March Feasts, Festivals, and Commemorations
March 7: Perpetua & Felicitas, Martyrs
Commemoration
At the beginning of the third century, the Roman emperor Septimus Severus forbade conversions to Christianity. Among those disobeying that edict were Perpetua, a young noblewoman, and her maidservant Felicitas. Both were jailed at Carthage in North Africa along with three fellow Christians. During their imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicitas witnessed to their faith with such conviction that the officer in charge became a follower of Jesus. After making arrangements for the well-being of their children, Perpetua and Felicitas were executed on March 7, 203. Tradition holds that Perpetua showed mercy to her captors by falling on a sword because they could not bear to put her to death. The story of this martyrdom has been told ever since as an encouragement to persecuted Christians. (TDP)
Let us pray.
O God, King of the saints, in whose strength Your servants Perpetua and Felicitas and their companions made a good confession, staunchly resisting, for the cause of Christ, the claims of human affection, and encouraging one another in their time of trial: Grant that we who cherish their blessed memory may share their pure and steadfast faith, and win with them the palm of victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (NBFC)
Color: Red
Readings Appointed (NBFC):
Hebrews 10:32-39
Psalm 34:1-8 or 124
Matthew 24:9-14
March 17: Patrick, Missionary to Ireland & Pastor
Commemoration
Patrick is one of the best-known of the missionary saints. Born to a Christian family in Britain around the year 389, he was captured as a teenager by raiders, taken to Ireland, and forced to serve as a herdsman. After six years he escaped and found his way to a monastery community in France. Ordained a bishop in 432, he made his way back to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his long life spreading the Gospel and organizing Christian communities. He strongly defended the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in a time when it was not popular to do so. His literary legacy includes his autobiography, Confessio, and several prayers and hymns still used in the church today. Patrick died around the year 466. (TDP)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, You chose Your servant Patrick to be a missionary to the Irish people who were wandering in darkness and error. You bound unto them the Trinitarian Name through Baptism and faith that they might dwell in the light of Christ. Bind unto us this same strong Name of the Trinity as we remember our Baptism and walk in His light, that we may come to dwell at last in the eternal light of the presence of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (NBFC):
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 97:1-2, 7-12 or 96:1-7
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-12
Matthew 28:16-20
March 19: St. Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord
Feast
St. Joseph has been honored throughout the Christian centuries for his faithful devotion in helping Mary raise her Son. Matthew’s Gospel relates that Joseph was a just man, who followed the angel’s instructions and took the already pregnant Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). In the Gospels according to Matthew and Mark, Jesus is referred to as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). This suggests that Joseph had building skills with which he supported his family. Joseph was an important figure in the early life of Jesus, safely escorting Mary and the Child to Egypt (Matthew 2:14) and then settling them back in Nazareth once it was safe to do so (Matthew 2:22). The final mention of Joseph is at the time when the twelve-year-old Jesus visits the Temple in Jerusalem for the Passover (Luke 2:41-51). Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, has long been associated with caring parenthood as well with skilled craftsmanship. (TDP)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (LSB)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (LSB)
2 Samuel 7:4-16
Psalm 127
Romans 4:13-18
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
March 25: The Annunciation of Our Lord
Feast
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces that God has shown her favor and will use her as the means for the Messiah’s birth. So Mary conceives Jesus when the angel says: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35). This same Spirit who hovered over the waters and brought forth creation (Genesis 1:2) will now “hover over” the waters of Mary’s womb to conceive the creation’s Redeemer. As the Holy Spirit comes upon Mary, she conceives Jesus “through the ear” (as Martin Luther says). The One who is conceived is called Holy, the Son of God. This is the moment of the incarnation of our Lord. The date of the Annunciation falls on March 25, because the Ancient Church believed the crucifixion occurred on that date. In antiquity, people linked the day of a person’s conception with the day of his or her death. Thus, in the Annunciation, the Church joined together both the incarnation of Jesus and the atonement He accomplished. (TDP)
The date of March 25 is also kept to honor this moment in our Lord’s life as it is exactly nine months from the celebration of His birth on December 25, the day observed by the Western Church. Even though this feast will often fall during the Season of Lent, it is still fitting to observe it in all its fullness, even in that solemn time. According to historical precedent, however, if the Annunciation (as well as other Feasts) should fall during Holy Week or Easter Week, its celebration is moved to the first available date following the Second Sunday of Easter, in the order of its date of observance. If a Feast should fall on a Sunday in Lent or of Easter, it is properly transferred to the next day. Feasts and Festivals which fall during Holy Week or Easter Week may be transferred following the Second Sunday of Easter in the order of its date of observance, or omitted. Commemorations which fall on Sundays in Lent or of Easter are omitted or transferred to the next day, in keeping with local usage. (PAS)
Let us pray.
O Lord, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of the angel to the Virgin Mary, so by the message of His cross and passion bring us to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (LSB)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (LSB):
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 45:7-17
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38
March 31: Joseph, Patriarch
Commemoration
Joseph was the son of the patriarch Jacob (February 5) and Rachel. The favorite son of his father, he incurred the jealousy of his older brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt and told their father he was dead (Genesis 37). In Egypt he became the chief servant in the home of Potiphar, a military official. Because Joseph refused to commit adultery with his master’s wife, he was unjustly accused of attempted rape and thrown into jail (Genesis 39). Years later, he interpreted dreams for Pharoah, who then freed him from prison and placed him in charge of the entire country. When his brothers came from Canaan to Egypt in search of food, they did not recognize him. He eventually revealed his identity to them, forgave them, and invited both them and his father to live in Egypt. He is especially remembered and honored for his moral uprightness (Genesis 39) and for his willingness to forgive his brothers (Genesis 45 and 50). (TDP)
Let us pray.
Lord God, heavenly Father, in the kingdom of Egypt the needy and suffering people were told to go to Joseph and do all that he shall say to them. May the needy and suffering people in the kingdom of Your Church now be provided for by those who follow in the example of Joseph as they love their neighbors as themselves; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP) OR
O God, whose blessed Son taught us to forgive as we ourselves have been forgiven, help us to follow the example of Your servant Joseph that we too might forgive those who have wronged us and show them the love and compassion which You so freely have given to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (PAS)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (PAS):
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 114
Ephesians 4:25-32
Luke 15:11-32