• St. Peter of Alcantara (1562). Priest, Religious. (Traditional)
• Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests, & Companions (1642). Martyr. They are patrons of Canada. (Current) The North American Martyrs

PETER, while still a youth, left his home at Alcantara in Spain, and entered a convent of Discalced Franciscans. He rose quickly to high posts in the Order, but his thirst for penance was still unappeased, and in 1539, being then forty years old, he founded the first convent of the “Strict Observance.” The cells of the friars resembled graves rather than dwelling-places. That of St. Peter himself was four feet and a half in length, so that he could never lie down; he ate but once in three days; his sackcloth habit and a cloak were his only garments, and he never covered his head or feet. In the bitter winter he would open the door and window of his cell that, by closing them again, he might experience some sensation of warmth. Amongst those whom he trained to perfection was St. Teresa. He read her soul, approved of her spirit of prayer, and strengthened her to carry out her reforms. St. Peter died, with great joy, kneeling in prayer, October 18th, 1562, at the age of sixty-three.

REFLECTION: If men do not go about barefoot now, nor undergo sharp penances, as St. Peter did, there are many ways of trampling on the world; and our Lord teaches them when He finds the necessary courage.

WORD OF THE DAY

CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL. The Christians in the State of Israel are mainly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Their largest community is in Nazareth. Most of them speak Arabic, and their customs are similar to those of their Arab neighbors. Numerous religious orders, predominantly Catholic, have monasteries and convents on sites venerated by Christian tradition, notably in Nazareth, the scene of the Annunciation; Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist; the Jordan; Sea of Galilee; the Mount of the Beatitudes and the Transfiguration; Cana and Capernaum. Franciscans are the most prominent, having the Custody of the Holy Land assigned to them by the Holy See.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

October, Month of the Rosary

Maria Magnificata. Short Meditations for October, the Month of the Rosary. 19th Day — Mary’s loss of Jesus for three days.