Memorial of Saints (November 27)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Barlaam and Josaphat
• James Intercisus, martyr
• Secundinus or Sechnall, bishop
• Maximus of Riez, bishop
• Cungar, abbot
• Fergus, bishop
• Virgil or Fergal, bishop

Saints - November 27, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• St. James the Persian, Great-Martyr
• Palladius

St. James Intercisus (d. ca. 421 A.D.), as he is known in the Catholic Church, is called St. James the Persian in the Byzantine Calendar. His feast in the Catholic Church coincides with his feast in the Byzantine Calendar.

In Latin, "Intercisus" means "cut to pieces". He was given this name because of the manner by which he was martyred. His executioners cut his body piece by piece, beginning with his fingers, and culminating in his beheading. The reason for his martyrdom is his declaration of his Christian faith to King Bahram of Persia.

Initially, when he was a favorite of the former Persian King, King Yezdigerd I, he abandoned his religion, because Yezdigerd I began to launch a persecution of the Christians. But when Yezdigerd I died, he repented of his apostasy, and declared his faith as a Christian to the new King Bahram. This caused his condemnation but sealed his entry into the roster of martyrs. Thus, he is called St. James the Persian, Great-Martyr, in the Byzantine Calendar.

A Greek Orthodox source says he died on November 27, 389 A.D. His feast is celebrated by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches on this day.

Today is also the feast of the Miraculous Medal. It was in November 27, 1830 A.D., when the Virgin Mary showed Catherine the "Miraculous Medal", and commissioned the saint to have one made to spread its devotion.

Related blog posts:

• Six Popular Apparitions of Mary, Learn more
• Visionaries, Stigmatists & Incorruptibles (Part Two), Learn more

Memorial of Saints (November 26)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Silvester, abbot
• Peter of Alexandria, bishop and martyr
• Siricius, pope
• Basolus
• Conrad of Constance, bishop
• Nikon "Metanoeite"
• John Berchmans
• Leonard of Port Maurice

St. Silvester organized his followers into a monastery at Monte Fano, thus founding the Silvestrine Benedictines. The congregation was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1247 A.D. and grew to eleven monasteries before Silvester's death (died ca. 1267 A.D.).

St. Leonard Casanova of Port Maurice (1676-1751 A.D.) entered the Jesuit Roman College at thirteen years of age. His uncle Augustine wanted him to become a physician. Leonard refused and instead joined the Franciscans of the Strict Observance at Pontcelli, Italy in 1697 A.D. After his ordination in 1703 A.D., he preached all over Tuscany with tremendous success. For six years, Leonard directed retreats for religious in and around Rome. In his missions, he started to attract huge crowds. He was an ardent promoter of the Stations of the Cross, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacred Heart, and Mary. He was sent to Corsica for a mission but was unsuccessful there. Suffering from exhaustion, he returned to Rome were he passed away at the age of 75 (died ca. 1751 A.D.).

Saints of November 26, Learn more

In the Byzantine Calendar of Saints, November 26

• St. Alypius, Stylite

Historical trivia:

The top five (not in a specific order) religious orders in the Catholic Church who produced the most number of Saints and Blesseds are believed to be the Benedictines, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites and the Jesuits.

Many see the Benedictines occupying the topmost honor. This statistic may be derived from the fact that St. Benedict founded his first monastery in the year 529 A.D.

The Carmelite hermits existed since the 6th century A.D. but they were formally organized in the year 1150 A.D., with laws and regulations between 1206-1214 A.D.

The Franciscans and the Dominicans began in the early 13th century A.D. St. Francis founded the Order in 1209 A.D., while St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers in 1216 A.D.

St. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 A.D.

While the exact ranking may vary depending on specific criteria and historical context, these five orders undoubtedly have a significant number of canonized saints.

Citations from Google Gemini:

• Mt. Carmel, Carmelite, Learn more
• Jesuits, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (November 25)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr
• Mercurius, martyr
• Moses, martyr

St. Catherine of Alexandria: (died ca. 310 A.D.) this martyr was a learned woman of the early fourth century, who, following her conversion at the age of eighteen, preached the Gospel throughout Alexandria in Egypt. While imprisoned by the emperor Maximus, she converted both the empress and the leader of the armed forces and for this she was martyred. St. Catherine was condemned to death on a spiked wheel, but when the wheel miraculously broke, she was beheaded. Catherine is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is the patroness of philosophers, maidens and preachers.

In the Byzantine Calendar of Saints: November 25

• Clement, Pope of Rome
• Peter, Bishop of Alexandria

Related blog post:

• The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints whose intercession is known to be very effective - especially against ailments and many various diseases. They were heavily invoked when a serious plague struck Europe, Learn more