The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph. The entire month of March falls during the liturgical season known as Lent which is represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of March 2010
General: That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest.

Missionary: That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent. (See also www.apostleshipofprayer.net)

Feasts for March
The feasts on the General Roman Calendar celebrated during the month of March are:

03. Katharine Drexel (USA), Opt. Mem.
04. Casimir of Poland, Opt. Mem.
07. Third Sunday of Lent, Sunday
08. John of God, Opt. Mem.
09. Frances of Rome; Bl. John Ogilvie (Scotland), Opt. Mem.
14. Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sunday
17. Patrick, Opt. Mem.
18. Cyril of Jerusalem, Opt. Mem.
19. Joseph, husband of Mary, Solemnity
21. Fifth Sunday of Lent, Sunday
23. Turibio de Mogrovejo, Opt. Mem.
25. Annunciation of the Lord, Solemnity
28. Palm Sunday, Sunday

Focus of the Liturgy
The Gospel readings for March are taken from St. John and St. Luke. All are from Year C, Cycle 2.

March 7th - 3rd Sunday of Lent
In this Gospel Jesus tells the parable of the barren fig tree.
 
March 14th - 4th Sunday of Lent
This Gospel recounts the parable of the Prodigal Son.
 
March 21st - 5th Sunday of Lent
The Gospel is about the woman caught in adultry.
 
March 28th - Palm Sunday
The reading of the Passion.

Highlights of the Month
As we continue our journey "up to Jerusalem" during the month of March, three prominent ideas are proposed for our contemplation by the liturgy of Lent: the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, baptism, and penance.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) is a special landmark this month in which we will celebrate the great honor bestowed on St. Joseph. Also the Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25) when we ponder Our Lady's fiat.

The saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are St. Katharine Drexel (March 3), St. Casimir (March 4), St. John of God (March 8), St. Frances of Rome (March 9), St. Patrick (March 17), St. Cyril of Jerusalem (March 18) and St. Toribio de Mogrovejo (March 23).

The feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (March 7) is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

A Time of Penance and Promise
Here and there in the stark March landscape, a few plants and trees are beginning to give evidence of the new life that winter’s frost and chill had concealed from our eyes. The Church’s vibrant new life has been obscured, too, by the austerity of the penitential season of Lent. But that life is indisputable, and it will burgeon forth on Easter as Christ coming forth from his tomb!

During this month we will continue our journey to the cross with our acts of penitence. We will reflect on our mortality ("Remember man thou art dust") and the shortness of life ("and to dust thou shall return"). We will heed the call, "Now is the acceptable time, now is “the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).” Just like Our Lord's earthly life every moment of our lives is leading up to the last moment—when for eternity we will either go to God or suffer the fires of hell. The Solemnity of the Annunciation bravely appears in the fifth week of Lent; a pure white flower in the purple Lenten landscape. It seems to be, at first glance, a Christmas feast, but upon reflection we grasp that the feast is intimately linked to the Paschal mystery. For what Christ inaugurated at His incarnation in accepting to offer himself for the human race, he will complete in his sacrifice on the cross.

As the weeks of Lent progress let us not tire of doing our good works and penance, but continue with the enthusiasm of the catechumens on their way to Easter and Baptism. May our Lenten observance be a joyful journey — and not a forced march.