17 October

. . . . In the traditional Roman calendar today is the feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. References for her were given yesterday. In the Pauline calendar St. Ignatius of Antioch is honoured today. The old Catholic Encyclopaedia gives not only a short précis of his life here but also a discussion of his well-known seven letters to the churches.

In many of the Eastern Churches it is also the feast of St. Andrew of Crete whose Canon of Penitence is prayed during Lent and before the Sacrament of Penance. At least in part (Nine odes and three hundred and twenty Troparia!)