Memorial of Saints (November 14)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Dubricius
• Lawrence O' Toole, bishop
• Alberic
• Nicolas Tavelic
• Joseph Pignatelli
• Sidonius

St. Dubricius (ca. 545 A.D.) was probably born at Madley, Wales. He became a monk and founded monasteries at Henllan and Moccas. He attracted numerous disciples to these monasteries and founded more monasteries and churches. He and St. Deinol were the two prelates who convinced David to attend the synod of Frefi. Known also as Dyfrig, Dubricius spent his last years at Bardsey.

St. Joseph Pignatelli was a Jesuit who played an important role during the history of his Order - during the 1773 suppression and the 1814 restoration. Joseph journeyed to Russia to join the Jesuits that escaped the suppression of their Order through the political influence of Russia's Catherine the Great. Joseph eventually became master of novices, provincial of Italy, and a teacher in diocesan seminaries. Three years after his death, Pope Pius VII restored the Jesuit Order throughout the world (died ca. 1811 A.D.).

Historical details:

1. Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus in 1773 A.D.
2. All the members, including St. Joseph Pignatelli, were secularized.
3. Joseph Pignatelli lived in Bologna, Italy for the next twenty years and helped some of his less fortunate companions.
4. In Russia, since Empress Catherine refused to allow the bull of suppression by Pope Clement XIV to be published, the Jesuits continued in existence there.
5. In 1792 A.D., with the help of the duke of Parma, three Italian Jesuits in Russia journeyed to Italy to established themselves in Parma.
6. Joseph Pignatelli then obtained permission from Pope Pius VI to bring back the Jesuits from Russia back to Italy.
7. Joseph Pignatelli became the superior and he began a quasinovitiate at Colorno, Italy, in 1799 A.D.
8. In 1801 A.D., Pope Pius VII gave formal approval to the Jesuit province in Russia.
9. Joseph Pignatelli continued in his efforts to revive the Order. In 1804 A.D., the Society of Jesus was re-established in the Kingdom of Naples with Joseph Pignatelli as provincial.
10. He then restored the Order in Sardinia.
11. St. Joseph Pignatelli died in 1811 A.D. but three years after his death in 1814 A.D., the Society of Jesus was restored.
12. Pope Pius XII called him the "restorer" of the Jesuits when he was canonized in 1954 A.D.

Saints (November 14), Learn more

Memorial of Saints (November 13)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Frances Xavier Cabrini
• Stanislaus Kostka
• Homobonus
• Didacus
• Arcadius
• Brice
• Eugenius of Toledo
• Maxellendis
• Kilian
• Nicholas I
• Abbo of Fleury
• Nicholas Tavelic, Adeodatus Aribert, Stephen of Cueno and Peter Narbonne

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917 A.D.) was born in Lombard, Italy. Several religious communities turned her down when she wanted to enter because her health was not good enough. A bishop told her to start a new religious community herself. She did this and founded the "Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart." Pope Leo XIII asked her to go to the USA to assist the Italian immigrants. She obeyed and went and founded an orphanage, a school, and other charitable houses that numbered 67 in all. Mother Cabrini died in Chicago. In 1946 A.D., she became the first citizen of the United States to be canonized a saint.

Saints (November 13), Learn more

Memorial of Saints (November 12)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Josaphat, bishop and martyr
• Nilus the Elder
• Emilian Cucullatus, abbot
• Machar, bishop
• Cunibert, bishop
• Cumian, abbot
• Livinus, bishop and martyr
• Lebuin or Liafwine or Livinius
• Benedict of Benevento and companions, martyrs
• Astrik or Anastasius, bishop
• Cadwallader

St. Josaphat Kuncevych (died 1623 A.D.); born in Poland, raised Ukranian Orthodox, becoming a Basilian monk of the Ruthenian Rite at Vilna; bishop of Polotsk; his fidelity to the Roman See and his desire for union between the Ukranian Church and Rome led to his murder at Vitebsk; first formally canonized saint of the Eastern Rite (1867 A.D.).

St. Benedict of Benevento (d. ca. 1003) lived in a monastery under St. Romuald near Ravenna, Italy. He was sent to Poland with other monks to evangelize the Slavs, at the request of Emperor Otto III. They set up a foundation at Kazimierz. It was here that Benedict, together with Christian, Isaac, John and Matthew, were murdered by pagan robbers on November 11.

St. Cadwallader or Caedwalla (ca. 659-689 A.D.) became King of the West Saxons in 685 or 686 A.D. Under him Wessex became a powerful kingdom. In 688 A.D., he resigned his throne, went to Rome, and had himself baptized on Easter Eve, April 10, by Pope Sergius I, taking the name Peter. He died a few days later and was buried in St. Peter's on April 20.