Born around 480 in Nursia, Italy, Benedict was educated in Rome.  Because of the vices of the city, he fled to Enfide.  He decided to live the life of a hermit and settled in a cave in mountainous Subiaco for three years.  The community at Vicovaro asked him to be their Abbot.  Because of his strictness, the monks resisted his rule and tried to poison him.   He returned to Subiaco where he attracted a great number of disciples.  His Rule offered a common-sense approach to the monastic life:  He organized twelve monasteries where there was a regular routine of work, study, rest, healthy food and drink etc, which produced a closer union with God and a deeper understanding of His will. One of his rules was no excessive penances.  Benedict has been acclaimed as “the Father of Monks.”  He died at Monte Casino on March 21, 550.

FEAST DAY:  March 21

PATRON OF:  Monks, poison sufferers

ROSARY

Responsorial Psalm

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

 Today’s Question-

A priest or bishop must preside in order for a community to celebrate Mass.  True or False?

Wulfran was in the court of King Clotaire III for some years.  In spite of the seductions of the world, Wulfran practiced virtue.  His father was an officer in the court of King Dagobert.  Wulfran was ordained and consecrated Archbishop of Sens.  After two and a half years, he resigned his position because of the possibility that his Bishopric was not valid.  St. Amatus, its rightful Bishop, was in exile.  After a retreat in the Abbey of Fontelelle, he went to Friesland as a missionary.  There he converted a son of King Radbod and many others.  He fought against human sacrifices.  He returned to Fontelelle and died there March 20.

FEAST DAY:  March 20

BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Judas

Today’s Question-

The saints in heaven can intercede for us to God.  True or False?

Joseph was a royal descendant of the royal House of David.  A lowly village carpenter of Nazareth, he was chosen by God to be the husband and protector of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate.  His family came from Bethlehem in Judea but he had moved to Nazareth in Galilee where he was a builder.  After the Mother of God, no other man was gifted with natural and supernatural virtues as was St. Joseph, her spouse.  He was the divinely appointed head of the Holy Family.  On December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX, solemnly proclaimed the foster father of Jesus as Patron of the Universal Church.   This feast is celebrated on March 19.  There is another feast of St. Joseph the Worker which is celebrated May 1.  Blessed Pope John XXIII inserted the name of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayer 1, or the Roman Canon.

FEAST DAY:  MARCH 19

PATRON OF:  Happy death, the church militant, carpenters, fathers

STATUES

Responsorial Psalm

The son of David will live for ever.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(b) Jerusalem

Today’s Question-

Who was the disciple who betrayed Jesus?

St. Cyril was born around the year 315 near Jerusalem.  He had a great knowledge of the pagan philosophers and the Fathers of the Church, as well as Sacred Scriptures.  Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem, ordained him around the year 345.  He succeeded Maximus in the See of Jerusalem about the year 350.  This was a time when the church was distracted by Arian heresy.  Acacius, the Arian Bishop of Caesarea, and Cyril had a difference of opinion about Arianism.  Acacius claimed jurisdiction over the Church of Jerusalem, which Cyril disputed.  He was forced to seek refuge at Tarsus for a time.  When Constantius died and Julian succeeded him, Cyril was restored to his See.  Several times Cyril was expelled and recalled on different charges; one was over the word “homoousios” the basic term in the Nicene Creed.  The General Council of Constantinople adopted the Nicene Creed in 381.  He was a scriptural scholar and a successful preacher.   He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII.

FEAST DAY:  March 18

MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

What is the city where Jesus died on the cross?

St. Patrick was born around the year 389 but the place and year of his birth are uncertain.  When he was 16 years old he was captured and taken to Ireland where he was a herdsman.  He retained his faith and learned the science of prayer and contemplation.  He had a miraculous escape after six years and returned home.  He was ordained to the priesthood.  He dreamed that the Irish were calling out to him after his ordination “come back and walk among us again.”  He believed that God wanted him to carry the faith to Ireland.  Pope Celestine made him Bishop of Ireland where he made many converts to the faith.   He died March 17, 461 leaving behind his “Confessions” which give a vivid picture of a great man of God.

FEAST DAY: March 17

PATRON OF: Ireland

MEDAL

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

Jesus experienced joys and sorrows like everyone else.  True or False?

St. Heribert was born in Worms, Germany around the year 970. He was educated at Gorze Abbey in Lorraine.  He wanted to become a Benedictine, but his father obtained a canonry for him and he was ordained.  He became a trusted counselor of Emperor Otto III.  In 998 he was named archbishop of Cologne.  He accompanied Otto on  a trip to Italy where Otto died in 1002.  Through a mutual misunderstanding, Henry disliked Duke Henry of Bavaria who became Emperor Henry II.  The two were later reconciled and Heribert became Henry’s chancellor.   They worked together for the good of the people.  Heribert built a monastery on the Rhine where he was a peacemaker, a firm disciplinarian, a holy man, and became devoted to the poor.  He knew the value of money and always saw that his was divided among the poor.  It was said that he performed a miracle during a time of drought.  It was through his prayers that a torrential rain fell, saving the harvest and delivering the people from famine.  He died  March 16, 1021.  Pope Gregory VIII canonized him between 1073 and 1075.

FEAST DAY:  March 16

PATRON OF:  Time of drought

GIFTS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

It is a valid excuse for some people to have little time for prayer.  True or False?

Louise was born in 1591.  In 1613 she married Antoine Le Gras.  He died 13 years later leaving her with a young son.  After her husband’s death, she moved to Paris and became a nun.  She became associated with St. Vincent de Paul, who was then Monsieur Vincent.  He became her spiritual advisor.  He had established orphanages, hospitals, and shelters for the elderly, but didn’t have enough staff to take care of all the establishments.  Louise established the Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Sick Poor.  She recruited hardy young women from the working class who were accustomed to long busy days.   The nuns would leave their convent every day and go where they were needed.  They became the Daughters of Charity.  Louise died in 1660.  Pius XI canonized her on March 11, 1934.  Blessed Pope John XXIII named her patron of Social Workers in 1960.

FEAST DAY:  March 15

PATRON OF:  Social Workers

EASTER                  COOKBOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) church

Today’s Question-

A worldly mentality can hurt the desire to pray.  True of False?

St. Matilda was the daughter of a Saxon Count.  She was placed in a monastery early in life.  Her grandmother, the abbess, entered the monastery after the death of her husband.  Matilda left the convent when her parents gave her in marriage to Henry.  He became Duke upon the death of his father and several years later was chosen to succeed Conrad as King of Germany.  The queen was a virtuous person, comforting the sick, feeding the hungry, instructing the ignorant, and endeavoring to convert the sinners.  Her husband was in accord with this.  They had 3 sons and 2 daughters.  After the death of the King Henry, Otto became king.  The sons were displeased with their mother for using the money to continue her work and seized all of her property.  She left the castle and went to the convent.  She finally returned home but her troubles weren’t over.  She suffered much cruel persecution from her sons.  She died in 968.

FEAST DAY- March 14

PATRON OF- Falsely accused

CHURCH GOODS

Responsorial Psalm

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Jesus

Today’s Question-

Where is the usual place for liturgical prayer?

St. Roderick was a priest living in Spain during Moorish domination and persecution.  He had two brothers, one a Mohammedan and the other, a fallen away Christian.  They beat him into unconsciousness and paraded him through the city saying Roderick wanted to become a Mohammedan.  He escaped as soon as he got well.  His brother had him brought up on charges of apostasy.  Again, he was thrown into prison.  While there he met a man named Solomon who was convicted of the same crime.  The two befriended one another and they were separated thinking that apart, they might change their minds.  Since this didn’t work they were beheaded in 857.  St. Eulogius (also a prisoner) saw their bodies lying close to the river and saw the soldiers throwing the bloody stones into the river so no one could make relics of them.

FEAST DAY- March 13

SPANISH/ESPANOL

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

Who is the fruit of Mary’s womb?

He was born into a wealthy and worldly family in Samothrace, Greece around 759.  He was a holy man.  In spite of his reluctance, he was forced to marry.   By mutual agreement, his wife entered a convent, and he became a monk, leaving the court of Constantine V.  Soon, he was involved in founding two monasteries and acted as Abbot of one.  He ran into obstacles whenever he tried to study and live his own life.  He wrote a history of the world.  At  the Council of Nicea, he supported the veneration of sacred images.  Emperor Leo the Armenian was against this practice and Theophanes was put into prison because of being faithful to Christianity.  While in prison he was mistreated and died .  Throughout all of these trials he maintained his love for God.  He is called “the  Chronicler” for his “Chronographia”, a history of the years 284-813.  He died March 12.

FEAST DAY- March 12

GARDEN STATUES

Responsorial Psalm

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) intercession

Today’s Question-

The events of each day can be a rich source of prayer because of the ever abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.  True or false?