Nov. 11 - St. Martin of Tours (Hungary 316-397)
Martin was born to pagan parents, his father was an officer in the army.  Martin was conscripted into the army when he was 15.  He became a catechumen when he was 18.   One cold, winter evening he was making his rounds and came across a near naked beggar.  Martin cut his own cloak in two and gave the man half.  That night he dreamt it was Christ whom he had clothed.  St. Martin was baptized shortly afterwards and gave up being a soldier.  He was accused of being a coward because of this and was imprisoned for a short time.  St. Martin became a monk and later the bishop of Tours.  He was able to convert his mother, but never his father.  He was often beaten and thrown out of towns for trying to teach the truth.  He founded monasteries, destroyed pagan temples, trained priests and served the people.  After his death, he was one of the first to be honored immediately as a saint, even though he wasn't martyred.
Holy God, St. Martin's goodness and holiness showed through no matter what life dealt him.  When life's battles get too big, help us to remember to call on Christ through the intercession of  St. Martin.  Amen.
Nov. 17 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)
Princess Elizabeth was born to King Andrew the II of Hungary.  She was betrothed by age four and married at fourteen.  Her husband loved her very much and supported her as she built hospitals and cared for the sick and poor.  She is usually depicted with a crown on her head and her cape full of roses.  The story is that one day she filled her cape with bread to feed the poor, but when her husband met her and looked in her cape it was filled with roses instead.  St. Elizabeth's in-laws resented her generosity and that she dressed simply instead of in royal robes.  When her husband died after only six years of marriage, she was thrown out of the palace with her children.  She was eventually helped by family and friends and was reinstated since her son was legal heir to the throne.  She spent the rest of her short life in service to others through the Third Order of St. Francis.  She was canonized only four years after her death at age 24.
O God, You taught St. Elizabeth to recognize Christ in the sick and the poor.  Grant, through her intercession, that we may always lovingly serve the needy. Amen.