Pope and Doctor of the Church · Feast day November 10
St. Leo the Great
The feast day of St. Leo the Great is November 10, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Below: a short life and 3 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | November 10 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Pope and Doctor of the Church |
| Died | c. 461 |
| In their own words | 3 sourced quotations |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Pope in the dying years of the Western empire, when the see of Peter was the last steady thing in Italy. His Tome settled the great question at Chalcedon: one Christ, true God and true man — and the bishops acclaimed it as Peter speaking through Leo.
When Attila the Hun rode on Rome, Leo went out to meet him with two officials and turned him back. He is the first pope called ‘the Great.’
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
Christian, recognize your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition.
Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.
Our sharing in the body and blood of Christ has no other purpose than to make us become what we receive.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Leo the Great’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
John 6:56 · CPDV Beside their words: “Our sharing in the body and blood of Christ has no other purpose than to make us become…”
On this theme
Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 · CPDV Beside their words: “Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an…”
On this theme
Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:17 · CPDV Beside their words: “Our sharing in the body and blood of Christ has no other purpose than to make us become…”
On this theme
Blessed is the man who suffers temptation. For when he has been proven, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 · CPDV Beside their words: “Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an…”
On this theme
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you may announce the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 · CPDV Beside their words: “Christian, recognize your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not…”
On this theme
Through Christ, he has given us the greatest and most precious promises, so that by these things you may become sharers in the Divine Nature, fleeing from the corruption of that desire which is in the world.
2 Peter 1:4 · CPDV Beside their words: “Christian, recognize your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not…”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Leo the Great. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Leo the Great keeps November 10 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of November.
All the saints of November Born on November 10? A saint for every day
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