Memorial of Saints (October 31)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Wolfgang
• Foillan
• Quentin

St. Wolfgang became a Benedictine at Einsiedeln and was ordained in 971 A.D.

St. Follian and his brothers built a monastery in England and worked as missionaries among the East Angles.

St. Quentin went to Gaul as a missionary and settled at Amiens in Picardy.

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This day in Catholic Church history (October 31).

• Martin Luther, former monk of the Augustinian Order, posted his 95 Theses on the door of the castle Church in Wittenberg
• These theses questioned the abuses in the sale of indulgences at that time
• October 31, 1517 A.D., is traditionally recognized as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation

• Voices of the Protestant Reformation:
• Martin Luther,
• John Huss,
• Erasmus,
• Servetus,
• Zwingli,
• and Calvin
• Voices of the Counter-Reformation:
• St. Teresa of Avila,
• St. John of the Cross,
• St. Ignatius of Loyola,
• St. Bernardine of Siena,
• St. John of Capistrano,
• Benedictines of Bursfeld and Melk Congregations
• the Dominican Lombard Congregation;
• and many Augustinian monasteries
• Learn more

• Saints and Leaders of the Counter Reformation, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (October 30)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints for October 30, Learn more

• Serapion of Antioch, bishop;
• Marcellus, martyr;
• Asterius, bishop;
• Germanus of Capua, bishop;
• Ethelnoth, bishop;
• Alphonsus Rodriguez

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez (1533-1617 A.D.) was the son of a wealthy merchant at Segovia, Spain. Bl. Peter Favre, one of the original nine members of the Society of Jesus, and who was a close friend of his father, prepared Alphonsus for first communion. Alphonsus was sent to Alcala to study under the Jesuits. He returned to Segovia upon the death of his father to oversee the family business. He got married but when his wife passed away, he sold the business. When his son also died several years later, he applied to the Society of Jesus. He was not admitted at Segovia. He went back to grade school and by a special ruling of the provincial was admitted to the Jesuits as a lay brother. After final vows, he served in the lowly post of hall porter at Montesion College on Majorca. Known for his holiness, he was consulted by both the learned and the simple. St. Peter Claver was under Alphonsus' guidance while a student at Montesion. St. Alphonsus suffered ill health the last years of his life until he died on November 1. He was canonized together with Peter Claver in 1888 A.D. by Pope Leo XIII.

Related blog posts:

• St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Founder of the Society of Jesus, Learn more
• "Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits", Learn more

The prayer of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in the book, "Hearts on Fire":

"Lord, show me your ways".

His three brief aspirations:

"Lord, let me know you, let me know myself.
Lord, you do your will and not mine.
I'm just coming, Lord."

Memorial of Saints (October 29)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Narcissus of Jerusalem, bishop;
• Theuderius or Chef, abbot;
• Colman of Kilmacduagh, bishop;
• Abraham of Rostov, abbot

St. Narcissus of Jerusalem (d. ca. 215 A.D.) was a Greek and was named bishop of Jerusalem when he was 80 years old. Because he was strict in his discipline, his opponents denounced him at the Council of Jerusalem. He lived for a time as a hermit, returned to his see, and was persuaded to resume his office as bishop by the faithful of the city. He appointed St. Alexander his coadjutor, who stated that St. Narcissus was 116 years old in 212 A.D.

Related blog posts:

St. Narcissus of Jerusalem is one of the Saints of the Church who lived past 100 years. Below is a study of Saints who are also centenarian. A simple analysis of their longevity is made in Part Four of this Series.

• Saints Who Lived to 100 Years or More (Part One), Learn more
• Saints Who Lived to 100 Years or More (Part Two), Learn more
• Saints Who Lived to 100 Years or More (Part Three), Learn more
• Saints Who Lived to 100 Years or More (Part Four), Learn more

St. Abraham of Rostov (12th century A.D.) was born of pagan parents near Galick and was known to have been cured of a disease as a young man when he called upon God of the Christian religion. He was baptized and became a monk. He went to Rostov, Russia, to preach the gospel and founded a monastery where he became abbot. He built two churches and was effective in the work of conversion.