Blessed Rupert Mayer
(January 23,1876 – November 1,1945)

November 3

Blessed Rupert Mayer joined the Society of Jesus a year after his ordination as a diocesan priest on October 1, 1900. After a few years of Jesuit orientation he spent himself in the service of people in the tragic days of Germany, days of two wars and their aftermath. In the First World War he stood by his men in the frontline with his infectious courage but as a priest of God, in the second he yet more courageously fought for the rights of Christ and His Church, suffering imprisonment under the Nazis.

Both times he stood by the poor in their sufferings, unemployment, homelessness and starvation. He turned unofficial paster of Munich and its suburbs, exhausting himself from morn to night helping people. He formed sodalities and social service groups to infuse and uphold faith and courage in wavering hearts and minds. On November 1, 1945 feast of All Saints while preaching on the glory of saints in heaven, he collapsed and died.


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All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus

November 5

Today the Society of Jesus calls to mind all her members in heaven, those declared saint or blessed, as well as others who are in heaven with them.

It is a mighty array of martyrs, and holy men, who heroically toiled in so many countries at different times and under varied circumstances of climate, language, culture, with one sole purpose to spread the kingdom of God for his greater glory.

About twenty thousand Jesuits around the world look up to their brothers for courage to fight the same battles and under the same banner for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. With 40 saints, 135 Blessed, 35 Venerables, and 115 Servants of God there are also thousands unsung Jesuit heroes. We honour them all today with a deep sense of gratitude to God and with much Jesuit family happiness.

St. Stanislaus Kostka
June 1550 - August 1568

November 13

St. Stanislaus Kostka, born into a Polish noble family, was only eighteen years when he died as a Jesuit novice. In those few years he showed in himself the power of God’s love and grace.

As a boy in spite of opposition and obstacles, he courageously practiced his Catholic faith, putting up with the taunts and insults of his companions. When he decided to become a Jesuit, his influential parents refused. Though only a boy of 17 years, he showed his determination by walking hundred of miles from Krakow, Poland to Vienna and then from Vienna to Rome, determined to become a Jesuit.

He arrived in Rome with a letter from Fr. Peter Canisius, then Provincial of Germany and was admitted to the novitiate of Sant Andrea. He had but ten months of novitiate when he received a premonition that he would die on the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15. He took ill on the 10th with fever. At 3.00 a. m. on August 15 he died, peace and joy radiating from his face.

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St. Joseph Pignatelli
27 December 1739 - 15 November 1811

November 14

Patient and determined perseverance in his vocation till death characterized Joseph Pignatelli’s life.

Born in to an influential and rich family in Italy, he left all prospects of a comfortable life and joined the Society in May 1755.

When the Society was suppressed his relatives urged him to return home but he would not. At heart a faithful Jesuit, he lived his Jesuit life privately and when he learnt that the Jesuits were continuing in Russia he went to that country to join his brothers there. He was an encouraging force to his persecuted Jesuit brothers, and when finally the Society was restored in some places he was made novice master. For forty years he suffered as a Jesuit exile, changing places and houses to keep alive his Jesuit spirit and vocation. When the Jesuits were restored in Naples, he was made their Provincial. Three years after his death in his 80th year, the Society was restored officially over the whole world in 1814.

Jesuit Martyrs of the Paraguay Reductions

November 16

Three Jesuit priests Frs. Roch Gonzalez, John del Castillo and Alphonsus Rodriguez were martyred for their splendid work among the fierce tribal Indians in Paraguay and Uruguay. They founded many well organized Christian communities. With the faith, they brought to the converts prosperity with honorable living, patterned on their own native style. These mission colonies known as ‘Reductions’, were the most singular and beautiful creations of Catholic missionary activity and have been the object of admiration of historians everywhere. The ‘reductions’ provoked local jealousy as they also meant the loss of financial gain for the local colonialists.

Roch Gonzalez in his 52nd year was the oldest. He had joined the Society as a priest and had worked for 21 years tirelessly building up the ‘Reductions’. He was cruelly killed in front of his new church. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Spaniard and a newcomer had joined Fr.Roch in his work. He was killed on the same day at the same place when he rushed to see what was happening to his companion. He was just 30 years. Fr. John del Castillo was the next victim. He was in charge of another Reduction named ‘Assumption’. The murderers rushed on him, stripped him, tied his hands, and butchered him. He too was quite young, in his thirty first year.

The three martyrs were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1934 and Pope John Paul II canonized them in 1988.

Blessed Michael Augustine Pro
13 January 1891 - 23 November 1927

November 23

When Miguel was a young boy of twenty his sister joined the convent. Miguel asked himself, why should I too not give myself to God’s service ? He then joined the Jesuit Novitiate on August 11, 1911 determined to be a saint. Though not good in studies, he managed with perseverance to stick to his books and was ordained in 1925.

The times were bad in Mexico. The Freemason Government of General Carranza was persecuting the Catholics and already in his years of study, Fr. Pro had experienced these hardships, having to change places, from Mexico to America, then to Spain and then to Belgium. He re-entered Mexico in 1926, zealous to help his persecuted countrymen. Churches were being destroyed, convents and religious houses closed, and priests in particular, hunted. Undaunted Fr. Pro took up the challenge and began to serve his people. Clandestinely he changed houses, names, style of life and dress, accepting anything that was legitimate to administer the sacraments, to say Mass and instruct the faithful, all the while also praying that God would accept the sacrifice of his life for his country. He was arrested on November 11, 1927 with two of his brothers on false charges of treason. Though the charges were proved false he was condemned to be shot in public. With a smile on his face, with outstretched arms he exclaimed “Long live Christ the King!” before the firing squad shot him dead. He was only 36 years old.

St. John Berchmans
13 March 1859 - 13 August 1621

November 26

Unlike the two other young Jesuit saints, Aloysius Gongaza and Stanislaus Kostka, St. John Berchmans was from the working class, his father a cobbler. To pay for his early studies he became a servant in the parish house, continuing his studies at the same time. Everything he did, he did well. He served well as a servant, studied well as a student. He is a saint because he did every ordinary action, in an extraordinary way. Though his parents were upset over his leaving home to join the Jesuits as they needed his help, they consented, and John joined the novitiate on September 24, 1616 at the age of 17.

As a novice and then as a student of philosophy, he did all things well and cheerfully too, so that he was nicknamed the ‘smiling brother’. In what did his way of doing all things small and big extraordinarily consist ? All things done for God are great. So once he learnt what he should do, what his duties were, he did them all as well as he could for God. And so God blessed his efforts. In studies he stood first and was chosen to represent his college for a public defence of philosophy. Towards the end of his philosophy he took ills with constant fever which drained his physical strength. Seeing this, he realized his end was near, and asked for the sacrament of the sick. After receiving this he quietly died on August 13, 1621 at 8.30 a.m. St. John Berchmans is the patron of altar servers, because of his regularity, piety and meticulous care while serving Mass.

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