Feast of St. Patrick (March 17th)

The "Wearing of the Green" in honor of Saint Patrick, along with all the green parades with their bagpipes and blarney, is part of a folk ritual that announces the death of winter and the coming of green spring.

On March 17th, Irish and "wanna-be" Irish all toast the Saint of Welsh birth who became the missionary to the isle of saints and scholars. He is the patron saint of Ireland, of parades and of all things green. His love and incorporation of pre-Christian lore and customs also makes Patrick the patron saint of the shoe, or wee folk, who were the olds gods driven from moral sight.

There is a story about a man named Muldoon who lived alone in the Irish countryside with a pet dog that he loved for years. The dog finally died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, "Father, my dog is dead. Could ya' be saying' a mass for the creature?"

Father Patrick replied, "I'm afraid not, we cannot have services for an animal in church, but there is another denomination down the lane and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature."

Muldoon said, "I'll go right away Father...Do ya' think $5,000 is enough for me to donate to them for the service?" Father Patrick exclaimed, "Sweet Mary Mother of Jesus!....Why didn't ya' tell me the dog was Catholic?"


Prayer of St. Patrick

May the strength of God pilot us,
May the power of God preserve us,
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
May the way of God direct us,
May the shield of God defend us,
May the host of God guard us,
Against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.

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Feast of St. Joseph (March 19th)

The word "faith" can mean various things. It can mean the content of belief but also has the more fundamental meaning of "trust" as when a person has faith in another individual or in God.

The readings for this day's feast gives two examples of faith as trust in God. The first is the example of the old man Abraham. He was well on in years when he was called to leave his homeland, to be the father of a child of great promise and to be tested on Mount Moriah. He is called our "father in faith." He is the father of all who trust in God.

Our second example is that of a young man in his twenties - Joseph. He cared for Mary and Jesus, supported and protected them. He was also a man of a faith.

Great demands were made on Abraham and Joseph. They trusted in God and great things were done through their faith. The dynasty God promised to David came true under the watchful, loving eye of Joseph in his deep love for Mary.

Our lives take strange and bizarre turns. It takes great faith to realize that God is working out His purpose through us. Salvation history continues even as we write. Each of us is an unfinished chapter in that story. Each of us, as did Abraham and Joseph sets into motion a string of causes and effects on other people. Some part of the world is actually different because we are here. The end result is hidden from us. For now, like Abraham and Joseph, we can only trust God that everything is unfolding as it should.

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Annunciation of the Lord (March 26th)

Today the Church celebrates the greatest event in the history of mankind: the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This feast is celebrated on March 26th to correspond to December 25th, nine months later-the birthday of the Word made flesh.

Let us thank the Blessed Virgin for her fiat:
"Let it be done to me as you say" (Luke 1:38), for at that moment began our salvation. Let us also imitate her in her humble and generous service of God.


The Day of the Annunciation

Let us have profound gratitude for the happiest day for humanity: reparation was about to be made for sin and heaven reopened to mankind. The Incarnation of the Word was fulfilled. God came to live among us; Mary was exalted as the true Mother of God.

The recitation of the Angelus, besides reminding us of the great mystery of the Annunciation, should also remind us that there is a paradise awaiting us. We must live in a way that we may reach it; take the road leading to a happy eternity, to eternal glory.

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