St. Caesarius of Africa

November 1

November 1 is All Saints Day. Originally it was a feast day to celebrate all the Popes who had been declared saints. Over the years the festival embraced all those who had gained heaven but who were not explicitly named in the martyrology.

However, there are quite a few saints whose feast day falls on November 1, as the Church usually designates the day upon which they died as their feast. Such is the case with Caesarius of Africa, a deacon who witnessed a pagan celebration to the Greek god Apollo while visiting Rome. He objected to the human sacrifice that was part of this celebration and was arrested, thrown into prison and executed two years later.  His memorial is kept on November 1.