Saint Sylvester; Saint Peter of Alexandria; Saint Leonard; Saint John Berchmans

 
St Sylvester - 15thC fresco at Montepulciano
 

 
St Peter of Alexandria with Christ - Byzantine fresco

SAINT SYLVESTER
Abbot

SAINT PETER OF ALEXANDRIA
Bishop and Martyr

[Historical]
SAINT LEONARD OF PORT MAURICE
Preacher 

[Historical]
SAINT JOHN BERCHMANS
Jesuit

DOUBLE / WHITE
Sylvester, of the noble Gozzolini family, was born in Italy in 1177. After making a distinguished record at the universities of Bologna and Padua, he was made a canon at Osimo, his native city. His inclination toward the contemplative life was strengthened by the sight of the dead body of a once handsome relative. "I am what he was," said Sylvester to himself, "and I will also be what he is." At the age of 50 he resigned his post and became a hermit. Many disciples came to him, and these he organized under the rule of St. Benedict. After his death the order became known as the Sylvestrines, especially noted for their spirit of poverty. Their founder died at the age of 90.

Mass of an ABBOT, except
COLLECT
O Most merciful God, You gave the holy abbot Sylvester his vocation to be a hermit as he stood before an open grave, contemplating the vanity of this world; and then later made his hidden life brilliant with merit. May we imitate him in despising the pleasures of this life, so that we may enjoy Your presence for all eternity. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALEXANDRIA
Patriarch of Alexandria, Peter was martyred because of his orthodoxy in 310. Eusebius wrote that Patriarch Peter was "a divine model of the Christian teacher."
Almighty God, look upon our weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our own deeds. Let the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Peter, in heaven, be our protection. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus
Sir 45:1-6
Beloved of God and men, whose memory is held in benediction. He made him like the Saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words He made prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him Commandments in the sight of his people, and revealed to him His glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh. For He heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. And, face to face, He gave him the Commandments, the law of life and understanding.

Gradual
Ps 20:4-5
O Lord, You welcomed him with goodly blessings, You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
V.He asked life of You: You gave him length of days forever and ever. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 91:13
V. The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 19:27-29
At that time, Peter said to Jesus, Behold, we have left all and followed You; what then shall we have? And Jesus said to them, "Amen I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, shall also sit on the throne of His glory, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting."  

SECRET
O Lord, we reverently offer these gifts to Your divine majesty. Grant that we may imitate the exemplary recollection and purity of Your blessed abbot Sylvester, so that we may be worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Your Son; who lives and rules with You . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALEXANDRIA
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr bishop Peter, and help us find in them unending assistance. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, You have refreshed us at Your divine banquet. Grant that we may now follow in the footsteps of the holy abbot Sylvester in order that we may share Your bounteous reward with Your saints in Your glorious kingdom. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALEXANDRIA
We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred Gift, O Lord, our God. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Peter make us feel the benefit of the sacred Rite we have performed. Through our Lord . . .

ST. LEONARD OF PORT MAURICE

St. Leonard was born on December 20, 1676 in Porto Maurizio, Italy. He was given the name Paul Jerome Casanova by his father Domenico Casanova, a sea captain, and his mother, Anna Maria Benza. When he was 13, he was placed with his uncle Agostino to study for a career as a physician, but when the boy decided against medicine, his uncle disowned him.

He then began to study at the Jesuit College in Rome. On October 2, 1697, he joined the Franciscans of the Strict Observance and took the name Brother Leonard. He was ordained in Rome in 1703. He taught for a while, and expected to become a missionary in China, but a bleeding ulcer kept him in his native Porto Maurizio for the several years it took for him to recover and regain his strength.

In 1709, he was sent to Florence where he preached in the city and nearby region. A great preacher, he was often invited to visit and preach in other areas. He worked to increase devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception, and the Stations of the Cross. One of his accomplishments was to set up the Stations of the Cross in over 500 different places, including the Colosseum.

He was sent as a missionary to Corsica by Pope Benedict XIV in 1744 and restored discipline to the holy orders there, but local politics greatly limited his success in preaching. He returned to Rome exhausted, where he spent the rest of his days.

He died on November 26, 1751 at the monastery of Saint Bonaventure in Rome.

Saint John Berchmans

Memorial

• 26 November
• formerly 13 August
• 27 November (Jesuits)
  Also known as Jan Berchmans

Profile

Son of a shoemaker, and one of five children, three of whom entered religious life. John had great devotion to his position as an altar boy. He spent much of his time caring for his mother, who was in poor health. Jesuit noviate in 1616, deciding to become a Jesuit after reading the life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Student at the Jesuit College at Malines, Belgium. Studied philosophy in Rome. John had a dream of helping and teaching multi-lingual migrants, and he studied all the chief languages of Europe. He wanted to work in China after ordination. He died of unknown causes following his participation in a public debate defending the faith, and while clutching his rosary, crucifix, and rules of his order; he did not live to be ordained.
John Berchmans was not noted for extraordinary feats of holiness or austerity, nor did he found orders or churches or work flashy miracles. He made kindness, courtesy, and constant fidelity an important part of his holiness. The path to holiness can lie in the ordinary rather than the extraordinary.