OCTOBER FEASTS AND CELEBRATIONS
Pope Francis dedicates the month of October to a shared mission.
Let us pray that the Church continues to sustain a synodal lifestyle in every way, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, communion, and mission shared by priests, religious, and laity.
MEMORIAL OF SAINT THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux became a Carmelite nun at age 15 and lived a cloistered life in the convent of Lisieux, France until her death at age 24. Her short life consisted of prayer and hard domestic work. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux's apostolate was in quiet acceptance and suffering as she had various illnesses throughout her life. She was canonized in 1925 and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997 for her holiness and the influence of her teaching on the spirituality of the Church. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is the patroness of priests and missionaries.
MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
The role of a guardian angel is to watch over us always and present our souls to God at our death.
The devotion to angels started to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. This feast day was first observed in the 16th century and was added to the Roman calendar in 1615 by Pope Paul V.
MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Saint Francis of Assisi took the gospel literally as he followed Jesus. As a man with a serious illness, Saint Francis of Assisi began to see the emptiness of his life. As a result of this, he separated himself from all materialism, giving up all he had. He gained inner peace and sincerity, which in turn attracted others to him. Many joined Saint Francis in a life of prayer and preaching of the good news.
At age 44, Saint Francis of Assisi received the stigmata, the painful wounds on his hands, feet, and side, identical to what Jesus experienced during His crucifixion. He is the patron saint of animals, archeologists, ecology, Italy, merchants, messengers, and metal workers.
MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Pope Pius V started this feast to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto after praying the rosary. It was Pope Gregory XIII who changed the name to Feast of the Holy Rosary, Pope Clement XI who extended the feast to the Universal Church, and finally, Saint Pius X who set the specific date this feast is celebrated.
The rosary was developed from praying 150 Our Fathers to align with the 150 Psalms. Then a practice of 150 Hail Marys. Soon, mysteries of Jesus’ life were attached to each Hail Mary.
The purpose of the rosary is to create an atmosphere to contemplate the mysteries of God and a soothing effect on the mind and body, allowing the soul to rise. Through repetitive prayers while saying the rosary, we remember important events such as Jesus’ life, and rest in God’s presence.
MEMORIAL OF SAINT TERESA OF JESUS, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Saint Teresa of Avila entered the Carmelites despite her father’s wishes. She was a woman of prayer, discipline, and compassion who stuck with God despite her struggles. Saint Teresa of Avila founded over six new monasteries and fought to reform and inspire others. Canonized in 1622, she was given the title of Doctor of the Church in 1970.
MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR
Saint Ignatius of Antioch made significant contributions to early Christianity as a bishop and a martyr. He was known for his seven letters written while on a trip from Antioch to Rome. Saint Ignatius urged Christians to be faithful to God. He had a deep love for Christ and refused to deny his faith, which ultimately resulted in his death as he was mauled by lions.
FEAST OF SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST
Saint Luke is one of the Evangelists and author of Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. In these books, he shows the alignment between Christ’s life and the Church. Saint Luke is acknowledged for his role in spreading the Christian message and is the patron saint of artists, painters, brewers, butchers, notaries, physicians, and surgeons.
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOHN DE BRÉBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES, PRIESTS, AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
The Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs commemorates a group of eight French Jesuit missionaries who were martyred in the 17th century during their efforts to evangelize the Indigenous peoples of North America, mainly the Huron people. These martyrs included well-known figures such as St. John de Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, who endured extreme hardships, including torture and eventual death, at the hands of the Iroquois, who saw them as allies of their Huron enemies. This memorial honors their courage and sacrifice in spreading the Christian faith in difficult and often dangerous conditions.
FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES
On this special day, we honor these two Apostles of Jesus who were chosen by Him to be His followers. They were the first bishops to establish the first Church and spread the Good News.
It is said that Saint Simon preached the Gospel in Egypt. He was a Zealot who is assumed to be very committed to his Jewish identity, traditions, and beliefs. Saint Jude is known for questioning Jesus as to why Jesus revealed himself to the Apostles and not to the world. Jesus' response was that belief in Him must come inspired by obedience to faith and the will of God.
According to tradition, both Saints Simon and Jude died in the year 65. Saint Simon was sawed in half and Saint Jude was beaten to death with a club.
Saint Simon is known as the Patron Saint of leather tanners, woodcutters, and curriers and Saint Jude represents hopeless causes and hospitalization.
