Tuesday, 31st October, Blessed Dominic Collins, martyr, was born around 1566 in the city of Youghal, Co. Cork. In 1598, after a military career, he entered the Society of Jesus as a brother. He returned to Ireland in 1601, but on 17 June 1602 he was captured by the English who tried in vain to make him abjure his faith. Condemned to death, he was hanged in his native city on 31 October 1602.
Wednesday, 1st November, All Saints, “The ultimate object of veneration of the saints is the glory of God and the sanctification of man by conforming one’s life fully to the divine will and by imitating the virtue of those who were pre-eminent disciples of the Lord. Catechesis and other forms of doctrinal instruction should therefore make known to the faithful that our relationship with the Saints must be seen in the light of the faith and should not obscure the adoration, due to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. But intensify it’ (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 212).”
Thursday 2nd November, All Souls, “Indeed, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honoured with great respect the memory of the dead; and ‘because it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ (2 Mac 12: 46), she offers her suffrages for them. these consist, primarily, in the celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist, and in other pious exercises, such as prayers for the dead, alms deeds, works of mercy, and the application of indulgences to the souls of the faithful departed.” (Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 251)
Friday, 3rd November, St. Malachy, bishop, was born near Armagh in 1094. He was vicar to Ceallach, the reforming Bishop of Armagh, and he continued this work of reform as Bishop of Connor and, later, Bishop of Armagh. Earlier he had restored the monastery at Bangor and in 1142 founded the monastery of Mellifont, the first Cistercian house in Ireland. He had visited St. Bernard at Clairvaux on a journey to and from Rome in 1139. He also introduced the Canons Regular into Ireland. In 1148 Malachy set out from Ireland to meet the Pope but died on his way at Clairvaux, where he caught fever and died in the arms of Bernard and is buried in the abbey church.
Saturday, November 4th, St. Charles Borromeo, 1538-84, ordained priest and bishop in 1563 and resident Archbishop of Milan in 1563. He drafted the Catechism of the Council of Trent, having been prominent in the final sessions of that Council. Patron saint of catechists and seminarians.