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March, 2008 - Overview for the Month
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The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph. The first twenty two days of March fall during the liturgical season known as Lent which is represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. The remainder of the month falls in the Easter season in which white, the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence, is the liturgical color.
General: That the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation between individuals and peoples may be understood and that through her testimony the Church may spread Christ’s love, the source of new humanity.
Missionary: That Christians persecuted because of the Gospel in various parts of the world and in various manners may be sustained by the strength of the Holy Spirit and continue to bear witness courageously and openly to the Word of God.
The feasts on the General Roman Calendar celebrated
during the month of March are:
The Gospel readings for March are taken from St. John and St. Matthew. All are from Year A, Cycle 2.
The Solemnity of St. Joseph is a special landmark this month in which we will celebrate the great honor bestowed on St. Joseph. Also the Solemnity of the Annunciation when we ponder Our Lady's fiat. The saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are St. Katharine Drexel (March 3), St. Casimir (March 4), Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (March 7), St. John of God (March 8) and St. Joseph (March 15). The feast of St. Frances of Rome (March 9) is superceded by the Sunday liturgy. The feasts of St. Patrick (March 17), St. Cyril of Jerusalem (March 18), St. Toribio de Mogrovejo (March 23) are superceded by the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. This year the feast of the Annunciation will be celebrated on March 31 since the 25th falls during the octave of Easter.
During this month we will continue our journey to the cross with our acts of penitence. We will reflect on our mortality ("Remember man thou art dust") and the shortness of life ("and to dust thou shall return"). We will heed the call, "Now is the acceptable time, now is “the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).” Just like Our Lord's earthly life every moment of our lives is leading up to the last moment—when for eternity we will either go to God or suffer the fires of hell. Let us not tire of doing our good works and penance, but continue with the enthusiasm of the catechumens on their way to Easter and Baptism. May our Lenten observance be a joyful journey — and not a forced march. |
The Lord
has put his faithful servant in charge of his household.
Highlights
March 17
St. Patrick  St.
Patrick is called the "Apostle of Ireland." He established
the Catholic Church throughout Ireland on lasting foundations. He
traveled all over the country preaching, teaching, building churches,
opening schools and monasteries, converting chiefs and bards, and
everywhere supporting his preaching with miracles.
For St. Joseph's Day try this simple of version
of a special dessert for the Solemnity of St. Joseph called St.
Joseph's Sfinge.
The Solemnity of St. Joseph is celebrated in
a variety of ways all over the world. The most well-known tradition
is the St. Joseph's Table, started in Sicily. Here are some ideas
on how to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph in your own home.
Symbols
The only record of St. Joseph is found in the
Gospels where it states that he was a just man, of Davidic descent,
who worked as a carpenter. His symbol is a carpenter's square and
a lily of the Madonna.
St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, spoke
of himself both as a Roman and a Briton. The exact place of his
birth is not known. At the age of fifteen, after a raid, he was
carried off to Ireland. When released he traveled abroad, studied
and received Holy Orders. He returned to Ireland as a bishop.
The Bishop of Jerusalem, a teacher and scholar,
who triumphed in his struggle against Arian doctrines. The moneybag
refers to a story that he sold the ornaments of the church to provide
food for the poor.
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As we continue our journey "up to Jerusalem" during the
month of March, three prominent ideas are proposed for our contemplation
by the liturgy of Lent: the Passion and Resurrection of Christ,
baptism, and penance.
Here
and there in the stark March landscape, a few plants and trees are
beginning to give evidence of the new life that winter’s frost
and chill had concealed from our eyes. The Church’s vibrant
new life has been obscured, too, by the austerity of the penitential
season of Lent. But that life is indisputable, and it will burgeon
forth on Easter as Christ coming forth from his tomb!
