FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 29th October : St. Colman
From Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway in the seventh century. After studying in Aran, where he founded two churches on Inis Mhór, he returned to make a foundation at Kilmacduagh.
Saturday 31st October : Bl Dominic Collins
Born around 1566 in the city of Youghal, Co. Cork. In 1598, after a military career, he entered the Society of Jesus as a Brother. He returned to Ireland in 1601, but on 17 June 1602 he was captured by the English who tried in vain to make him abjure (renounce) his faith. Condemned to death, he was hanged in his native city on 31 October 1602.
Sunday 1st November : ALL SAINTS
Today the Church, as the liturgy states, has "the joy of celebrating in one feast the merits and the glory of all the Saints": not only of those whom she has canonised in the course of the centuries, but also of the numberless men and women whose holiness, hidden in this world, is only known to God and shines in his eternal kingdom. Today's feast invites us to lift our eyes to heaven, the goal of our earthly pilgrimage. There the festive community of the saints awaits us. There we will have the company of our dear departed ones for whom we pray in tomorrow's solemn liturgical commemoration.
Pope John Paul II, 01/11/2002
Monday 2nd November : ALL SOULS
The observance of 2 November asks us to remember, even in a certain sense to prefer, in our prayer the souls of the dead whom no one remembers, to entrust them to the embrace of divine mercy. The commemoration of all the faithful departed can only be a universal prayer for peace: peace for those who have lived, peace for those living and for those who will live.
Pope John Paul II, 02/11/2002
Lord God,
whose days are without end
and whose mercies beyond counting,
keep us mindful
that life is short and the hour of death unknown.
Let your Spirit guide our days on earth
in the ways of holiness and justice,
that we may serve you
in union with the whole Church,
sure in faith, strong in hope, perfect in love.
And when our earthly journey is ended,
lead us rejoicing into your kingdom,
where you live for ever and ever. Amen
Order of Christian Funerals, 332.
Tuesday 3rd November : St. Malachy
He was born near Armagh in 1094. He became Vicar of Ceallach, the reforming Bishop of Armagh, and he continued this work of reform as Bishop of Connor and, later, Bishop of Armagh. Earlier he had restored the monastery of Bangor and in 1142 founded the monastery of Mellifont, the first Cistercian house in Ireland. He had visited St. Bernard at Clairvaux on a journey to and from Rome in 1139. In 1148 Malachy set our from Ireland to meet the pope but died on his way at Clairvaux, where he caught fever and died in the arms of Bernard and is buried in the abbey church.
His feast is celebrated on 3 November - not on 2 November, the date of his death, to leave 2 November for All Souls Day.
Wednesday 4th November : St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
Cardinal Archbishop of Milan at the age of 21, worked for reform in his diocese, drafting the Catechism of the Council of Trent. Patron saint of catechists and seminarians.
Thursday 5th November : St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639)
Became a Dominican lay brother, spending his nights in prayer and penance, and his day in the monastery, caring for the sick and the poor. He is renowned for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
Saturday 6th November : St. Willibrord
Born in Northumbria in 658. He entered the Benedictine order and was sent to study, including spending twelve years at the monastery of Rath Melsigi, near Milford, Co. Carlow before going with eleven companions to evangelise Frisia. He established a mission at Utrecht and in 695 was ordained archbishop of Utrecht by Pope Sergius I. He founded a monastery at Echternach in Luxembourg in 700, where he died in 739.