Calendar of Saints - 19 November

19 November	• yesterday • tomorrow

Saint Mechtilde of Helfta

Also known as

• Mechtilde of Hackeborn-Wippra
• Mechtilde of Hackenborn
• Mechtilde of Magdaburg
• Mathilda, Mathildis, Matilda, Maud, Mechthild, Mechtild, Mechtildis

Additional Memorial

26 February in some Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries

Profile

Born to a pious, powerful Thuringian noble family; her older sister was a nun. Convent-educated from age seven, Mechtilde became a nun at Rodersdorf, Switzerland. She moved to the Helfta monastery in 1258 where her sister served as abbess. Teacher and choir director at the convent school at Helfta. Visionary and mystic. Novice mistress for Saint Gertrude the Great who wrote The Book of Special Grace about Mechtilde's teachings; she was initially terrified that the book might cause trouble, but Christ appeared to her in prayer and told her not to worry. She became a much sought spiritual advisor to her sister nuns, laity and learned Dominicans. May have been the inspiration for the character Matelda in Dante's Purgatorio.

Born

c.1241 at her family's castle of Helfta near Eisleben, Saxony, Germany

Died

19 November 1298 at Helfta monastery of natural causes

Patronage

against blindess (one well-known miracle was healing the blindness of a nun)

Representation

• dove on a book
• healing a blind nun
• receiving a vision of Mary
• with Saint Gertrude the Great

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

There has never before been anyone like her in our monastery, and I fear there never will be again. - Saint Gertrude of Helfta, about Saint Mechtilde

O almighty, everlasting God, seeing that it is the true faith of your Church that the holy sacrifice of the Mass instituted by your Son is infinitely pleasing to your divine Majesty, and renders you an infinite worship and praise, and since by it alone you can be worthily and adequately worshiped and praised; impelled by an ardent desire of your honour and glory, I purpose to assist at this present sacrifice with the utmost devotion of which I am capable, and to offer this most Holy Oblation to you in union with your priest. I offer you not only this sacrifice, but all those which shall be this day offered from every part of the world; and I protest before you that if it depended on me whether they should be offered or omitted, I would put forth all my powers to procure and further their being offered. And were I able now to raise up to you, of the stones which are scattered over the earth, most devoted priests, who should day by day and with glowing fervour offer to you this sacrifice of praise, I would most gladly do it. But, being what I am, I implore you, O most holy Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, to pour into the hearts of all your priests, and especially those who might perchance otherwise offer you this acceptable sacrifice coldly and without due recollectedness, the spirit of grace and of fervour, that they may be enabled to celebrate your tremendous Mystery with becoming awe and devotion. Grant to me, and to all those who are here present with me, that we may join in this most sacred action with reverence and devotion, so that we may have our portion in its fruit and effect. I confess to you, O almighty God, and to the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and to all the Saints, my own sins and those of all the world; and I lay them on your sacred Altar, that they may be entirely blotted out by the virtue of this sacrifice. Do you deign to grant us this grace, by that love which held back your hand from smiting when your most beloved Son, your only Son, was immolated by the hands of ungodly men. Amen. - prayer before Mass, by Saint Mechtilde

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mechtilde-of-helfta/

Saint Ebbe of Minster-in-Thanet

Also known as

• Aebbe of Minster-in-Thanet
• Domina Aebbe
• Domneva, Ermenburga, Ermenburgh
• Lady Ebba

Profile

Daughter of Prince Eormenred of Kent, England; grand-daughter of King Edbald. Sister of Saint Ermengitha, Saint Etheldreda, Saint Ethelred, and Saint Ethelbert of Eastry. Married to King Merewalh of Magonset. Mother of Saint Mildred of Thanet, Saint Milburga, and Saint Milgitha, and a son named Merefin who died very young.

In 664, Ebbe's cousin Egbert ascended to the throne of Kent. Worried about claims to the crown by Ethelred and Ethelbert, Egbert had them murdered. He later repented of the crime, and offered Queen Ebbe compensation for the loss (weregild). Ebbe chose a gift of as much land as her tame doe could run around in one course; the king agreed, and the Isle of Thanet was chosen as the site. The king's advisor, Thunor, who had recommended the murders, accused Ebbe of witchcraft, mounted his horse, and set off in pursuit of the doe; the earth promptly opened and swallowed him. The doe circled a large plot of land, which became the site of the monastery of Minster-on-Thanet, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; today the area is known as Ebbsfleet in memory of Ebbe. On the death of King Merewalh in 673, Ebbe entered the convent as its first abbess.

Born

7th century Kent, England

Died

19 November 694 at Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, England of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ebbe-of-minster-in-thanet/

Blessed James Benfatti

Also known as

• James Benefatti
• James of Mantua
• Father of the Poor

Profile

Dominican at Mantua, Italy in 1290. Doctor of theology. Priest. Friend and brother friar with Nicholas Boccasino who later became Pope Benedict XI, and for whom James held several support offices including papal legate. Bishop of Mantua in 1303. Noted for his devotion to the poor, and his care for the sick during a plague epidemic. Rebuilt his cathedral and refurbished churches. Papal legate for Pope John XXII.

Born

late 13th century at Mantua, Italy

Died

• 19 November 1332 at Mantua, Italy of natural causes
• body found incorrupt when exhumed in 1480
• body found incorrupt when exhumed in 1604

Beatified

1859 (cultus confirmed) by Pope Pius IX

Prayers

Eternal God, you established Blessed James as a model for your flock and made him renowned for his zeal for peace and for his mercy towards your people. By his prayers and example may we be united in the truth of your word and ever ardent in your divine love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-james-benfatti/

Pope Saint Pontian

Also known as

Pontianus

Profile

Son of Calpurnius. Chosen 18th pope in 230. Ended the schism of Hippolytus and reconciled the schismatics with the Church. Exiled with Saint Hippolytus by emperor Maximinus Thrax to Sardinia and sentenced to work in the mines, he abdicated the papacy on 28 September 235 so a new man could lead the Church.

Born

at Rome, Italy

Papal Ascension

• 21 July 230
• abdicated on 28 September 235

Died

• 235 at Sardinia from the terrible treatment received in the mines
• remains brought to Rome, Italy by Pope Saint Fabian and buried in the catacomb of Callistus

Patronage

Montaldo Scarampi, Italy

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-pontian/

Saint Barlaam of Antioch

Profile

Uneducated Christian peasant. Jailed for his faith during the persecution of Diocletian. Brought to trial in 304, he was scourged, racked, tortured, and ordered to deny his faith; he refused. In an effort to make it look as though Barlaam were making an incense offering to an idol, the judge had the prisoner's hand covered in incense, then held over the coals of a brazier. He thought that when Barlaam flinched from the pain, the incense would fall in the fire, he could declare that Barlaam had made sacrifice, and he could be turned loose as an example. Instead, Barlaam never flinched. When his entire hand had burned off, the judge gave up and had him murdered. Martyr.

Born

Antioch

Died

304 at Caesarea, Cappadocia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-barlaam-of-antioch/

Old Testament prophet whose writings are dated between the 9th and 5th centuries before Christ. Outside of the text, which announces the punishment of the enemies of Israel, nothing is known about him.

Name Meaning

servant of the Lord

https://catholicsaints.info/obadiah-the-prophet/

Saint Nerses the Great

Profile

Educated at Cappadocia. Married a princess of the Mamikonian family. Father of Saint Isaac the Great. Catholicos in 353. When some of his proposed reforms displeased King Arshak III, Nerses was exiled until recalled in 369 by King Pap - who murdered him by poisoning 4 years later.

Died

poisoned in 373

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-nerses-the-great/

Saint James of Sasseau

Profile

Army officer, he travelled extensively. He was eventually assigned to Gaul where he retired. Priest at Clermont, France. Benedictine monk at Bourges, France. Hermit at Sasseau, France.

Born

at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)

Died

c.865 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-james-of-sasseau/

Saint Atto of Tordino

Profile

Benedictine monk. First Abbot of Tordino Abbey near Teramo, Italy in 1004.

Died

• c.1010
• pilgrims used to drink the water that dripped from the ceiling above his tomb on Pentecost
• tomb and relics have long since been destroyed

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-atto-of-tordino/