"The poor are not a distraction for the Church, but our beloved brothers and sisters, for by their lives, their words and their wisdom, they put us in contact with the truth of the Gospel." Pope Leo XIV

Today we honor St. Martin of Tours (d. 379), a soldier in Gaul and convert to the faith, he became a monk at Ligugé and then bishop of Tours. Known for giving his cloak to a beggar and then had a vision of Christ wearing that same cloak.

"Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain? Those who walk without fault, who act with justice, and speak the truth from the heart." Ps. 15:1-2

"Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts, his servants who do his will. Give thanks to the Lord, all his works, in every place where he rules. My soul, give thanks to the Lord!" Ps. 103:21-22

"In designing his Church God worked with such skill that in the fullness of time it would resemble a single great family embracing all people. It can be identified, as we know, by certain distinctive characteristics, notably its universality and unity." Pope Pius XI

"O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you." Ps. 139:1-2

"Lord, make haste and answer for my spirit fails within me. Do not hide your face lest I become like those in the grave. In the morning let me know your love for I put my trust in you." Ps. 143:7-8a

“My good Jesus, give me the grace to love you with all my heart and to serve you with great fidelity in this life so that I can be a grain of sand to build up your glory for all eternity.” St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Today we honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (d. 1917), an Italian immigrant to the United States. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. The first U.S. citizen to be canonized, she is patroness of immigrants.

"You must hold fast to faith, be firmly grounded and steadfast in it, unshaken in the hope promised you by the gospel you have heard. It is the gospel which has been announced to every creature under heaven." Col. 1:23

"Keep yourselves in God’s love as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which leads to eternal life, and be merciful to those who doubt." Jude 21-22

"God is merciful love, and his plan of love, which unfolds and is fulfilled in history, is above all  his descent and coming among us to free us from slavery, fear, sin and the power of death." Pope Leo XIV

"There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the spirit, the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has freed you from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:1-2,10-11

"What we await are new heavens and a new earth where, according to his promise, the justice of God will reside. So, beloved, while waiting for this, make every effort to be found without stain or defilement, and at peace in his sight." 2 Pt. 3:13-14

"It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to us, and we to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for 'God is Charity'" (1 Jn. 4:8). St. Albert the Great

Today we honor the Doctor of the Church, St. Albert the Great (d. 1280), a German Dominican friar who taught theology at Cologne, Germany and Paris, France. Among his students was St. Thomas Aquinas. He then became Bishop of Regensburg, Germany.

"I have called to you, O Lord; hasten to help me! Hear my voice when I cry to you. Let my prayer arise before you like incense, the raising of my hands like an evening oblation." Ps. 141:1-2