Commemoration of Saints (March 17)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Patrick, bishop
• Joseph of Arimathea
• Agricola, bishop
• Gertrude of Nivelles, virgin
• Paul of Cyprus
• The Martyrs of Serapeum [1]

The feast of St. Patrick is celebrated as an Optional Memorial every March 17.

St. Patrick (385/390-461 A.D.) was born either on the island of Britain or in Gaul. Much of what is commonly known of St. Patrick has come from pious stories and from legends about his miracles.

Commonly believed is that Patrick was taken off by raiders and brought to slavery in Ireland, which was still pagan. It was there that he worked as a shepherd for six years until he was able to escape. It was during this captivity that he was able to experience a conversion - from being a thoughtless youth to one of deep faith in God. After his escape from those who held him captive, he returned home and began his studies in the monastery of Lerins. He was ordained in about the year 417 A.D.

Patrick saw his vocation as one of also being sent to bring the faith to the Irish people who held him captive. After being consecrated a bishop by St. Germanus in 423 A.D., Patrick went to Ireland to replace St. Paulinus who had died the previous year. Patrick preached throughout Ireland and overcame the opposition of many hostile chieftains and their subjects through miraculous means. St. Patrick accomplished much in structuring the Church in Ireland and was credited for bringing the Irish into closer relations with the Western Church.

After St. Patrick died, the Irish churches soon grew into a large number and developed their faith well to send numerous missionaries to northern Europe. These Irish missionaries have also brought the Christian faith to the United States, to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia. And, wherever there are communities of Irish people, they often build a church, and name it after their patron saint, St. Patrick [3][4].

It was not long after St. Patrick's influence over the development of faith in Ireland, that Irish Catholicism produced what is soon to be called as Celtic monasticism. Monasticism in Ireland had developed earlier than monasticism in mainland Europe (which was initiated later by St. Benedict of Nursia). Early developments of monasticism in Ireland can be credited for making individual confession as a familiar form of the Sacrament's practice among the people. Though private confession existed early in the Church, it was the Irish monks who popularized and formalized the practice of private confession and penance, and then spread it throughout continental Europe during the 7th century A.D. [5]

Learn more about Celtic Christianity and its Monastic Influence on the Church

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 17]

• Venerable father, Alexis [2]

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] Saints for Our Time, by Ed Ransom
• [4] Saints Behaving Badly, by Thomas J. Craughwell
• [5] AI Overview for the search query "is it true that it was the irish monks who practice individual and private confession and made it a common practice throughout the whole church?", Google.com

Commemoration of Saints (March 16)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Julian of Antioch, martyr
• Abraham Kidunia, hermit
• Finnian Lobhar, abbot
• Eusebia, abbess
• Gregory Makar, bishop
• Heribert, bishop [1]

On this day, March 16, the Catholic Church commemorates 2 bishops, 1 martyr, 1 hermit, 1 abbot and 1 abbess. St. Julian of Antioch is also commemorated today in the Churches that use the Byzantine Calendar [2].

St. Julian of Antioch (d. ca. 302 A.D.) is also known as Julian of Anazarbus. He was a Christian martyr from Anazarbus in Cilicia, a region in modern-day Turkey, and his relics are enshrined in Antioch. It was St. John of Chrysostom who preached a eulogy about him. This eulogy is the source of information recorded about him. The manner of his martyrdom is terrible. He was sewn in a sack with scorpions and thrown into the sea [2][3].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 16]

• St. Sabinus and Papas, Martyrs
• St. Julian, Martyr
• St. Alexander, Priest-Martyr, Pope of Rome

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] AI Overview for the search query "is julian of antioch the same as julian of anazarbus", Google.com, March 16, 2025

2nd Sunday of Lent (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

2nd Sunday of Lent (C), February 24, 2013

Liturgical readings
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17 - 4:1
Luke 9:28-36

Listen to Him.

The 2nd Sunday of Lent in Year C presents the mystery of the Lord's Transfiguration. Luke describes this event in Chapter 9. Jesus was praying on a mountain, and then His face and clothing became dazzlingly white. The prophets Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him and spoke of the His passage which He was about to fulfil in Jerusalem. While this was happening, Peter, John and James were asleep. But the event awoke them and they saw the dazzling glory of the Lord with Moses and Elijah. Peter said: "Master, how good it is for us to be here...let us set up three booths..." A cloud suddenly overshadowed them - causing fear in their hearts. A voice spoke from the cloud: "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to Him." As the voice fell silent, and Jesus was there alone with them, the disciples kept quiet. They told nothing of what they had witnessed.

The last time we hear of a similar Voice speaking in the same manner, was during the feast of the Lord's baptism. The gospel passage also presents a voice from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on Him." It was the voice of the Father. The voice confirms in both instances, in both the Baptism of the Lord and the Transfiguration, the divine Sonship of the Lord. The only difference between what the voice said in the event of the Baptism and in the event of the Transfiguration is the emphasis of "Listen to Him" in the Transfiguration event. That emphasis from the voice of the Father is important - for if only the apostles and disciples listened well to all that the Lord had spoken of, then they would have understood well the meaning of the events that would occur in Jerusalem, and not flee when Jesus was arrested and led to His crucifixion.

Lent is a time for more listening - one with more intent and purpose. Despite any family, work or professional responsibility, one can easily resolve to set aside more time for reflection and prayer. Reflection and prayer are very healing and life-giving spiritual activities; it helps any believer and all others around him to slow down from the frenetic pace of modern life. The times we can set for reflection and prayer, for an additional Mass on a weekday, or more visits to the Blessed Sacrament, can enkindle that spiritual vision of life that is often forgotten when life is spent too much on the surface of things. It is these times of seeking the Lord's presence in the liturgical season of Lent, where one can rediscover the priceless value of listening to the Source, God Himself in Word and Sacrament, to strengthen our resolve to follow His will in all matters of work and life.