Some heroes to imitate and intercessors to call on during March. Chock full of links (all the blue words) to learn more if you care to. Add your favorites to your calendar and do something special to remember them and pray with them on their feast days. It’s not an exhaustive list, but a great place to start.
- 3/3 St. Katherine Drexel – (1858-1955) Nun. A U.S. Saint whose relics you can visit — in Pennsylvania! Born to a wealthy family, she devoted her life to the poor and gave away millions of dollars in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. She asked Pope Leo XIII to send more missionaries to WY, he replied, “Why don’t you become a missionary?” Founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
- 3/6 St. Fridolin – (d.c.540) Irish Missionary, Benedictine Monk. Discovered the relics of St. Hiary of Potiers in response to a vision. Chased away as a missionary because people thought he was a cattle thief. Sometimes represented in art as an abbot leading a skeleton. Patron of good weather and optometrists.
- 3/7 Sts. Perpetua & Felicity – (d.203) Converts, Martyrs. Perpertua was only 22 and still nursing a baby son, and Felicity, a young slave, was 8 months pregnant when arrested. They were thrown into the arena to face wild beasts and still wouldn’t back down from their intense faith.
- 3/7 St. Drausinus – (d.c.674) Bishop. Helped build the church. “Medieval legend says that to spend the night at Drausinus’ tomb made one invincible”. (saints.sqpn.com) Patron of invincible people and champions and against enemy plots.
- 3/8 St. John of God – (1495-1550) After a wild youth, he had a vision of the Infant Jesus while in his 40’s. Spent the rest of his life caring for the sick, poor, homeless, and unwanted. Founded the Order of Charity and the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God. Friend of St. John of Avila, the newest Doctor of the Church. Patron saint of booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, the sick, firefighters, and against alcoholism.
- 3/9 St. Catherine of Bologna – (1413-1463) Poor Clare nun, Virgin, Mystic, Miracle worker, Painter. Patron of Artists. Died in 1463, but her body is still incorrupt. “The beauty of her life and death encourages us to resolve to live in perfect charity as a Lenten goal.” (catholic.org)
- 3/9 St. Frances of Rome – (1384-1440) Wife, mother, noblewoman, widow, and servant of the poor, sick and orphaned. Guided by an angel only she could see. She had several visions of the pains of hell. Patron of motorists. (Click here to find out why priests bless cars on her feast day.)
- 3/9 St. Gregory of Nyssa – (c.333-c.398) Priest, Theologian, Early Church Father, brother of St. Basil the Great and St. Macrina. Best known for his theology on the Trinity. Called “Father of the Fathers” at the Council of Nicea for his orthodoxy and opposition to Arianism. Click here and scroll down for some of his writings.
- 3/9 St. Dominic Savio – (1842-1857) Fourteen year old Saint (the youngest non-martyr to be canonized) and friend of St. John Bosco (patron saint of youth… and a juggler!). Patron of boys, the falsely accused, and juvenile delinquents.
- 3/12 St. Seraphina – (1238-1253) Hermit, Orphan. Born very beautiful, Seraphina suffered a mysterious illness that left her unattractive and eventually paralyzed. Her parents both died when she was young. Devoted to St. Gregory the Great, he appeared to her in a vision predicting the day of her death. Patron of handicapped and physically challenged people.
- 3/13 St. Ansovinus – (d.840) Preist, Hermit, Bishop, Miracle Worker. His prayers once refilled an empty granary. Patron of gardeners and protection of crops.
- 3/15 St Longinus – (1st Century) Soldier, Convert, Martyr. The soldier that pierced Jesus’ side after he died at the crucifixion (Jn 19:34). He converted and was martyred for being a follower of Christ. “His Lance is contained in one of the four pillars over the altar in the Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome.” (catholic.org)
- 3/15 St. Louise de Marillac – (1591-1660) Widow, Foundress, Spiritual Director. Spiritual student of St. Vincent de Paul, she helped him found the Daughters of Charity. Later she founded the Sisters of Charity. Patron of disappointing children, loss of parents, widows, and people rejected by religious orders.
- 3/17 St. Patrick – ( b.387-390, d.461-464) Born as Maewyn Succat. Patron of a particular country with a love of green, and invoked against snakes. Want to go past legend and parades? Read the Confession of St. Patrick that he wrote himself. And check out this prayer! It’s a powerful prayer for spiritual battle. And Patrick faced powerful druids and pagans, much as we are confronted with a new paganism and a modern love of nature religions. Read the whole prayer out loud. It’s not long and very powerful! The Breastplate of St. Patrick (aka Cry of the Deer or Saint Patrick’s Lorica).
- 3/17 St. Joseph of Arimathea – (1st century) Disciple of Jesus that requested His Body from Pilate, and along with St. Nicodemus, wrapped Jesus and laid him in the tomb, which St. Joseph provided. (Mark 15:43-46)
- 3/18 St. Cyril of Jerusalem – (315-386) Early Church Father, Doctor of the Church, Bishop of Jerusalem, fought the Arian heresy, attended the First Council of Constantinople, which formally approved the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. You can click here to read some of his writings.
- 3/19 St. Joseph – (1st Century) Foster father of Jesus, husband of Mary, and patron of the Universal Church, families, workers, carpenters, a happy death, and much more. Click here for a really cool novena to St. Joseph. This day is a Solemnity, and a holy day of obligation for most of the universal Church (but not the U.S.)
- 3/20 St. Cuthbert – (634-687) aka Thaumaturgus (or Wonder-Worker) of England. Orphan, Shepherd, Benedictine Monk. Had gifts of healing and prophecy. Patron of England, shepherds, sailors, and against plague. Care to read more, here is St. Bede’s Life of St. Cuthbert.
- 3/21 St. Nicholas von Flue – (1417-1487) After being a successful soldier, husband and father of ten, with his family’s blessing, he became a hermit. Reported to have the gift of prophecy and once survived 19 years on nothing but Holy Communion. Mediated a potential civil war in Switzerland. Patron of difficult marriages, large families, Switzerland and Pontifical Swiss Guards.
- 3/23 St. Toribio Alfonso Mongrovejo – (1538-1606) Archbishop of Lima, Peru. Founded the first seminary in the Western hemisphere, fought for the rights of natives against Spanish masters. Baptized and confirmed hundreds of thousands, including St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres. Patron of native rights and Latin American bishops.
- 3/24 St. Catherine of Sweden – (1331-1381) Daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden. Catherine and her mother spent their time in prayer, working with the poor, and instructing them in religion. Patron against abortions and miscarriages.
- 3/25 Annunciation of the Lord – When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). Think about it. Exactly nine months before December 25th…
- 3/25 St. Dismas (aka The Good Thief) – (d.c.30) One of the thieves crucified with Jesus. He rebuked the other and asked for Christ’s blessing. (Luke 23:32-43)
- 3/28 Holy Thursday – Lent ends at the start of Mass tonight. Stay awake and pray with Jesus one hour if you can.
- 3/29 Good Friday – Start your Divine Mercy Novena today! (Click here for more on Divine Mercy.)
- 3/30 St. John Climacus – (d.c.605-649) aka Scholasticus or Sinaita. Confessor, Hermit, Abbot. Lived at the foot of Mount Sinai. Most known for his spiritual classic, The Climax: The Ladder of Divine Ascent.
- 3/31 EASTER!!! After fasting 40 days we are supposed to party for 50.
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