FEASTS OF THE WEEK






Sunday 17th March : St. Patrick

Principal Patron of Ireland.



He was born very probably in the early years of the fifth century in the Roman colony of Britain. He was taken captive at the age of sixteen and brought to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. He tended herds on Slemish Mountain for six years. His captivity had a very positive effect on his spiritual life. He prayed many times each day, his faith growing stronger and his love and reverence for God increasing. He escaped back home at the age of twenty-two. It was obvious to him that God was calling him to return to convert the Irish. The voice of the Irish was calling him to come and walk among them once more. He studied probably in France, returned to Ireland as a bishop c. 457-61. His mission was not immediately greatly successful but eventually he would make a tremendous number of converts. Two writings survive: the Letter to Coraticus, a protest to the soldiers of a British prince who had killed some converts and sold others as slaves, and his Confession, written near the ned of his life, showing him as one living by the faith he preached and allowing Christ to direct his whole life.


Sunday 17th March : 5th Sunday of Lent
Day of Prayer for Emigrants

Lent reminds us that God loved us so much that he was generous with his mercy. If we have faith in that mercy we will not be lost. But we have to bring that message to all. The Christian has to preach to the world the saving work of Jesus Christ.


Monday 18th March : St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386)

Bishop of Jerusalem. He excelled as a catechist and administrator, and suffered exile in his fight against Arianism.


Tuesday 19th March : St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The virtues of St. Joseph have been the object of ecclesial reflection down through the centuries, especially the more recent centuries.


19th March is the anniversary of the inauguration in 2013 of the Petrine ministry of Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome.


Thursday 21st March : St. Enda

He is considered to be one of the three great late vocations (athleach) of Ireland. His sister, Faenche, a nun, set his thoughts on a religious vocation. He made a small foundation in Cell Aine, Co. Louth and, after studies in Scotland under Ninian, made several foundations int eh Boyne valley. On Faenche's urging he went to Aran. He died probably in 520 and is considered as one of the early models of ascetic monasticism in Ireland.


Saturday 23rd March : St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (1538-1606)

He was a layman when he was appointed Archbishop of Lima, Peru by King Philip II. He combated all the abuses of the conquerors in Peru and built up the Church there. (Mogrovejo - small village of the municipality of CamaleƱo in Cantabria, Spain)