Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

6th November
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Leonard.
Among other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Leonard of Noblac
Hermit.
Leonard of Limoges was a wealthy nobleman who lived during the rule of Clovis 1, the first King of the Franks. The Frankish people were West Germanic tribes who worshiped the pagan gods introduced by the Romans.
Clovis was converted to Christianity at Christmas 496 by Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Rheims. Leonard was also converted to Christianity at the same time as Clovis. He made the decision to adopt a life devoted to God and was offered the position of a bishop, but he declined. The highest dignity he would accept was that of a deacon. King Clovis promised that any prisoner converted to Christianity by Leonard would be released and Leonard was given the right to liberate worthy prisoners on behalf of King Clovis.
Leonard entered the monastery at Micy near Orleans and then became a hermit in the forest of Limousin attracting many followers.
He was granted royal land at Noblac, near Limoges, where he founded the abbey of Noblac.
Saint Leonard died in 559.
Saint Leonard,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

November 7

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Willibord
Among  many other saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Willibrord.
Apostle of Frisia (Modern Netherlands)
Willibrord was born in Northumbria, England in 657 or 658( I found two sources each quoting a different dates).
He studied at Ripon Abbey under Saint Wilfrid.
When he was 20 years old, he went to Ireland to study under Saint Egbert and Saint Wigbert at the abbey of Rathmelsigi.
For twelve years he remained here undergoing extensive training in missionary work.
After his ordination, he felt drawn to go and evangelise in Northern Europe where there were a great many pagan tribes.
He first went to Rome to seek the blessing of the Pope. Pope Sergins(r 687-701) gave his full support to the venture.
In 690, Saint Willibrord , with a dozen ( eleven according to another source) companions, set off for Frisia.
The pagans resisted conversion to a religion they claimed belonged to their enemies the Franks (In the Memorial of Saint Leonard yesterday, we read that the Franks had embraced Christianity under their King, Clovis the First).
Saint Willibrord was, however able to convert a few pagans with the help of Pepin of Heristal, the then Frankish leader.
At Pepin’s urgent request, Willibrord went to Rome again to see the Pope. During this second visit, the Pontiff consecrated him Archbishop of Utrecht. (The year was 696).
Saint Willibrord founded the monastery of Echternach, Luxembourg, to serve as a center for his missionary work. He also extended his efforts of missionary work into Denmark.
He faced chronic dangers from outraged pagans, including one who nearly murdered him after he tore down a pagan idol.
In time, Saint Willibrord was able to succeed in bringing conversion to the Netherlands. Multitudes were converted and he built churches and appointed priests all over the land.
He performed many miracles and had the gift of prophesy.
He worked unceasingly as bishop for more than 50 years.
Saint Willibrord died while on retreat at Echternach on November 7, 739.
For his efforts, he is called the ‘Apostle of the Frisians’
Saint Willibrord,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

St. Willibrord pray for us!

Pope St. Sergius, Sts. Egberd and Wigbert, pray for us!

[odhiambo]

November 8

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Godfrey( Geoffroy)
Among many other saints!

[odhiambo]

Saint Godfrey

Saint Godfrey (Geoffroy) was born around the year 1066 at Molincourt in France.
His parents were a distinguished Christian couple.
He was baptized by the abbot of the monastery of Saint Quentin. Later on in his youth, his parents handed him over to the same abbot for his education.
When Saint Godfrey was in his twenties, he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Noyon in which diocese,the abbey of Mount Saint Quentin was situated.
Soon after his ordination, he was voted abbot of the abbey of Our Lady of Nogent.
It is noted that when a severe drought was devastating the region, the bishop of Soissons, Hugh Pierrefonds, went to Godfrey for advice. The Saint recommended fasting, not just for the faithful, but for the animals as well!
On the first day of the fast, when the abbot rose to preach in the Church of Saint Steven, the sky suddenly darkened and heavy rains fell!
When the bishop of Amiens died, Godfrey was voted to replace him.
Saint Godfrey was austere but popular with the people.
One day while on his way to Soissons, he was taken ill.
He died after giving his farewell blessing to the religious of the monastery of Soissons.
The date was November 8, 1115.
Saint Godfrey,
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

St Godfrey, pray for us and the animals and the land!!   I'm coming across the name 'Godfrey' after a long time. It is quite commonly heard in India. 

[Shin]

Haha! I love the fasting for the animals as well. It reminds me hmm, was it Ninevah, did they do that there too?

I think I have heard of this done on more than one occasion, even a tradition.

I know when Lent comes, I give the fishies a touch of it too. It's quite fitting, no?

[odhiambo]

Haha! I love the fasting for the animals as well. It reminds me hmm, was it Ninevah, did they do that there too?

I think I have heard of this done on more than one occasion, even a tradition.

I know when Lent comes, I give the fishies a touch of it too. It's quite fitting, no?

It is fitting Shin. They too are the Lords' creatures; a touch of fasting in submission to Him will  hurt them none!
Remember the hymn: "All the Earth proclain the Lord..."

[odhiambo]

St Godfrey, pray for us and the animals and the land!!   I'm coming across the name 'Godfrey' after a long time. It is quite commonly heard in India. 

It is a beautiful name meaning "God’s Peace".
It is not unusual in these parts also.

[odhiambo]

November 9
Today we commemorate
The Dedication of
the Lateral Basilica

[odhiambo]

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateral Basilica.
Today the entire Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateral Basilica in Rome by Pope Sylvester 1 in 324.
The Basilica, which was erected by the Emperor Constantine, is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
A Latin inscription reads “omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis mater et caput”
This translates to “The mother and head of all churches of the city and of the world”
The Basilica was originally named the Arch basilica of the Most Holy Saviour; only after the 6th century was the names of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist added.
Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of Rome. Beginning in 1565 however, it was extended to the churches of the Roman rite.
The honoring of the sacred edifice is a way of expressing love and veneration for the Roman Church.

[odhiambo]

Today is also the Memorial of
Saint Theodore Tyro
Martyr
Saint Theodore was born of a noble family in the East.
He is one of the most celebrated of the martyrs from this region.
While still a youth, he was enrolled in the imperial army.
Early in 306 the emperor issued an edict requiring all Christians to offer sacrifice.
Theodore had to choose between apostasy and death.
He declared before his commander that he was ready to be cut in pieces and offer up every limb to his Creator, Who had died for him.
The commander gave Theodore time to rethink his resolution. Theodore, however, had no second thoughts. He, instead, set on fire the great temple of Isis.
Still the commander entreated him to renounce his faith and save his life.
Theodore made the sign of the cross, and answered: "As long as I have breath, I will confess the name of Christ." After cruel torture, the judge bade him think of the shame to which Christ had brought him. "This shame," Theodore answered, "I and all who invoke His name take with joy." He was condemned to be burnt.
Theodore was thus martyred 
Saint Theodore,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

10 th November.

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Leo the Great
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Leo the Great.
Leo was born in the year 400 at Tuscany, Italy.
As a student, he was very gifted, especially in the studies of Scripture and Theology.
He was an eloquent speaker and a writer.
After ordination, he served as deacon to Pope Saint Celestine 1. He also served as deacon to Pope Saint Sixtus.
Leo was elected Pope while he was away in Gaul.
He was consecrated on September 29, 440.
He started his pontificate by reportedly preaching ninety six sermons that stated his opposition to the heresies of his time. These were the heresies of Plagianism, Manichaeism, Nestrorianism and others.
During his papacy there occurred the invasion of Attila the Hun.
When Attila and his Huns marched on Rome, Leo went to Mantua to meet him. He pleaded with him to leave the city.
It is told that as Leo spoke, Attila saw the vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword and threatening to kill the invaders if he did not obey Leo.
Attila left.
As Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter the Apostle, it is generally believed that it was Saint Peter in that vision of Attila.

When Genseric invaded Rome in 455, Leo’s eloquence as well as his sanctity saved the city yet again.
Leo is believed to be one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church.
He wrote letters and sermons, encouraging and teaching his flock. Many of  the writings have survived.
It is for these writings that Leo was pronounced Doctor of the Church in 1574.
Leo died in Rome on January 10, 461.
Saint Leo The Great.
Pray for us!