assisi and wait for a sign to create a new form of knighthood. He then dedicated his life to regular prayer, seeking God’s plan for him." [3]

This inconsistency may be explained by this paragraph quoted from The First Life of St. Francis  (see first link above):

About the author: Thomas of Celano was around Francis's age, and he joined the Franciscan order around 1215, or shortly after its founding. He was one of the brothers chosen to establish the order in Germany in 1221, but he returned to Italy a few years later. Thomas was asked by Pope Gregory IX (the bishop of Ostia mentioned in the biography) to write a biography of Francis, perhaps at the time of Francis's canonization in 1228. The life was completed in 1229. This is, therefore, the earliest view of Francis, one that would be subsequently revised. Thomas composed a second, revised life of Francis around 1246. [Bold type original.]

On YouTube, there is a Saint Francis of Assisi movie, based on a novel by Louis de Wohl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM4PtT0rJp0

On Internet Archive there is another Saint Francis of Assisi movie by Franco Zeffirelli entitled Brother Sun, Sister Moon: https://archive.org/details/brother-sun-sister-moon-1972rom.sub.

[1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Francis-of-Assisi, quoted without bold type.

[2[ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Francis-of-Assisi/Franciss-vision-and-the-stigmata-of-the-Crucified, quoted without hyperlinks, italics original.

[3] https://catholicworldmission.org/who-is-saint-francis/

Holy Guardian Angel Feast Day - 2 October

Quoted from Catholic Daily Readings [1]:

The memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels is an obligatory memorial of the Catholic Church. It is celebrated on October 2 every year in the Catholic Church. The memorial dates back as early as the 4th century when it was first observed by the Franciscan order in 1500 AD.

This memorial began as a local feast celebration but thereafter, in 1607, Pope Paul V released the papal decree that placed it in the General Roman Calendar.

Quoted from Catholic News Agency [2]:

The prayer to the guardian angels has been present in the Church since at least the beginning of the 12th century:

Angel of God,

my Guardian dear,

to whom His love

commits me here,

ever this day

be at my side,

to light and guard,

to rule and guide.

Amen.

[1] https://catholicreadings.org/holy-guardian-angels/, quoted without hyperlink.

[2] https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-guardian-angels-612