FEASTS OF THE WEEK
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.
Sunday 7th November : 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
The door is closed against the bridesmaids who did not keep vigil nor trim their lamps. The concern of the Christian should be readiness for the call of the Lord, to seek the light of Christ in daily living, and to keep burning brightly the light received of baptism. It is true wisdom to be always eagerly longing for the Lord.
Monday 8th November : Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
The Church of St. John on the Lateran in Rome is "Mother and Head of all the churches of the City and the World". It is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome, and was called "St John" after the two monasteries once attached, dedicated to St. John the Divine and St. John the Baptist. It is however dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour.
Tuesday 9th November : St. Leo the Great
He convinced Attila the Hun to turn back his invasion of Italy. He taught the two natures, human and divine, of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon and the primacy of the See of Peter. He died in the year 461.
Wednesday 10th November : St. Martin of Tours (316-397)
Bishop of Tours, apostle of rural Gaul, founder of monasteries. Patron of France, soldiers, beggars and innkeepers.
Thursday 11th November : St. Josaphat (1580-1623)
Bishop of Polotz, worked for the reunion of Ukranian Catholics; his murder by those who opposed it brought about many conversions.
Saturday 13th November : St. Laurence O'Toole
Born in Castledermot, Co. Kildare in 1128. He studied at Glendalough, becoming a monk there and later its abbot in 1148. In 1162 he was chosen as the first native Archbishop of Dublin. He followed the reforming methods of Ceallach and Malachy, introducing the Canons Regular to minister in the cathedral, upholding the rights of the Church, caring for the people. He attended the Third Lateran Council in 1179 and, returning as papal legate, he held synods to extend reform. He worked for peace and reconciliation and died on a mission of mediation with King Henry II and the Irish rulers at Eu in Normandy in 1180.