BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Monday, Oct. 22, 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Second from left:St. Juan Capistrano appears to St. Pedro Alcantara', 16th-cent painting by Luca Giordano; next to it, the saint's founder statue in St. Peter's Basilica.
Other paintings are unattributed from the 17th-century.
SAN PEDRO ALCANTARA (Spain, 1499-1562), Preacher, Discalced Franciscan, Mystic, Founder of the Franciscans of Strictest Observance (Alcantarines)
One of the constellation of great Spanish saints of the Counter-Reformation, he is best-known as the confessor to Teresa of Avila, who encouraged her to reform the Carmelites. St Teresa's autobiography is the source of much information regarding Peter's life, work, the gift of miracles and prophecy. He was of noble lineage, joining the Franciscans at 15 and was ordained at age 25 after making a name as a great preacher. He was a true mystic, who often went into ecstasies and levitated during these experiences. His other great contemporaries and friends included St. Francisco Borja, St. John of Avila and the Venerable Luis of Granada. A recluse by nature, he nonetheless carried out various leadership positions in the order, which he sought to reform in keeping with what it was in the time of St. Francis, establishing the Alcantarine reform in 1555. His writings later inspired St. Francis de Sales. he died while on his knees in prayer in a monastery in Avila and was canonized in 1669.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102212.cfm



Poland and the diocese of Rome celebrate today the feast day of Blessed Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II,
for the second time since he was beatified in May 2011. The feast day falls on the day of his papal inauguration.
Earlier, the US bishops announced that the Vatican has approved their request for their dioceses to observe
the late Pope's memorial today. This means it will now be included in the liturgical calendar of the US Church.


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

The Holy Father met with

- Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

= Card-nal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and
of the Vatican Governatorate.