ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 7th of November
Prayer to the Angels and the Saints
Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.
In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.
Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.
Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.
ST ENGELBERT OF BERG, ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE
Saint Engelbert's parents were of high nobility; his father was Count of Berg, his mother, Countess of Gelders. Both took the utmost care to have their son thoroughly instructed as well in virtue and piety, as in the liberal arts and sciences.
INSTRUCTED IN VIRTUE AND PIETY
Engelbert, however, manifested a great inclination to enjoy life, and a passionate desire for honors and riches. But God guarded him from falling into those vices which are so common to youth.
Nature had endowed him with an unusual mind and great talents, which, combined with high rank, procured him, even in youth, several important positions, till, at last, in 1215, he was chosen Archbishop of Cologne.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE
From that moment he became a different man, seeking nothing but to promote the honour of God and the welfare of those under his charge, and to ornament and richly endow churches and convents. The rights and liberties of his Archbishopric he defended most energetically, even against his own friends and relatives.
Every one had free admission to him; he listened to all most patiently and endeavoured to satisfy them, and furthered their good by all means in his power.
HE WAS KIND AND MERCIFUL
Of his officers and councillors he most earnestly required justice, and severely punished those who trespassed against the laws. Towards the poor he was extremely merciful and kind, giving them clothing, nourishment and dwellings. No one left him uncomforted.
He fasted one day every week in honour of the Blessed Virgin, and daily prayed that he might live and die under her protection.
HE PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT LIVE AND DIE UNDER THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S PROTECTION
On account of these and other great virtues, Engelbert stood in great esteem with every one. The Emperor Frederic respected him so highly that when he went to Italy, he left to him the administration of the Empire in Germany, and also the guardianship of his son Henry. Both offices were discharged to the great satisfaction of the Emperor and the entire land.
It would have been very beneficial if Engelbert had been permitted to continue for many years so holy a career; but in the ninth, or as others say, in the tenth year of it, a violent death ended his life and labours.
HE COMMANDED ENGELBERT TO ASSIST THE OPPRESSED
Frederic, Count of Isenburg, a cousin of the holy bishop and protector of the famous princely abbey at Essen, had for a long time oppressed this religious house and deprived it of many revenues. Pope Honorius and the Emperor Frederic, to whom the religious of the above abbey had gone with their complaints, commanded Engelbert to assist the oppressed.
Engelbert admonished the Count, in writing as well as by word to abstain from his wrongful dealings, and even promised him a considerable yearly pension, out of his own revenues, in order to induce him to return to the path of justice.
HE RESOLVED TO KILL HIM
But all was in vain, and when at last the Count feared that the bishop would use force, he made the resolution to kill him.
The Saint had been invited to consecrate a church out of the city; the day of his departure was appointed; and no sooner had the wicked Count heard of it, than he determined to use that occasion to put his murderous designs into execution.
HE RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS LETTER WARNING HIM
On the eve of his departure, St Engelbert received an anonymous letter warning him of the snares laid for him by the Count of Isenburg. He read this letter in the presence of the bishop of Minden, and then cast it into the fire, saying that his cousin could not harbour such criminal thoughts.
But not to neglect anything for the greater security of his soul, he made on the same day a general confession during which he shed many tears and prepared himself for death. After that he said, quite consoled and cheered: "The will of God may be done now."
HE WAS SUDDENLY ATTACKED
Thus prepared, he set out, accompanied by several officers of his court. The men of Count Isenburg, who were to assassinate the bishop at a given signal, were placed in a wood through which he had to pass, and there waited for him. When he reached this wood and was at some distance in advance of his attendants, he was suddenly attacked by the assassins, headed by the Count in person, and was so furiously struck by them, that forty-seven mortal wounds were counted on his body.
"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO"
St Engelbert said nothing, during this martyrdom, but the words of his heavenly Master: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Thus did the holy Archbishop end his life, becoming a martyr to the cause of justice. His holy body was brought to Cologne. The many miracles, which, by the intercession of this Saint, were wrought upon the lame, the paralytic and other infirm, were evidence that God, who had crowned His faithful servant in heaven, wished to glorify him also on earth.
HIS MURDERER REPENTED IN THE END
One of the greatest miracles was the repentance of him who had plotted and committed this cruel murder. He ended his life as a true penitent. All who witnessed his death ascribed his conversion to the intercession of St Engelbert.
(From Fr Weninger's Lives of the Saints)
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SAINT ENGELBERT'S ENTRY IN THE ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
"At Cologne, Saint Engelbertus, bishop, who did not hesitate to suffer martyrdom in defence of ecclesiastical liberties, and for obedience to the Roman Church."
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