Saints' Feast Days – March
MARCH
SAINT JOSEPH
The month of March is dedicated to
St. Joseph. We don't know much about him except what is mentioned in the
Gospels. Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the
foster-father of Jesus. Holy Scripture proclaims him as a "just man," and the
Church has turned to Joseph for his patronage and protection.
Saint John Paul II in his 1989 Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer), hoping "that all may grow in devotion to the Patron of the Universal Church and in love for the Saviour whom he served in such an exemplary manner … In this way the whole Christian people not only will turn to St. Joseph with greater fervour and invoke his patronage with trust, but also will always keep before their eyes his humble, mature way of serving and of "taking part" in the plan of salvation."
Contents
- Saint John of God Religious & Doctor of the Church March 8th
- Saint Patrick Bishop March 17th
- Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin March 19th
Saint John of God
Background:
St. John (1495-1550) was successively a farmer, soldier, and merchant before, at the age of forty, he heeded the word of God and from then on lived at the service of the sick in Granada, Spain. He founded what would become known as the Order of Brothers Hospitaliers of St. John of God, a congregation devoted to the infirm. His Feast Day is 8th March.
Intercessory Prayer:
St. John of God,
I honour you as the patron of the sick,
especially those who are afflicted by heart disease.
I choose you to be my patron and protector in my present need.
I confidently place before you my earnest petition.
(mention silently your special intentions)
I beg you to recommend my request to Mary,
the Mother of Sorrows and Health of the Sick,
that both Mary and you may present it to Jesus,
the Divine Physician.
Amen.
Saint Patrick
Background:
St Patrick was born in Roman Britain. At 16yrs he was taken by a group of pirates to Ireland and held captive for 6yrs. During his time in captivity he converted to Christianity. Escaping from his captors he returned to Britain. St Patrick described having a vision in which he heard a voice saying, “We appeal to you … to come and walk among us.” He interpreted this as being “The voice of the Irish”. St Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary, later becoming Bishop of Armagh. He, “Baptised thousands of people” and ordained many Priests to spread the Christian faith across Ireland. He is Patron Saint of Ireland and venerated in many other countries.
His Feast Day is 17th March.
Intercessory Prayer:
Glorious Apostle of Ireland, St Patrick,
listen to my prayer. Accept the sentiments of gratitude and veneration with which my heart is now filled. I make you the representative of my thanks and the mediator of my homage to Almighty God.
St Patrick, despise not my weakness but remember my cries as I ask for your help. Listen to my humble request so that my prayer will ascend to the throne of God, with the praises and blessings which will forever sanctify His greatness. May my hope be fulfilled by the help and intercession of our forefathers, who now enjoy eternal bliss.
St Patrick, obtain for me the grace to love God with my whole heart, to serve him with my whole strength, and to persevere in all that is good to the end. O faithful shepherd of souls, take my soul, and the souls of all the faithful, under your special care.
St Patrick, as a father to the Church and her faithful people, grant that all hearts may share the blessed fruits of the Gospel you planted and watered. Grant that, as our ancestors of old discovered, we can live a life devoted to God.
St Patrick, protect those who teach us. Give them the grace to walk in your footsteps, to nurture God's flock with the word of life and the bread of salvation. We ask this blessing through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
O Glorious Saint Patrick, pray for us and seek my private intention through this Novena: (Share your request…) but may, “God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
… Saint Patrick, Pray for Us …
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin
Patron of Canada
Background:
The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” one, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God's own holiness. By saying Joseph was “just,” the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God.
All we know about Joseph is that he was a righteous man, unwilling to expose his fiancée when she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit he resolved to send her away quietly. (Matthew 1:19). A/n angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife as she would /‘bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' (Matthew 1:21).
The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage.
Rosary in Honour of Saint Joseph:
This can be said with a regular rosary. Instead of the Hail Mary say the Hail Holy Joseph:
Hail, Holy Joseph,
Spouse of the ever virgin Mary,
Foster father of God the Son,
Whom our Father in Heaven
Chose to be head of the Holy Family.
Pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death, Amen.