25 November • yesterday
• tomorrow
Optional Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr


Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Also known as

Katherine, Ekaterina, Katharina, Katarina

Profile

Apocryphal. Born to the nobility. Learned in science and oratory. Converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximinus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximinus had her scourged and imprisoned. The empress and the leader of the army of Maximinus were amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximinus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed. She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels.

Immensely popular during the Middle Ages, there were many chapels and churches devoted to her throughout western Europe, and she was reported as one of the divine advisors to Saint Joan of Arc. Her reputation for learning and wisdom led to her patronage of libaries, librarians, teachers, archivists, and anyone associated with wisdom or teaching. Her debating skill and persuasive language has led to her patronage of lawyers. And her torture on the wheel led to those who work with them asking for her intercession. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

While there may well have been a noble, educated, virginal lady who swayed pagans with her rhetoric during the persecutions, the accretion of legend, romance and poetry has long since buried the real Catherine.

Died

beheaded c.305 in Alexandria, Egypt

Patronage

• apologists
• craftsmen who work with a wheel
• archivists
• attornies, barristers, lawyers, jurists
• dying people
educators, teachers
• girls
• knife grinders, knife sharpeners
• librarians
• libraries
• maidens, unmarried girls and women
• mechanics
• millers
• nurses
• old maids
• philosophers
• potters
• preachers
• scholars
schoolchildren, students
• scribes
• secretaries
• spinners
• stenographers
• tanners
• theologians
• turners
• University of Heidelberg
• University of Paris
• wheelwrights
• Dumaguete, Philippines, diocese of
• Saint Catharines, Ontario, diocese of
• 12 cities

Representation

• spiked wheel
• woman strapped to the spiked wheel on which she was martyred
• woman arguing with pagan philosophers

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-catherine-of-alexandria/


Saint Peter of Alexandria

Profile

Suffered in the persecution of Decius, but survived. Renowned for his knowledge of science and the Bible. Head of the catechetical school at Alexandria, Egypt. Bishop of Alexandria in 300. Opposed extreme Origenism. May have been the first to deal with the Arian heresy.

During the Diocletian persecution, Peter fled the area with many of his flock. Criticized by many for being lenient and forgiving to Christians who had renounced their faith during the persecutions. However, when a rogue bishop usurped Peter's position, the Meletian schism broke out in his clergy, and Peter had to return from hiding to deal with it. Peter excommunicated Meletius and convened a synod of bishops to condemn the schism. His writings were used in the Council of Ephesus and the Council of Chalcedon.

Bishop Peter was martyred with Father Dio, Father Ammonius, and Father Faustus, three of his priests, in the persecutions of Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus. As he was the last Christian martyred in Alexandria by civil authorities, the Coptic Church calls him "the seal and complement of the martyrs".

Born

at Alexandria, Egypt

Died

• martyred in 311 at Alexandria, Egypt
• initially buried in an Alexandria martyr's cemetery
• most relics later enshrined in a church at Grasse, France

Representation

• embracing his executioner
• with Christ appearing to him as a child in rags (from a scene in the Acts of the Martyrdom of Saint Peter)

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-peter-of-alexandria-25-november/


Blessed Beatrice d'Ornacieux

Also known as

• Beatrice di Ornacieu
• Beatrice of Eymeu
• Beatrix...

Additional Memorial

• 27 November (diocese of Grenoble, France)
• 13 February (diocese of Valence, France)

Profile

In 1273, at the age of thirteen, Beatice joined the Carthusians at the Charterhouse of Parménie, France. In 1301, she and two others, Luisa Alleman of Grésivaudan and Margherita di Sassenaye, were sent to found the monastery of Eymeu in the diocese of Valance, France. Noted for her devotion to the Passion of Christ, offering herself to suffer for others and as penance for the world. Said to have driven a nail through her left hand to help realize the sufferings of the Crucifixion.

Born

c.1260 in Ornacieu, Dauphine (in the southeastern area of modern France

Died

• 25 November 1303 at the monastery of Eymeu, Valence (in modern France) of natural causes
• re-interred in Parménie, France
• re-interred in the Olivetan sanctury there in 1901
• relics enshrined in the church of Rancurel

Beatified

15 April 1869 by Pope Pius XI (cultus confirmation)

Representation

nun holding a nail or with a nail piercing her hand

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-beatrice-dornacieux/


Blessed Elizabeth Achler

Also known as

• Elizabeth Acheer
• Elizabeth Achlin
• Elizabeth Bona von Reute
• Elizabeth den Gode
• Elizabeth of Reute
• Elizabeth the Good
• Elizabeth the Recluse
• Elizabeth von Reute
• Betha, Elisabeth, Elsbeth

Additional Memorial

9 December (Franciscans)

Profile

Born poor, the daughter of John and Anne Achler. Franciscan tertiary at age 14, but found it hard to lead a religious life while living with her parents. At age 17 she joined four other tertiaries in a community in Reute, Germany; she lived there the rest of her life. For most of her life she was subject to ecstasies, and received visions of heaven, hell and purgatory. Stigmatist whose wounds hurt constantly, but which bled on Fridays and during Lent. Had the gift of inedia, eating nothing but the Eucharist for long periods.

Born

25 November 1386 at Waldsee, Wurttemberg, Swabia, Germany

Died

• 25 November 1420 at Reute, Germany of natural causes
• buried in the church at Reute

Beatified

19 July 1766 by Pope Clement XIII (cultus confirmed)

Patronage

Swabia, Germany

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-elizabeth-achler/


Saint Petrus Yi Ho-yong

Also known as

Peteuro, Pietro, Peter

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Brother of Saint Agatha Yi So-sa. Layman catechist in the apostolic vicariate of Korea. Imprisoned for four years, regularly beaten, several bones broken, and he eventually died from his mistreatment. One of the earliest of the Martyrs of Korea.

Born

1803 in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Died

25 November 1838 in Seoul Prison, South Korea of abuse received in prison

Canonized

6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-petrus-yi-ho-yong/


Blessed Beatrix of Ornacieux

Also known as

Beatrice

Additional Memorial

27 November in the diocese of Grenoble, France

Profile

Carthusian nun. Founded a Carthusian house at Eymieux, France. Known for her devotion to the Passion of Christ; said to have driven a nail through her left hand to help realize the sufferings of the Crucifixion.

Born

c.1260 in Ornacieu, France

Died

c.1306 at the monastery at Eymieux, France of natural causes

Beatified

15 April 1869 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmed)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-beatrice-dornacieux/


Saint Moses of Rome

Profile

May have been of Jewish ancestry. Imperial Roman citizen. Priest. Noted preacher. Adamant opponent of the heresy of Novatianism. Correspondent with Saint Cyprian at the beginning of the persecutions of Decius. After the execution of Pope saint Fabian under Emperor Decius, he administered the Church with the help of the priests and bishops who were in Rome. Helped reconcile repentant apostates who were sick and about to die. Imprisoned for nearly a year for his faith. Martyr.

Born

Rome, Italy

Died

c.251 from terrible conditions in prison

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-moses-of-rome/


Saint Mercurius of Caesarea

Also known as

Mercury

Profile

Scythian Christian soldier who distinguished himself against the barbarian invaders of the Roman empire, and gained the notice of Decius. However, he refused to sacrifice to the pagan god Artemis, and so was tortured and executed. Some versions of his story include angelic visions and messages received in dreams, but his being a soldier and martyr is all we really know.

Died

• beheaded c.250 Caesarea, Cappadocia
• relics enshrined in several churches in southern Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mercurius-of-caesarea/


Saint Audentius of Milan

Also known as

Audenzio

Profile

Born to the imperial Roman nobility, and a sentator from Milan. When visited Saint Julius of Novara on the island of Orta he was so taken by Julius' obvious holiness that he gave him moral, spiritual and financial support in his evangelization work.

Died

• c.400 of natural causes
• buried on Isola San Giulio, Italy next to Saint Julius

Patronage

Pettenasco, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-audentius-of-milan/


Blessed Ekbert of Muensterschwarzach

Also known as

Egbert, Eckbert, Ekkbert

Profile

Monk at Gorze. Abbot of Mönsterschwarzach, Bavaria, Germany.

Born

c.1010

Died

1075 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ekbert-of-muensterschwarzach/


Saint Imina of Würzburg

Also known as

Imma, Immina

Profile

Daughter of Duke Hedan II of Thuringia. Donated Marienburg castle in Würzburg, Germany to Bishop Burkhard, and retired from public life to become a nun. Abbess at Karlburg, Franconia.

Born

c.700 at Würzburg, Germany

Died

752 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-imma-of-wurzburg/


Blessed Adalbert of Caramaico

Profile

Benedictine monk at Casauria, Abruzzi, Italy. He retired to live as a hermit in the Caramaico mountain area near Chieti, Italy. There he attracted so many would-be spiritual students that he founded the Saint Nicholas monastery for them.

Died

c.1045 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adalbert-of-caramaico/


Blessed Conrad of Heisterbach

Also known as

Konrad

Profile

Soldier. Ministered to the margraves of Thuringia until he was about 50 years old. He then became a Cistercian monk at Heisterbach Abbey in western Germany.

Died

c.1200 at Heisterbach Abbey, Germany of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-conrad-of-heisterbach/


Blessed Jacinto Serrano López

Profile

Dominican priest. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.

Born

30 July 1901 in Urrea de Gaén, Teruel, Spain

Died

25 November 1936 in Híjar, Teruel, Spain

Beatified

11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jacinto-serrano-lopez/


Blessed Santiago Meseguer Burillo

Profile

Dominican priest. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.

Born

1 May 1885 in Híjar, Teruel, Spain

Died

25 November 1936 in Híjar, Teruel, Spain

Beatified

11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-santiago-meseguer-burillo/


Saint Erasmus of Antioch

Also known as

Elme

Profile

Priest. Bishop in Syria. During a period of persecution of Christians, he fled to Mount Linanus and lived as a hermit for 17 years. Martyred in the persecutions of Licinius.

Born

Antioch, Syria

Died

Antioch, Syria

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


Saint Alanus of Lavaur

Also known as

Alain, Ala

Profile

Seventh century founder and abbot of the monastery of Lavaur in Gascony (in modern France).

Died

• 7th century of natural causes
• relics preserved in the hospice of the house he founded

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alanus-of-lavaur/


Blessed Garcia of Arlanza

Profile

Soldier. Monk. Abbot of Arlanza monastery, Burgos, Spain in 1039. Friend and counsellor of King Ferdinand I of Castile.

Born

at Quintanilla, Old Castile (in modern Spain)

Died

c.1073 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-garcia-of-arlanza/


Saint Marculo of Numidia

Also known as

Marcolo

Profile

Bishop. Murdered for his faith by a man named Macario in the reign of emperor Constantine. Martyr.

Died

thrown from a rock in 347 in Numidia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marculo-of-numidia/


Saint Jucunda of Reggio Aemilia

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Prosper of Reggio. Nun.

Born

Reggio Aemilia, Italy

Died

466 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jucunda-of-reggio-aemilia/


Saint Bernold of Ottobeuren

Profile

Benedictine monk and priest of Ottobeuren in Bavaria, Germany. Known in his day as a "wonder worker".

Died

c.1050 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bernold-of-ottobeuren/


Blessed Guido of Casauria

Profile

Benedictine monk at Farfa, Italy. Abbot of the monastery at Casauria, Abruzzi, Italy.

Died

c.1045 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-guido-of-casauria/


Saint Maurino of Agen

Also known as

Maurin, Maurinus

Profile

Sixth century evangelist in the rural areas of Agen, Aquitaine (in modern France). Martyr.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maurino-of-agen/


Martyrs of Africa

Profile

A group of 13 Christians murdered together for their faith in Africa, date unknown. The only details to have survived are their names - Claudian, Cyprian, Donatus, Felix, Januarius, Julian, Lucian, Marcian, Martialis, Peter, Quirianus, Victor and Vitalis.

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-africa-25-november/


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