Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Memorial of Saints (November 21)

The Presentation of Mary is a feast rooted in the Church's ancient tradition. Tradition says that Mary was brought to the Temple of Jerusalem, at the age of three, to be consecrated to the Lord. She remained in the Temple for years until the age of fifteen, when she was returned to her family with purity and wholesomeness.

St. Albert of Louvain became an archdeacon of Brabant. In 1191 A.D., he was elected bishop of Liege. There was some conflict over this episcopate with Albert's cousin. But when Albert appealed to Pope Celestine III, the pope declared Albert's election as bishop valid. Because of this and other related conflicts, St. Albert was killed while on his way to Saint-Remi abbey (died ca. 1202 A.D.).

St. Amalberga married and had three children. When her spouse decided to become a Benedictine monk, Amalberga also entered the Benedictines as a nun in Flanders. It was in this abbey in Mauberg, Flanders, where St. Amalberga lived in holiness and spent the rest of her life devoted to prayer and the Benedictine way of life (died ca. 690 A.D.).

St. Gelasius I was elected pope on March 1, 492 A.D., succeeding Pope Felix. Gelasius was very much involved in defending the rights of the patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch, because these patriarchates were being encroached upon by the patriarchate of Constantinople. Aside from this involvement, St. Gelasius also ordered the reception of the Eucharistic species in both forms (bread and wine) - something that is being done in post-Vatican II Eucharistic worship and liturgy (died ca. 496 A.D.).

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