FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 15th October : St. Teresa of Ávila
Deeply contemplative, highly active and practical. She established Carmelite convents under a reformed rule, and wrote much on prayer and the spiritual life. Patron of Spain
Friday 16th October : St. Gall
He was a monk of Bangor and set out the Columbanus for the continent. When Columbanus was exiled from France, Gall accompanied him to Bregenz on Lake Constance. When Columbanus crossed into Italy, Gall remained in Switzerland. He lived in a hermitage, which later became the monastery of St. Gallen. He died around the year 630.
Friday 16th October : St. Gerard Majella
Born 6th April 1726 in Muro, Italy to a family of 7. His father died when Gerard was age 12 and he was sent to live with his uncle where he learned the trade of a tailor (like his father). In 1749 having twice been turned down by the Capuchins on the grounds of his poor health, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer - the Redemptorists, and 3 years later was professed a lay Brother. He died 16 October 1755 of tuberculosis. Patron of pregnant women.
Saturday 17th October : St. Ignatius
Bishop of Antioch. He died a martyr at Rome c. the year 107. He urged Christians to unity in an through the Eucharist and around their local bishop.
Sunday 18th October : 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
God's people strive for justice, peace and salvation. Their only true happiness will be in God; apart from him, all is nothing.
Monday 19th October : St. Paul of the Cross
He founded the Passionists in Rome, preaching on the Passion of Christ and tending the sick, the dying and the lapsed.
Thursday 22nd October : St. John Paul II
Born Karol Józef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. He studied at the seminary in Krakow, was ordained a priest in 1946, then studied in Rome. After parish work and university chaplaincy he again undertook further studies in philosophy and theology. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in 1958, in 1964 Archbishop, and in 1067 he was created a Cardinal. He took a significant part in the Second Vatican Council. He was elected successor to Pope John Paul I on 16/10/1978 and inaugurated Pope 6 days later on 22nd October. He was Pope for over 26 years. He was the first non-Italian Pope in 445 years and the first Polish pope. As Bishop of Rome he visited almost all of the Roman parishes and made apostolic journeys to 104 countries, including Ireland from 29th September - 1st October 1979.
On 13 May 1981 a young Turk Mehmet Ali Agca made an attempt on the Pope's life. Seriously wounded, the Pope was operated on for 6 hours at Gemelli hospital. While reciting the Angelus at the hospital 4 days later he asked "Pray for the brother who shot me, whom I have sincerely forgiven".
He canonised more saints than all his predecessors.
He died on 2nd April 2005.
He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on 01/05/2011.
Together with St. John XXIII he was canonised in Rome on Sunday 27th April 204 by Pope Francis. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was in attendance.
22nd October is the anniversary of his Papal inauguration in 1978.
Friday 23rd October : St. John of Capistrano (1386-1456)
HE studied civil and canon law and joined the Franciscan Order. A faithful servant of four popes, he attended the Council of Florence, went to Jerusalem as apostolic emissary, and, in 1451 set out on a preaching tour through the German provinces and Poland. In a battle at Belgrade he contracted fever and died there. Patron saint of jurists and military chaplains.
Saturday 24th October : St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807-0870)
He founded the Claretians in Spain for missionary work. Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba, then returned as chaplain to the Queen of Spain, and built schools and museums, before being exiled with the monarchy.