David of Wales (d. c. 601) was a 6th century monk and bishop of Wales who, according to tradition, founded numerous monasteries throughout England. He was known for his devout faith, asceticism, works of charity and bold preaching, all of which led to a renewal and strengthening of the body of Faithful throughout England and Ireland. He is oftentimes portrayed with a dove, recalling the pious tradition that once while he was preaching, a dove landed on his shoulder, in a bold and visible sign of the Holy Spirit resting on his words and preaching.

INTROIT. Statuit. ei. Ecclus. 45.
THE Lord hath established a covenant of peace with him: and made him a chief of his people: that he should have a priestly dignity for ever and ever. Ps. 132. Lord remember David: and all his trouble. V. Glory be.

COLLECT.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the devout intercession of blessed David, thy Confessor and Bishop, may in such wise succour and defend us, that we which on this day observe his festival, may follow his firmness in defending the Catholic Faith. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Ecclesiasticus 44:16ff

GRADUAL. Ecclus. 44. Behold a great priest who in his days pleased the Lord. V. There was none found like unto him who kept the law of the Most High.

TRACT. Ps. 112. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he hath great delight in his commandments. V. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the faithful shall be blessed. V. Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

The Gospel. St Matthew 25:15ff

OFFERTORY. Ps. 89. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil have I anointed him: my hand shall hold him fast, and my arm shall strengthen him 

SECRET.
GRANT, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may at all times so rejoice in thy Saints, that as we call to mind their examples, so we may by their intercession find favor in thy sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION. St. Luke 12. A faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household: to give them their portion of meat in due season (alleluia).

POSTCOMMUNION.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, showing forth our thankfulness, may at the intercession of blessed David, thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain yet more abundant mercies. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, who makes us to rejoice this day in the festival of blessed Chad, thy Bishop and Confessor: we humbly beseech thy mercy, that through the holy prayers of him whose feast we devoutly venerate, we may obtain the recompense of everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Secret: We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to hear our prayers: and at the intercession of blessed Chad thy Confessor and Bishop, grant that we who minister thy heavenly Sacraments may be free from all sin; that through thy purifying grace we may be cleansed by those same mysteries which we serve. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion: Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God: that at the intercession of blessed Chad, thy Confessor and Bishop, we who tased of holy things, being cleansed by divine mysteries, may attain to the fulness of this heavenly Sacrament. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CLICK HERE FOR OBITUARY

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Confessor and Doctor


Thomas - a Dominican monk of the 13th century (c. 1225 - 1274) - is one of the Doctors of the Church, known for his holiness and for his brilliant intellect for the theological defense of Christianity.

His most acclaimed theological work is the "Summa Theologica," in which he puts forth his thoughts on the Divine mysteries through the Aristotelian method.

Collect: O God, who hast enlightened thy Church by the marvelous learning of Blessed Thomas thy Confessor, and has made it fruitful by his holy labors: grant us grace, we beseech thee, both to receive his doctrine with understanding, and to fulfill in our lives the righteousness of his example. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Are

About St. John of God

About St. Camillus de Lellis

Collect:
Almighty and merciful God, who has provided for the human race both remedies of salvation and the rewards of eternal life: grant us, we beseech thee, that through the patronage of blessed John and Camillus we may be worthy at the hour of our departure from this world to be presented before thee without spot of sin. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Esther 13:8-17 [Found in the Apocrypha]
The Holy Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

About St Frances of Rome

Collect: 
O God, who among other gifts of thy grace didst honor Blessed Frances thy handmaid with the familiar companionship of an Angel: grant, we beseech thee, that by the help of her intercession we may become worthy to be admitted to fellowship with the Angels. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For the Epistle: Jeremiah 17:5-10
The Holy Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste


In 320 A.D. and during the reign of Emperor Licinius, forty Roman soldiers stationed at a garrison in Sebaste, Armenia, were singled out and persecuted for their Christian faith.

The governor of Sebaste tried persuasion and various means of torture to get them to apostatize, by demanding that they offer sacrifices to idols. Refusing to do so, they were stripped and forced to stand on a frozen pond all night, while warm baths and a fire were posted on the bank to tempt them.

The soldiers prayed to God that they would not give in, and so remain forty strong - symbolizing the forty days of fasting by Christ, Moses and Elijah. One of the soldiers gave in to the temptation; however, a soldier standing watch over them took his place, making them again forty in number.

They all finally died from this torture.

Collect:
Grant, we beseech thee Almighty God: that we who acknowledge the fortitude of thy glorious Martyrs in their confession, may experience their loving intercession for us before thee. Through Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen.

Collect:
Grant unto us, we beseech thee, O Lord: that by the wholesome discipline of fasting, and by abstaining from all hurtful offenses, we may the more easily obtain thy merciful forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Exodus 20:12f
The Holy Gospel: Matthew 15:1f

Collect: 
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the holy devotion of our fast may both cleanse us, and make us acceptable unto thy divine Majesty. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Jeremiah 7:1-7
The Holy Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

St Patrick, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland


Born a Britain, Patrick (c. 390 - c. 460) was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. During his six years as a slave, he prayed often and came to know our Lord, whom he had previously taken for granted.

God revealed to him in a dream that he would be freed from slavery, and upon his return to Britain, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained.

Patrick then felt called to return to the land of his captors to spread the Gospel, thereby helping in the conversion of Ireland. 

May God grant us like patience in our afflictions, so that we might bring forth fruit for the greater glory of Almighty God.

Collect:
O Almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be an apostle to the people of Ireland, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

This (March 19) is also the Feast Day of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin

Collect: O God, who didst call blessed Joseph to be the faithful guardian of thy only-better Son, and the spouse of his virgin Mother: Grant us grace to follow his example in constant worship of thee and obedience to thy commands, that our homes may be sanctified by thy presence, and our children nurtured in thy fear and love; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Benedict, Abbot


Saint Benedict (c. 480 - 550) is the father of Western monasticism. Benedict renounced the worldly education he was receiving as a youth in Rome, and became a hermit in Subiaco, Italy.

He began a monastery there, which was followed by another one in Monte Cassino. In all, he created twelve monasteries of twelve monks each,which were called "schools for the Lord's service."

He lived the remainder of his life with a small band of monks at Monte Cassino, where he composed what would come to be known as the Rule of Saint Benedict - marked by prudence, obedience and monastic zeal.

Unique among rules, his provides both founding principles and an outline of the monastic way of life. Having never been ordained, he serves as a model for all in our day, of faithfulness and a godly focus of life.

Collects:
O God, the exceeding great reward of those who forsake all earthly things for thee: grant that we who celebrate the passing of the holy father Benedict may be aided by his example and prayers to despise all temporal things and with all our heart press on towards things eternal. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who as on this day didst release thy most venerable Confessor Benedict from the prison-house of the flesh, that thou lightest lift him up to heaven: we beseech thee, grant unto us thy servants who keep this festival the pardon of all our sins; that we, who with glad hearts rejoice in his glory, may at his intercession with thee be made partakers of his everlasting reward. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect:
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we who are chastised by voluntary fasting, may be gladdened by holy devotion; that our earthly affections being weakened, we may the more easily lay hold on heavenly things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Isaiah 1:16f
The Holy Gospel: John.9:1f

Collect:
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we who are chastised by voluntary fasting, may be gladdened by holy devotion; that our earthly affections being weakened, we may the more easily lay hold on heavenly things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: 2Kngs.4:25f
The Holy Gospel: Luke 7:11f

Saint Gabriel the Archangel


Gabriel, whose name means 'Power of God,' is mentioned in the Old Testament as having appeared to Daniel in order to help him with the interpretations of his visions and the impending time of Christ's birth (Daniel 8:16-26 and 9:21-27).

In the New Testament he proclaims the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah (Luke 1:13-20).

However, Gabriel is perhaps best known for announcing to the Virgin Mary that she would be the 'God-bearer' of the Son of God through conception by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:26-28). This event is called the Annunciation, and is the first of the "Joyful Mysteries" of the Rosary.

Collect:
O God, who from among other Angels didst choose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of thy Incarnation: mercifully grant that we who celebrate his feast on earth may experiences his protection from heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Annunciation


The Archangel Gabriel announced onto Mary that she would bear God's only Son.

Mary, being a godly woman, did not question the conception of Our Lord by the Holy Ghost in her womb, nor the enormous responsibility of being the Mother of God

Collect:
We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.