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15th November - Memorial at choice of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor. Born - c. 1200, Lauingen, Duchy of Bavaria Died - 15 November 1280, Cologne, Holy Roman Empire Venerated in - Catholic Church Beatified - 1622, Rome, Papal States by Pope Gregory XV Canonized - 16 December 1931, Vatican City by Pope Pius XI Major shrine - St. Andrew's Church, Cologne Feast - 15 November Attributes - Dominican habit, mitre, book, and quill Patronage - Those who cultivate the natural sciences, medical technicians, philosophers, and scientists Other names - Albertus Teutonicus, Albertus Coloniensis, Albert the Great, Albert of Cologne Known for - Systematic study of minerals, Discovery of the element arsenic Scientific career - Fields, Natural science Alchemy Jurisprudence Diplomacy Theology Natural philosophy A Dominican friar and Bishop of Regensburg, Albert was a Swabian by birth joining the Dominicans in 1223 against the wishes of his noble family. After teaching at Hildesheim, Ratisbon and Cologne, where Thomas Aquinas was his pupil, he became a Master at Paris rising to be bishop of Ratisbon in 1260. Unsuccessful as an administrator, he resigned his see two years later to devote all his energies to teaching and writing. He took a prominent part in the Council of Lyons in 1274 and at Paris in 1277 he staunchly defended the teaching of his former pupil, Thomas Aquinas. His scholastic writing was more diffuse and less systematic than that of Aquinas but both made use or Aristotle’s philosophy in Christian theology. Albert’s interests extended to the physical sciences and his writings which fill thirty-eight volumes cover: astronomy, chemistry, geography and physiology. Commonly called the Universal Doctor and placed by Dante among the lovers of wisdom, he died in 1280, was beatified in 1622 and was canonised as late as 1931 when Pope Pius XI declared him both a Doctor of the Church and the patron of students of the natural sciences. O Lord, grant that through adhering to the truths that Saint Albert taught we may progress in learning and may come to a deeper knowledge and love of you. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01264a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertus_Magnus https://catholicsaints.info/saint-albert-the-great/ https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2011/11/st-albert-great.html |
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16th November - Memorial at choice of St. Margaret of Scotland. Born - c. 1045, Kingdom of Hungary Died - 16 November 1093 (aged 47-48), Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland Burial - Dunfermline Abbey Spouse - Malcolm III, King of Scotland Canonised – 1251, by Pope Innocent IV Attributes - queen, reading Patronage - Scotland, Dunfermline, Fife, Shetland, The Queen's Ferry, and Anglo-Scottish relations Saint Margaret of Scotland (Scots: Saunt Magret, c. 1045 – 16 November 1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex, was an English princess and a Scottish queen. Margaret was sometimes called "The Pearl of Scotland". Born in exile in the Kingdom of Hungary, she was the sister of Edgar Ætheling, the uncrowned Anglo-Saxon claimant on the throne of England after the death of Harold II. Margaret and her family returned to the Kingdom of England in 1057, but fled to the Kingdom of Scotland following the Norman conquest of England in 1066. By the end of 1070, Margaret had married King Malcolm III of Scotland, becoming Queen of Scots. Born in about 1045, Margaret was the daughter of Edward the Atheling and grand-daughter of Edmund Ironside. Well educated in Hungary where her family had been exiled during the rule of the Danish kings in England she was one of the last members of the Anglo-Saxon royal family and following the Norman Conquest took refuge in the court of Malcolm III of Scotland whom she married in 1069. She was a principal agent for the reform of the Church in Scotland, then at a low ebb, and took a prominent part in the establishment of monasteries, churches and hostels for pilgrims. Among others she revived the abbey at Iona made famous by St. Columba and St. Aidan and built Dunfermline to be like a Scottish Westminster Abbey. In her private life she was known for her devotion to prayer and reading, lavish almsgiving (including the liberation of Anglo-Saxon captives) and to ecclesiastical needlework. She died in 1093 and was laid to rest next to her husband at Dunfermline. At the Reformation, the bodies of Margaret and Malcolm were moved to a chapel at the Escorial in Madrid, while her head was obtained by the Jesuits at Douai. In 1673 she was named patron of Scotland and is Scotland's only saint to enjoy a universal cult in the Roman Calendar. O Lord, grant that through the intercession and example of Saint Margaret we may reflect your divine goodness among all humanity. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Margaret_of_Scotland https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09655c.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-margaret-of-scotland/ https://www.bartleby.com/210/6/101.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2011/11/saint-margaret-of-scotland.html |
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16th November - Memorial at choice of St. Gertrude, Virgin. Born - January 6, 1256, Eisleben, Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire Died - c. 1302, Helfta, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire Venerated in - Catholic Church, The Episcopal Church Canonized - 1677 (equipollent) by Clement XII Feast - November 16 (Catholic Church), November 19 (The Episcopal Church) Attributes - crown, lily, taper Patronage - West Indies A Benedictine nun and visionary, nothing is known about Gertrude’s origins. From the age of five she was educated in the nunnery in Helfta where she made her profession and spent the rest of her life undergoing a deep conversion and various mystical experiences throughout her remaining twenty years. These were based on the Liturgy and many of her visions took place during the singing of the Divine Office. Her piety expressed the contemporary insistence on devotion to Christ’s humanity and she is regarded as a pioneer of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She died in 1302 and although regarded as one of the most important medieval mystics she was never formally canonised. Following the growth in popularity of her writings in 1677 Pope Innocent XI added her name to the Roman Martyrology and in 1738, at the request of the king of Poland and the duke of Saxony, her feast was extended to all countries. O Lord, grant that through the intercession of Saint Gertrude light may be brought to the darkness of our harts and that we may, with joy, experience your presence within us. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_the_Great https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06534a.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gertrude-the-great/ https://www.bartleby.com/210/11/151.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/st-gertrude.html |
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16th November - Memorial at choice of St. Edmund of Abingdon, Bishop. Born - perhaps 20 November c. 1175, St Edmund's Lane, Abingdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), England Died - 16 November 1240, Soisy-Bouy, Seine-et-Marne, France Buried - Pontigny Abbey, Burgundy, France Canonized - 16 December 1246 by Pope Innocent IV Attributes - archbishop making a vow before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary; embracing the Child Jesus; placing a ring on the finger of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary; receiving a lamb from the Blessed Virgin Mary; with Saint Richard of Chichester; with Saint Thomas of Canterbury Patronage - Abingdon, Oxfordshire; Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth; St Edmund's College, Cambridge; St Edmund Hall, Oxford ; St Edmund’s College, Ware Born in Abingdon in c. 1175, Edmund Rich was educated at Oxford University in grammar and then took the Arts course in Paris returning to Oxford to teach in the Arts faculty between 1195 and 1202. After living for a year with the Austin Canons at Merton in Surrey, he incepted in theology at Oxford in 1214. He was a pioneer of scholasticsm and gave great importance to both the literal and historical context of the bible as well as to its spiritual sense. In 1222 he became Treasurer of Salisbury and in 1233 was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 1240 and the papal commission of inquiry into his life and miracles included both Robert Grosseteste (bishop of Lincoln, 1235-1253) and the Franciscan theologian, Alexander of Hales. He was canonised in 1246, the first Oxford master to be so honoured. St. Edmund Hall, one of the colleges of Oxford University, is named after him. O Lord, grant that through the intercession of Saint Edmund, your Church may remain constant and fearless in promoting justice. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_of_Abingdon https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05294a.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-edmund-rich/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/edmund.htm https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2011/11/saint-edmund.html |
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17th November - Memorial at choice of St. Hilda of Whitby, Abbess. Born - c. 614, Kingdom of Deira Died - 17 November 680, Hackness Venerated in - Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church Canonized - Pre-Congregation Attributes - Crozier, Whitby Abbey Born in about 614, Hilda was related to the royal families of both Northumbria and East Anglia and became a Christian with Edwin, being baptised by Paulinus. Like her sister, she had intended to join the nunnery of Chelles but was called back to Northumbria by St. Aidan who gave her a small plot of land (one hide) on the north bank of the Wear. Soon afterwards she moved to Hartlepool where she succeeded Heiu as abbess and organised the community according to the rule that she had learnt from Irish sources. In 657 she founded (or refounded) the abbey at Whitby which became famous for its learning, for training at least five bishops, and for hosting the famous Synod of Whitby in 663/4. During this Hilda sided with the Irish party in the discussion over that date of Easter but later accepted the decision in favour of Rome. Hilda enjoyed great personal prestige – not only did religious and learned men value her wisdom, but kings, rulers and the common people would ask her advice. Although the later years of her life were plagued by a chronic illness this did little to diminish her activity. She died in 680 and was buried at Whitby but her relics were transferred to Glastonbury (although Gloucester would also claim to have them) before the monastery was sacked by the Danes in c. 800. O Lord, grant that through the intercession of Saint Hilda we may gain the grace to proclaim your Gospel in our present day and to sing your unceasing praise See also. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_of_Whitby https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07350a.htm |
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17th November - Memorial at choice of St. Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop. Born - c. 1135–1140, Avalon, Dauphiné, Holy Roman Empire Died - 16 November 1200, (aged 60-65), London, England Venerated in - Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion Canonized - 17 February 1220 by Pope Honorius III Major shrine - St Mary's Cathedral, Lincoln, England Parkminster Charterhouse, West Sussex Feast - 16 November (Catholic Church), 17 November (Church of England) Attributes - a white swan Patronage - sick children, sick people, shoemakers and swans The first Carthusian to be canonised, Hugh was born in c. 1140 at Avalon near Grenoble and aged about twenty-five became a monk at Grande Charteuse and was invited by Henry II to become prior of his languishing Charterhouse at Witham in Somerset founded in reparation for the murder of Thomas of Canterbury. Under Hugh, the house flourished and attracted several distinguished monks and canons. In 1186 Henry chose Hugh to be bishop of Lincoln, then the largest diocese in England. Reputedly the most learned monk in the country, he revived the Lincoln schools, considered by Gerald of Wales to be second only to Paris. He also extended Lincoln Cathedral which had been damaged by an earthquake – part on the work from this time survives in the transepts and choir. His justice was proverbial and ha was noted for his courage risking his life to save some Jews from death in a riot. He died in 1200 and was canonised in 1220 by Pope Honorius III and is usually depicted with his tame swan or with a chalice with the infant Jesus on it. O Lord, grant that through the intercession of Saint Hugh of Lincoln we may have the grace to rely on you alone and to attain the merits of a holy life See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_of_Lincoln https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07519c.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hugh-of-lincoln/ https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2018/11/saint-hugh-of-lincoln-bishop.html |
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17th November - Memorial at choice of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Born - 7 July 1207, Pozsony, Kingdom of Hungary (modern-day Bratislava, Slovakia) Died - 17 November 1231 (aged 24), Marburg, Landgraviate of Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire (modern-day Hesse, Germany) Venerated in - Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism Canonized - 27 May 1235, Perugia, Italy by Pope Gregory IX Major shrine - St Elisabeth Cathedral, Košice, Slovakia, St. Elizabeth Church, Marburg, Germany Feast - 17 November, 19 November (General Roman Calendar of 1960) Attributes - Roses, crown, food basket Patronage - hospitals; nurses; bakers; brides; countesses; dying children; exiles; homeless people; lace-makers; widows; Bogotá, Colombia; Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bogotá; Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro; Teutonic Order; Third Order of Saint Francis; Budapest, Hungary and Košice, Slovakia Born in Pressburg in 1207, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and was brought up in Thuringia marrying its Landgrave, Louis IV in 1221. The marriage was a happy one but sadly cut short when Louis died of the plague while on crusade in 1227. This proved to be a turning point in Elizabeth’s life. Already known for her good works in almsgiving, founding hospitals and care for orphans, in 1228 Elizabeth settled in Marburg under the spiritual direction of her confessor, Conrad of Marburg whom she had known since 1225. She became a Franciscan tertiary expressing her ardour in love of poverty, the relief of the sick, the poor and the elderly, through building, and working in, a hospital close to her modest house. She died in 1231 and was canonised in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX. O Lord, grant that through the intercession of Saint Elizabeth we may serve the needy and afflicted with unfailing charity See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_Hungary https://catholicsaints.info/saint-elizabeth-of-hungary/ https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05389a.htm https://www.bartleby.com/210/11/191.html https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/elizabethHungary.htm |