Here we have five great saints celebrated in November, beginning with St Charles Borromeo whose feast day is today!
St Charles Borromeo – 4th November
In 1538, Charles was born into the noble and wealthy Borromeo family. As a young boy, he chose a path of faith and service rather than privilege, beginning his studies for clerical life. After the death of his older brother, Charles was appointed a cardinal at the age of 22, while still a layperson. This was possible because, at that time, membership in the clerical state did not require the reception of sacred orders as it does now. He was ordained a priest in 1563 and later became Archbishop of Milan in 1565.
Charles remained in the diocese of Milan and focused greatly on knowing his people. During the plague in 1567, he chose to stay in the city despite many civil authorities leaving. He cared for the sick and dying, provided daily food for tens of thousands of people, opened hospitals, and offered shelters for the needy. He promoted teaching children the Catechism and worked tirelessly to implement the reforms of the Council of Trent.
See more in the following locations:
Secondary Unit 21 – Part 7 – Page 1
Secondary Unit 26 – Part 5 – Page 8
Secondary Unit 52 – Part 3 – Page 10
St Leo the Great – 10th November
St Leo the Great is one of the most notable popes in history, who guided the Church through political chaos and theological conflict. Prior to his papacy, Leo grew up during a time when the Roman Empire was weakening, and the Church was becoming a growing source of hope.
He served as a deacon under Pope Celestine I and Pope Sixtus III and was sent on important missions to settle Church disputes. In the year 440, Leo was chosen as pope and worked tirelessly to strengthen the spiritual foundations of the Church. His writing, The Tome of Leo, became a defining document at the Council of Chalcedon, affirming that Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
He was not only the first pope to take the name Leo but also the first to be remembered as “the Great.” He was the first pope whose sermons have come down to us and one of only two popes to hold the title Doctor of the Church.
See more in the following locations:
Secondary Unit 4 – Part 11 – Page 1
Secondary Unit 56 – Part 1 – Page 10
St Cecilia – 22nd November
St Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians, was born into a noble Roman family and had vowed her life to God. Despite this, her parents arranged for her to marry a pagan nobleman named Valerian.
Cecilia told Valerian that an angel of the Lord watched over her and would punish him if he violated her, but love him if he respected her. For Valerian to see the angel, he had to go to the third milestone on the Via Appia and be baptised by Pope Urban I — and he did.
Valerian and Cecilia’s brother were martyred together, and shortly after, Cecilia also faced martyrdom, ultimately giving her life for Christ. She was struck three times in the neck with a sword but lived for another three days. Before dying, she asked the pope to convert her home into a church.
St Catherine of Alexandria – 25th November
Born in Egypt, Catherine was of noble birth, possibly a princess, according to tradition. She was well educated and an avid scholar. As a teenager, Catherine had a vision of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, which persuaded her to become a Christian.
Catherine was very wise and often debated philosophers and leaders who opposed her. She personally visited Emperor Maxentius to denounce his cruelty. He challenged orators and philosophers to debate her, but none were able to defeat or intimidate her into giving up her belief, in fact, many converted to Christianity.
She was arrested and tortured but never gave up her faith. Maxentius made a final attempt to have Catherine abandon her beliefs by proposing marriage and offering her the position of empress. Catherine refused, and he ordered her to be executed on a breaking wheel — a punishment normally reserved for the worst criminals. When she touched the wheel, it shattered. She was then ordered to be beheaded.
St Andrew the Apostle – 30th November
St Andrew was the older brother of St Peter. He is lovingly known as the “First Called,” as he was the first disciple to follow Jesus. His enthusiasm and missionary spirit appeared immediately after encountering Jesus; he went straight to tell Peter that the Messiah had been found.
According to tradition, Andrew preached the Good News throughout what is now Greece and Turkey. He was martyred by crucifixion, bound to an X-shaped cross — now known as St Andrew’s Cross.
Continuing to proclaim Christ until his last breath, his life and legacy remind us to renew our own call to discipleship and to live each day as a witness of God’s love.
