March 1
BLESSED KATHERINE DREXEL

With clearness and truth, in justice and charity, let us resolve to press on toward the restoration of all things in Christ.

PRAYER
Compassionate God you inspired Katherine Drexel to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to serve Native Americans and African Americans. Through her intercession we ask your protection for all indigenous peoples who have been deprived of their lands or cultures and for all people who have experienced bondage and dislocation. May her spirit encourage us to serve the needy of our day. Amen.

March 7
SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

PRAYER
O God, Perpetua and Felicity endured martyrdom rather than deny their faith in you. Through their intercession we pray for all those places in our world where religious persecution alienates people from one another. May division and prejudice be replaced by respect and peace so that Jesus’ prayer of the unity of the human family may be fulfilled. We ask this in his name. Amen.

March 8
SAINT JOHN OF GOD

Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was sick and you took care of me.

PRAYER
O God, you inspired Saint John to devote his life to the care of the sick. As we celebrate his feast, we pray for all those in the ministry of health care. May your healing love flow through them, bringing comfort and well-being to your people. We pray also that we may work together to assure that all people have access to basic health services. All this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

March 15
SAINT LOUISE DE MARILLAC

The virtue of cordiality should not stand alone for it is in need of another virtue, which is respect.

PRAYER
Merciful God, Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul envisioned a new way of serving you by making the world their cloister. The poor and the sick found comfort from their ministry, and religious life was given a new direction. Through their intercession, we ask your blessing for all religious who seek to honor you by serving the members of your body. We ask this confident that you hear and answer our prayers. Amen.

March 17
SAINT PATRICK

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same – the Three in One and One in Three.

PRAYER
O God, Patrick led the people of Ireland to faith in you. Inspired by his teaching, may we know and love you in the mystery of the Trinity. Creator, Redeemer, and Spirit, continue to reveal yourself in your infinite variety. Help us to rejoice in the diversity of your creation so that we may come to know you in the fullness of your being. God, three in one, hear and answer our prayer. Amen.

March 19
SAINT JOSEPH

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

PRAYER
O God, you entrusted the child Jesus to the care of Saint Joseph. We pray, through his intercession, for all those who care for children not their own. Give them welcoming hearts and generous spirits that they may create nurturing environments in which children may thrive. Reward them with the joy of witnessing the effects of their good works. We ask this through Jesus who experienced Joseph’s fatherly care. Amen.

March 25
THE ANNUNCIATION

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

PRAYER
O God, you sent the angel Gabriel to announce to Mary that she was to be the mother of your Son. May we be attentive to the signs of your life growing within us and accept our responsibility to bring you to birth in our world. Through our prayer and actions may your people know your mercy from generation to generation. We ask this in Mary’s name. Amen.