Featured Saint of the Month:
November 21—Presentation of Mary
There was a religious custom among the Jews, in former times, of
promising to dedicate children to God’s service in the temple, even
before the children were born. The child, before its fifth year had
passed, was taken to the temple at Jerusalem and committed to the care
of the priest who offered it to the Lord, and, sometimes, the child
remained in the temple to be educated and trained to serve the
sanctuary and sacred ministers by making vestments and ornaments,
assisting at the services, and contributing to the worship of God in
the various liturgical offices.
Tradition tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was vowed to God by
her parents, St. Joachim and St. Ann, and taken by them to the temple
when she was three years old. This offering and dedication of the
Blessed Virgin to the Lord, the Church commemorates by the feast of
the Presentation on November 21. In some religious communities the day
is observed with special devotion as a patronal feast.
PRAYER Today we celebrate the glorious memory of the most holy
Virgin Mary. Grant, Lord, that through her intercession we too may
receive many graces from Your superabundant bounty. Amen.
November 1
ALL SAINTS
November 2
ALL SOULS
November 3—Patron of Hairdressers
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES, Religious
November 4—Patron of Seminarians
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, Bishop
November 5
ST. SYLVIA, Mother of St. Gregory the Great
November 6
ST. BERTILLE, Religious
November 7
STS. CARINA AND HER COMPANIONS, Martyrs
November 8
ST. GODFREY (GEOFFREY), Bishop of Amiens
November 9
DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN LATERAN
November 10
ST. LEO THE GREAT, Pope and Doctor of the Church
November 11—Patron of Soldiers
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS, Bishop
November 12
ST. JOSAPHAT, Bishop and Martyr
November 13—Patroness of Immigrants
ST. FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI, Virgin
November 14
ST. SIDONIUS, Abbot
November 15—Patron of Scientists
ST. ALBERT THE GREAT, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
November 16
ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND
November 16—Patroness of the West Indies
ST. GERTRUDE, Virgin
November 17
ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, Religious
November 18
ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, Virgin
November 18
DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, Apostles
November 19
ST. MECHTILDE (MATHILDA)
November 20
ST. BERNWARD, Bishop of Hildesheim
November 21
PRESENTATION OF MARY
November 22—Patroness of Musicians
ST. CECILIA, Virgin and Martyr
November 23—Patron of Marble-Workers
ST. CLEMENT I, Pope and Martyr
November 23
ST. COLUMBAN, Abbot
November 23
BLESSED MIGUEL AGUSTIN PRO, Priest and Martyr
November 24
STS. ANDREW DUNG-LAC, Priest and Martyr, AND COMPANIONS, Martyrs
November 25
ST. CATHERINE LABOURE, Virgin
November 26—Patron of Altar Boys
ST. JOHN BERCHMANS, Religious
November 27
ST. MAXIMUS, Bishop
November 28
ST. JAMES OF THE MARCH, Priest
November 29—Patron of Toulouse
ST. SATURNINUS, Bishop and Martyr
November 30—Patron of Fishermen
ST. ANDREW, Apostle