November 01

Born in 1498 in Florence, Ricci rose through the Church hierarchy under the patronage of the Medici popes. He served as papal nuncio to France and negotiated important treaties on behalf of the Vatican. In 1561, Pope Pius IV appointed him cardinal in recognition of his diplomatic achievements. Ricci participated in the final sessions of the Council of Trent, helping shape the direction of Catholic reform. He governed multiple bishoprics, overseeing ecclesiastical administration and pastoral care. Ricci died in 1574, leaving a reputation as both a skilled negotiator and a learned churchman.

Oliver Plunkett was an Irish Roman Catholic archbishop born in 1625 who became a martyr and saint. Educated in Rome and ordained in 1654, he returned to Ireland as Archbishop of Armagh in 1679. Plunkett ministered under harsh Penal Laws and was arrested on false charges of treason. He was executed in 1681 at Tyburn and later beatified and canonized for his steadfast faith. Regarded as a symbol of reconciliation and resilience, his life inspires devotion to this day.

John Strype was an English priest who dedicated much of his life to documenting the history of the Church of England. Born in London in 1643, he served in various parishes before turning to historical research. Strype is best known for his works "Ecclesiastical Memorials" and his expanded editions of John Foxe’s "Acts and Monuments." His meticulous records and biographies of key Reformation figures have become foundational resources for church historians. Strype’s scholarship preserved insight into 16th-century religious upheaval and continues to inform studies of the English Reformation. He died in 1737 after leaving behind a lasting legacy of ecclesiastical history.

Born in Milnthorpe, England in 1808, he joined the early Latter-day Saint movement in 1836. After migrating to the United States, he settled in Nauvoo and later in Utah Territory. He was ordained an apostle and succeeded Brigham Young as the third president in 1880. His leadership navigated the church through legal challenges and intense persecution. He died in 1887 in Salt Lake City and is remembered for his missionary zeal and pastoral care.

Tsultrim Gyatso was born in 1838 and recognized as the eleventh Dalai Lama of Tibet shortly thereafter. Although enthroned as both spiritual and temporal ruler, he spent much of his early reign under regency due to his youth. He focused on strengthening monastic institutions and upholding the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His brief life was marked by devotion to religious study and the welfare of his people. He died in 1856 at the age of eighteen, triggering the search for his reincarnation.

Born in 1864 into the Grand Ducal family of Hesse, Elisabeth married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia. After her husband's assassination in 1905, she took religious vows and founded the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Moscow. Known as Sister Elizabeth, she dedicated her life to nursing, charity, and care for the poor. Her selfless work during World War I and the Russian Revolution made her beloved by many. In 1918, she was martyred by the Bolsheviks and later canonized as a martyr of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Michał Sopoćko was born in 1888 in Rassos, Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and earned a doctorate in theology. As the spiritual director to Sister Faustina Kowalska, he supported her visions of Divine Mercy and meticulously edited her Diary. Sopoćko worked with Bishop Michał Kozal to obtain Church approval for the Divine Mercy image and devotion. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus and taught moral theology at the Wilno Theological Academy. Despite the challenges of World War II and Communist rule, he continued to promote the message of mercy across Europe. He died in 1975, and his role was pivotal in establishing one of the most widespread devotions in the Catholic Church.

Born in 1911 near Mingun, Burma, U Vicittasarabhivamsa, known as Mingun Sayadaw, became one of the most respected Theravada Buddhist monks of the 20th century. He was renowned for his exceptional memory, having committed the entire Pali Canon to memory. As abbot of Mingun's Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Center, he taught thousands of practitioners the art of Vipassana meditation. He authored over 60 texts on Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ethics. His teachings helped revitalize monastic scholarship and meditation practice across Burma. Mingun Sayadaw also advised government and religious leaders on Buddhism's role in society. He passed away in 1993, leaving a profound legacy in the Buddhist world.

Born in Germany in 1912, Gunther Plaut fled the rising Nazi regime and settled in Canada in 1940. He served as rabbi at Montreal's Congregation Shaar Hashomayim for over three decades. Plaut's landmark work, 'The Torah: A Modern Commentary,' published in 1981, became a foundational text for Conservative Judaism in North America. He authored numerous essays and books on Jewish law, history, and ethics, combining scholarly rigor with contemporary insights. A respected educator, he taught at several universities and mentored generations of students and clergy. Even after retiring in 1986, Plaut remained active in Jewish scholarship and communal life. He passed away in 2012, leaving behind a rich legacy of religious and academic contributions.

Born in 1914 in Újfehértó, Hungary (then Austria-Hungary), Moshe Teitelbaum survived the Holocaust and emigrated to the United States in 1947. He became a prominent leader within the Satmar Hasidic dynasty, succeeding his cousin in 1980 as the Grand Rebbe. Under his guidance, the Satmar community expanded significantly in New York, upholding strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions. He was known for his passionate sermons, emphasis on Torah study, and community welfare initiatives. Teitelbaum established schools, synagogues, and charitable organizations to support his followers. Even in his later years, he remained deeply involved in communal affairs and spiritual leadership. He passed away in 2006, and his teachings continue to influence Satmar Hasidim worldwide.

Francis Arinze was born in Eziowelle, Nigeria, and ordained a priest in 1958. He became the first black Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2002. Elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1985, he played key roles in interreligious dialogue and liturgical reform. Arinze was considered a leading candidate for the papacy in 2005 and 2013. He continues to be a prominent voice in global Catholic affairs and reconciliation efforts.