Feast of John of the Cross, (San Juan de la Cruz), Carmelite friar and priest, Spanish mystic, one of the thirty-six Doctors of the Church, writer of mystical Spanish literature. Patron of Contemplative life, contemplatives, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets.

Feast of St. Lucy (Santa Lucia), martyr, died during the Diocletianic Persecution. Patron the blind, martyrs, Perugia & Syracuse, Italy, Mtarfa, Malta, epidemics, salesmen, throat infections and writers. Today’s Scandinavian festival of light signals the arrival of Christmastide.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, appeared to St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin in 1531.  Patron of the Americas.

Feast of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, Mexican convert visited by the Virgin Mary. First indigenous saint from the Americas. Patron of Indigenous people.

Feast of St. Osmund of Salisbury, England. Count of Sées, Bishop, Norman noble. Following the Norman conquest of England, he served as Lord Chancellor and as the second bishop of Salisbury. Patron of insanity, mental illness, paralyzed people, paralysis, ruptures and toothache.

Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit missionary, co-founder, the Society of Jesus. Patron of African missions, Apostleship of Prayer, Fathers of the Precious Blood, Green Bay, WI, Missioners of the Precious Blood, navigators, parish missions, Goa and the Propagation of the Faith.

Feast of St. Bibiana, Roman Virgin and Martyr. Patron of epileptics, epilepsy, hangovers, headaches, mental illness, single laywomen and torture victims.

Feast of St. Eligius, Bishop. Patron of metalworkers, goldsmiths, coin collectors, horses, jockeys, gilders, harness makers, jewelers, knife makers, laborers, locksmiths, miners, minters, tool makers, veterinarians. St. Eligius Hospital featured in 80’s television series.