FEASTS OF THE WEEK





Sunday 15th March : 4th Sunday of LENT
Laetare Sunday

The experience of the man born blind helps our understanding of baptism. "You went, you washed, you came to the later, you began to see what you had not seen before. In short, your eyes were opened in the fountain of the Lord and by the preaching of the Lord's Passion. You seemed previously to be blind of heart: now you began to see the light." So spoke St. Ambrose to the recently baptised, recalling that experience to them.

Laetare means "Rejoice" in Latin, and the Introit (Entrance Antiphon) begins "Laetare, Jerusalem" (Rejoice, Jerusalem). Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened. The purple vestments and altar cloths of Lent are set aside, and rose ones used instead. Laetare Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday or Refreshment Sunday.


Tuesday 17th March : St. Patrick
Bishop, 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 end of his life, showing him as one living by the faith he preached and allowing Christ to direct his whole life.

Emigrants are remembered in a special way today.



Wednesday 18th March : St. Cyril of Jerusalem

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


Thursday 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. Among those virtues the following stand out: faith, with which he fully accepted God's salvific plan; prompt and silent obedience to the will of God; love for and fulfilment of the law, true piety, fortitude in time of trial; chaste love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, a dutiful exercise of his paternal authority, and fruitful reticence.


Saturday 21st March : St. Enda

He is considered to be one of the three great late vocations (athlaech) 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 in the Boyne valley. On Faenche's urging he went to Aran. He died probably in 520 and is considered as one o fthe early models of ascetic monasticism in Ireland.