FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 5th March : St. Kieran
Kieran of Saigir was born in Cape Clear, Co. Cork. He is numbered among the pre-Patrician saints of Ireland. He went to the Continent, where he was baptised and later ordained priest and bishop. He returned to his father's territory, Ossory, where he lived as a hermit. Disciples soon joined him and Saigir became a well-known monastery.
Saturday 7th March : Ss Perpetua and Felicity
St. Perpetua, a young upper-class married woman and St. Felicity, a slave girl were martyred in Carthage, 203. They are invoked in the Canon of the Mass - Eucharistic Prayer 1.
Sunday 8th March : 3rd Sunday of LENT
The catechumens and the baptised Christians are together on this Lenten pilgrimage. Christ offers the water of life to all who thirst. Today there occurs the first scrutiny of exorcism for the catechumens. By it they are being prepared to accept the Spirit. Through that Spirit the gift of life is poured into our hearts, a gift bought for us by the blood of Christ. The prayer that they grow in wisdom and love echoes the readings, and must still be the prayer of all Christians.
Monday 9th March : St. Frances of Rome
Lived a happily married life and founded a society of women with the Rule of St. Benedict and became a member of it after her husband's death. She died in 1440.
Wednesday 11th March : St. Aengus
He was a monk in Clonenagh, Co. Laois, who came to the monastery at Tallaght at end of the eighth century during the abbacy of Maelruain to spend a period under his direction. He was renowned for his devotion to both foreign and native saints and composed two martyrologies. He returned to Clonenagh, where he became abbot and bishop. He died around the year 824.