As we remember the faithful departed and give thanks to God for all our blessings this month, let us also remember and give thanks for the holy lives of saints we look toward for godly examples of life.

St. Charles Borromeo

Nov. 4

In a time of reinvigoration during the Counter-Reformation, Charles Borromeo was on the frontlines helping to codify Church doctrine and reform abuses. He was instrumental in helping theologians work through differences in doctrine and keeping the council unified. When the council concluded, Charles became the Bishop of Milan and worked tirelessly to end the rampant corruption among clergy and traveled to the far corners of the diocese to teach Church theology and doctrine. Charles gave up a life of wealth and luxury to serve the Church, and is remembered for his intellect and energy. He was canonized in 1610.

Pope St. Leo the Great

Nov. 10

This pope-turned-saint is famously known for saving the city of Rome from the ravages of the barbarian king, Attila the Hun, during the fifth century, as well as his sermons. His tireless defense of the Church’s teaching on the two natures of Christ – both human and divine – is credited with helping to stop heresies in the ancient world from spreading. St. Leo felt it was his duty to unify the whole Church, and he in turn implored his bishops to carefully tend to their own flocks. He took his role as the successor to St. Peter very seriously and taught that Christians are to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world – his presence. He reminded people often of their fundamental dignity as Christians, saying: “No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ.”

Bl. Caius of Korea

Nov. 15

Searching for peace as a Buddhist monk failed Blessed Caius as he survived war imprisonment and a shipwreck in 1592. It wasn’t until he left the temple, found Jesuit priests, was baptized and received instruction in the Christian faith that he finally found what he was looking for. He spent the remainder of his life in service, especially to lepers, and helped missionaries by preaching in his native tongue to Koreans taken to Japan. In the end, he was arrested for harboring missionaries and was burned at the stake.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Nov. 17

Losing her mother tragically at a young age made St. Elizabeth turn to God. Her husband Ludwig, one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported her charitable and religious works, leading a life of prayer, serving the poor and leading a simple, austere life of penance and devotion. Instead of enjoying the perks of wealth and royalty, Elizabeth used her position for charity in the name of the Lord, going so far as to give away the royal court’s clothing and goods to people in need when floods and disease struck in 1226. She even had a hospital built and gave provisions to nearly 1,000 people daily. When her beloved husband passed, St. Elizabeth joined the Third Order of St. Francis and lived out the remainder of her days in devotion to God and charitable labor, passing away at the age of 24.

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Nov. 25

Tradition holds that St. Catherine was of noble birth in the late third century, during the time emperor Maxentius started persecuting Christians. As a teenager, she denounced his cruelty publicly, speaking eloquently in defense of her faith through the power of the Holy Spirit and converting pagans as she spoke. Catherine was arrested and sentenced to be tortured and imprisoned after the emperor was unable to make her give up her faith. Despite her torture and imprisonment, she still managed to convert more than 200 more pagans who visited her. Maxentius’ final attempt to sway her came in the form of a marriage proposal, which would have made her an empress. Catherine refused, however, claiming she was married to Christ. When execution by breaking wheel was unsuccessful – the wheel shattered when Catherine touched it – she was finally martyred by beheading.