November 02

Born Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair in 1094 in Armagh, he became the first native Irish archbishop and introduced important ecclesiastical reforms. Malachy studied in Rome and returned to Ireland promoting clerical celibacy and diocesan organization. He founded several monasteries and held renowned disputations with monks of Bangor Abbey. His reputation for holiness led to his appointment by Pope Innocent II. Tradition attributes to him the Prophecy of the Popes, a series of cryptic predictions about future pontiffs. Saint Malachy died on November 2, 1148, and was canonized in 1190.

John Sandale rose to prominence as a medieval churchman and royal administrator in early 14th-century England. He served as Lord High Treasurer from 1310 to 1315, overseeing the kingdom’s finances and crown revenues. Consecrated Bishop of Winchester in 1316, he managed one of England’s wealthiest dioceses and held the office of Keeper of the Great Seal. Sandale’s dual roles in church and state made him a key figure in the royal government. He was known for his administrative skill and loyalty to the crown during the tumultuous reigns of Edward I and Edward II. Sandale died on November 2, 1319, leaving a record as both a spiritual leader and a trusted royal official.

Born in 1463 to the ducal family of Lorraine, Margaret married René II d’Alençon in 1488 and became Duchess of Alençon. Widowed in 1492, she experienced a spiritual calling that led her to enter the Cistercian Abbey of Maubuisson. Taking the name Sister Marguerite, she devoted her life to prayer, charity, and the reform of monastic discipline. Margaret was known for her piety, administrative skill within the convent, and care for the poor. She maintained correspondence with leading religious figures of her time and supported educational initiatives for nuns. Margaret of Lorraine died on November 2, 1521, and was revered for her humility and leadership in the religious community.

Born in 1544, Richard Bancroft was educated at Cambridge and became a prominent academic and clergyman. He served as Bishop of London before being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1604. Bancroft played a pivotal role in authorizing and supervising the translation of the King James Bible, influencing its final form. As Archbishop, he enforced ecclesiastical conformity and defended the Church of England against Puritan dissent. Bancroft’s leadership strengthened the church’s hierarchy and doctrine during the early Stuart period. He died on November 2, 1610, leaving a significant legacy in English religious and literary history.

Daniel A. Payne (1811-1893) was an influential American educator, clergyman, and bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Born free in Charleston, South Carolina, he dedicated his life to education and religious leadership. Payne played a central role in founding Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1856, becoming the first African American president of a college in the United States. He served as the fifth bishop of the AME Church and reformed its liturgy and organizational structure. A staunch advocate for civil rights, Payne promoted African American education and empowerment during Reconstruction. He published numerous theological works and educational treatises. His legacy endures through the expansion of AME institutions and the university he helped establish.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Cushing was ordained a priest in 1919 and became auxiliary bishop of Boston in 1939. He was appointed Archbishop of Boston in 1944 and was elevated to cardinal by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Cushing supported the civil rights movement and fostered ecumenical relations with other faiths. He participated in the Second Vatican Council, advocating for liturgical reforms and lay participation. Cushing was a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and helped arrange his papal visit. He served as a beloved spiritual leader until his death in 1970.

Lester Roloff was born in Crockett County, Texas, and became a prominent independent Baptist preacher in the mid-20th century. He founded residential homes for troubled youth and spread his revivalist message through radio ministry. His programs reached millions, featuring fiery sermons on personal salvation and moral living. Roloff often bypassed denominational hierarchies, leading to disputes with Baptist conventions. He challenged government regulations over faith-based homes, taking cases to the Supreme Court. Roloff died in a plane crash in 1982 while traveling to a revival meeting.