March 2017
March is the Month the Church Dedicates to St. Joseph
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.
MEMORARE TO ST. JOSEPH
Remember, most pure spouse of the blessed Virgin Mary, my amiable protector St. Joseph, that it is unheard of that any one ever had recourse to thy protection, and implored thy help, without receiving consolation. Full of this confidence in thy power, I come before thee and recommend myself to thee with fervour. Ah! despise not my prayer, O dear foster-father of our Redeemer, but graciously hear and obtain my request. Amen.
(300 days indulgence granted by Pope Pius IX, 26th June 1863, applicable to the dead.)
THE SEASON OF LENT
The season of Lent begins from March 1, 2017 (Ash Wednesday) until April 15, 2017 (Holy Saturday). We are obliged to Fast & Abstain during this season. It sums to 40 days of Fasting & Abstinence in commemoration of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Excluding Sundays within the Lent, it sums to exactly 40 days from Ash Wednesday until the Holy Saturday.
The below are nature of Fasting & Abstinence during the days of Lent that one needs to observe:
- Ash Wednesday & Holy Saturday: Day of Fasting & Complete Abstinence
- All Fridays in Lent: Day of Fasting & Complete Abstinence
- All the other days in Lent (except Sundays): Day of Fasting & Partial Abstinence
- Sundays during Lent are not the days of Fasting & Complete Abstinence.
- For complete Law on Fasting & Abstinence & its details, Click here
Below listed are the feasts falling in March 2017:
(THE LENT SEASON BEGINS)
March 1: Ash Wednesday
March 3: FIRST FRIDAY / Fri. after Ash Wed. – the sacred Crown of Thorns.
March 4: FIRST SATURDAY / St. Casimir Confessor, Simple, Commemoration of St. Lucius I Pope and Martyr.
March 5: I Sunday of Lent, Double of the I Class.
March 6: Ss. Perpetua and Felicity Martyrs, Double.
March 7: St. Thomas Aquinas Confessor and Doctor of the Church, Double.
March 8: EMBER WEDNESDAY / St. John of God Confessor, Double.
March 9: St. Frances of Rome Widow, Double.
March 10: EMBER FRIDAY / The Forty Holy Martyrs, Simple; Fri. after I Sun. of Lent – the holy Lance & the Nails of our Lord.
March 11: EMBER SATURDAY.
March 12: II Sunday of Lent, Double of the I Class.
March 17: St. Patrick Bishop and Confessor, Double; Fri. after II Sun. of Lent – the holy winding Sheet of our Lord.
March 18: St. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church, Double.
March 19: III Sunday of Lent, Double of the I Class.
March 21: St. Benedict Abbot, Greater Double.
March 24: St. Gabriel the Archangel, Greater Double; St. Simon of Trent, Infant Martyr; Fri. after III Sun. of Lent – the five holy Wounds of our Lord.
March 25: Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Double of the I Class.
March 26: IV Sunday of Lent, Double of the I Class.
March 27: St. John Damascene Confessor and Doctor of the Church, Double
March 28: St. John Capistran Confessor, Double
March 31: Fri. after IV Sun. of Lent – the precious Blood of our Lord.
Blessed and Contemplated be the Shoulder Wound of Jesus!