Saint Amandus of Avignon
Also known as
Amand, Amantius, Amatius
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Bishop of Avignon, France.
Saint Amandus of Avignon
Also known as
Amand, Amantius, Amatius
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Bishop of Avignon, France.
Saint Gerard de Bazonches
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Benedictine monk at Saint Aubin Monastery, Angers, France. Priest.
Died
1123
Blessed Henry of Zweifalten
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Benedictine monk at Zwiefalten, Swabia (in modern Germany). Prior of Ochsenhausen, Swabia.
Died
c.1250
Saint Clether
Also known as
Cleer, Clanis, Scledog, Clydog
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Hermit on the banks of the river Never, then in the Inny valley in North Cornwall, England in an area now named for him.
Born
6th century Wales
Saint Modesta of Trier
Also known as
Modesta of Ohren
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Niece of Saint Modoald of Trier. Benedictine. First abbess of the convent of Oehren, Trier, Germany, appointed by Saint Modoald.
Died
c.680 of natural causes
Saint Amandus of Rodez
Also known as
Amand, Amantius, Amatius
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Bishop of Rodez, France, an area that had begun to fall away from Christianity. His evangelism brought his parishioners back to the faith.
Died
c.440
Saint Pierius
Also known as
• Pierio
• The Younger Origen
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Priest. Wrote a number of treatises on philosophy and theology. Director of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, Egypt. Noted preacher and teacher and scholar praised by Eusebius of Caesarea and Saint Jerome.
Died
309 - 310 in Rome, Italy of natural causes
Saint Clarus the Hermit
Also known as
Clair
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Born to the English nobility. Priest. Hermit near Rouen, France. Martyr. The village where he was murdered is named for him.
Born
Rochester, England
Died
• murdered c.875 at Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, France
• relics in Saint-Clair-sur-Epte
Saint Vitalis of Bologna
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Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian. His death led Saint Agricola to stand up for his faith, which led his martyrdom. The basilica in Ravenna, Italy is dedicated to Saint Vitalis.
Died
c.304 in Bologna, Italy
Saint Gregory of Burtscheid
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Benedictine Basilian monk at Cerchiara, Calabria, Italy. Fled to Rome, Italy to escape invading Saracens. There he met and befriended Emperor Otto III who invited him to Germany and built for him a Benedictine abbey at Burtscheid near Aachen.
Died
999 at Burtscheid, Germany
Saint Perpète
Also known as
Perpetuüs
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Son of Count Ostierne. Bishop of Tongres, Belgium in 598.
Born
Dinant, Belgium
Died
• 4 November 617 of natural causes
• buried in the church of Saint Vincent
• relics later translated to the collegiate church of Notre Dame de Diant
Patronage
Dinant, Belgium
Blessed Joan Antoni Burró Mas
Additional Memorial
30 July as one of the Martyred Hospitallers of Spain
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Joined the Hospitallers of Saint John of God at age 14. Belonged to the community in Ciempozuelos, Madrid, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
Born
28 June 1914 in Barcelona, Spain
Died
4 November 1936 in Madrid, Spain
Beatified
25 October 1992 by Pope John Paul II
Saint Agricola of Bologna
Also known as
Aregle of Bologna
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During the persecutions of Diocletian, Agricola witnessed the martyrdom of Saint Vitalis of Bologna; the courage of Vitalis led Agricola to stand up for his own faith. Martyr.
Died
• martyred (possibly crucified) c.304 in Bologna, Italy
• buried in the Jewish cemtery in Bologna
Blessed Helen Enselmini
Also known as
Elena Enselmini
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Became a Poor Clare nun at age 12, receiving the veil from Saint Francis of Assisi himself at Arcella. Had the gift of inedia, living solely off the Eucharist for months. Her health suffered in adulthood, and she was both blind and mute by her death.
Born
at Padua, Italy
Died
1242 of natural causes
Beatified
29 October 1695 by Pope Leo X and Pope Innocent XII (cultus confirmed)
Saint Birstan
Also known as
Beorstan, Birnstan, Birrstan, Brinstan, Brynstan
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Spiritual student of Saint Grimbald. Benedictine monk. Bishop of Winchester, England from 931 to 934. Known for his work with the poor, and his mission of praying for the dead; at one point the dead are reported to have responded "Amen". Founded the Hospital of Saint John in Winchester, which still exists today. Memory of him was lost for years until he appeared with Saint Birinus and Saint Swithun in a vision to Saint Ethelwold who spread the word that Birstan was in heavenly glory.
Born
c.870
Died
1 November 934 of natural causes while praying for the dead
Saint Emeric of Hungary
Also known as
Americus, Emerick, Emmerich, Emmericus, Henricus
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Born a prince, the son of Saint Stephen of Hungary. Spiritual student of Saint Gerard Sagredo. Married in 1022. Known for his personal piety and austerity.
Born
1007 in Veszprém, Hungary
Died
killed by a boar while hunting on 2 September 1031 in Hungary
Canonized
5 November 1083 by Pope Gregory VII
Saint Patrobas
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A first century Christian in Rome greeted by name by Saint Paul the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans.
Saint Philologus
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A first century Christian in Rome greeted by name by Saint Paul the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans.
Saint John Zedazneli
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Priest. Leader of a group of twelve 6th century Syrian monks who evangelized Georgia, and introduced the monastic life to the region. Said to have befriended the bears that lived near his hermitage, and to have found them friendlier than most of the natives!
His companions were Abibos Nekreseli, Anton Martmkofeli, David Garejeli, Zenon Ikaltoeli, Tadeoz of Stephantsminda, Ise of Tsilkani, Ioseb of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavno, Miqael of Ulompo, Piros of Breta, Stephane of Khirsa, and Shio of Mgvime, and the group was known as the Fathers of the Church in the region.
Born
at Mesopotamia near Antioch
Blessed Frances d'Amboise
Also known as
• Francisca de Amboise
• Françoise d'Amboise
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Daughter of Louis d'Amboise, Viscount de Thouars, she grew up in the courts of Brittany. Duchess of Brittany, being married to Peter II, Duke of Britanny at age 15; she was betrothed to him at age four. It was not a happy marriage, and Peter sometimes abused her, but Frances softened Peter over the years, and he assisted in her charitable work. She established a Poor Clare convent at Nantes, France, and worked for the canonization of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Supported the Dominican convent at Nantes. Widowed in 1457, she devoted herself to religious life. Joined the Carmelite nuns at Bondon on 25 March 1468, making her final vows in 1469. Spiritual student of Blessed John Soreth. Worked in the infirmary for a while, and was elected prioress for life in 1473. Considered the foundress of the Carmelite nuns in France.
Born
28 September 1427 in Thouars, Deux-Sèvres, France
Died
• 4 November 1485 at Les Couêts, Nantes, France of natural causes while in a religious ecstasy
• miracles reported at her tomb
• her body had to be moved to save it during the Huguenot wars, and again in the French Revolution
Beatified
16 July 1863 by Pope Pius IX
Saint Felix of Valois
Also known as
Hugh of Valois
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Son of Count Raoul de Vermandois et de Valois and Alienor de Champagne. As a child, Felix received the blessings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Pope Innocent II. Educated at the abbey of Clairvaux. As a young man, following his parents' extremely disruptive divorce, he renounced his wealth and took the name Felix. Cistercian monk at Clairvaux. Hermit in the Italian Alps. Priest. Hermit in the forest of Galeresse, diocese of Meaux, France. Friend and spiritual teacher of Saint John of Matha. The two of the founded the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives (Trinitarians; Redemptionists) in order to ransom Christians held as slaves by Moors in Spain and Northern Africa. The Order received papal approval on 17 December 1198, and within 40 years there were over 600 houses worldwide. Today there are around 600 members of the Order working in prison ministries in over twenty countries continuing over 800 years of ministry.
Born
April 1127 in the province of Valois, France as Hugh
Died
• 4 November 1212 at the Cerfroi monastery, Picardy, France of natural causes
• buried in the church in Cerfroi, which became a pilgrimage destination
Canonized
• 1 May 1262 by Pope Urban IV
• confirmed on 21 October 1666 by Pope Alexander VII
• feast day fixed in 1679 by Pope Innocent XI
Bl. Martha Le Bouteiller
Feastday: November 4
Birth: 1816
Death: 1883
Beatified: Pope John Paul II
Blessed Martha Le Bouteiller was born as Aimee-Adele Le Bouteiller, in Percy, a villiage in the Manche Department of Normandy, France, in 1816. Her mother was widowed, so she spent much of her youth helping run the family farm. As she grew she started working as a housemaid to earn extra money to give to her mother.
As a young woman, Aimee-Adele found time to volunteer at her parish school, and attended pilgrimages with the children. Her parish community made annual pilgrimages to the shrine of Our Lady of Chappelle-sur-Vire.
In 1841, during one such pilgrimage, Aimee-Adele paid a visit to a dilapidated abbey, that of St. Sauveur le Vicomte. The abbey is the same one where St. Marie Madeleine Postel founded a religious congregation, the School Sister of Mercy. After her visit, Aimee-Adele became resolved to enter the convent.
As a sister, she took the name Martha, a name associated with hard work, and she worked very hard. Her assignments included working on the abbey farm, in the gardens, and helping with the laundry. Eventually she was assigned to the cellar where cider was made. Sister Martha was so skilled at making cider that she became known as "Sister Cider" to her friends.
During the Franco-Prussian War, French troops were quartered in the Abbey. During this time she provided noteworthy care for the soldiers, particularly ensuring that every soldier was fed and had wine. Amongst the soldiers this was greatly appreciated.
Sister Martha also formed a special bond with the abbey's superior, Mother Placide Viel. The bond was strengthened amid tension between Mother Placide, who was often away from the abbey to raise funds, and the superior's elder cousin, Sister Marie Viel, who ran the abbey during Placide's absence.
Despite their professional and familial relationship, the two cousins did not get along very well and Sister Marie often treated the younger Mother Placide, poorly. As Sister Martha sympathized with Mother Placide, the two women formed a lasting friendship.
The friendship between the two women made Sister Martha a target for Sister Marie's frustration and Martha often suffered because of it. Still, Sister Martha remained strong, a steadfast and faithful friend to Mother Placide. The bond between the two was so great that when Mother Placide became ill and died, Sister Martha could not bear to say goodbye.
The friendship of the two women has come to exemplify the bond of sisterhood and friendship that commonly forms between those who live a vocation of service.
Sister Martha died in 1883. Blessed pope John Paul II beatified her on November 4, 1990.
St. Joannicus of Mount Olympus
Feastday: November 4
Death: 846
Hermit, prophet, and miracle worker who defied the Byzantine emperor Theophilus and his Iconoclast policies. Born in Bithynia, in modem Turkey, Joannicus was an Iconoclast until he was converted to the religious life at the age of forty. He became a recluse on Mount Olympus in Bithynia and a monk. Later, he defied the emperor and declared that sacred images would be restored to the Church. Empress Theodora did restore the icons.