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MARCH
The winds of March point to the power of God's Spirit working in us. We need to listen and respond to the gentle breezes of the Spirit; but will we, or will we be too distracted? The rebirth of spring reminds us of the energy of nature so that we ask ourselves whether we waste or wisely use energy –electricity, oil, gas, etc. Can we and should we continue to use nonrenewable fossil fuels, often with accompanying air pollution, at the rate we do? Or will the environmental ills we cause today call us in the future as a society to use wind and solar energy?
Overview of the Month of March[1]
The entire month of March is the liturgical season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical color violet or purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. All saint days that are usually Memorials are shifted to Optional Memorials during the season of Lent.
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. During this month we will go
from the suffering of Good Friday to the joy of Easter Sunday. We will trade
the purple of penance for the white of victory and resurrection.
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.
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.
Go
to Joseph[2]
“This
patronage must be invoked as ever necessary for the Church, not only as a
defense against all dangers, but also, and indeed primarily, as an impetus for
her renewed commitment to evangelization in the world and to
re-evangelization,” wrote St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Custos (Guardian
of the Redeemer).
John
Paul II further said, “Because St. Joseph is the protector of the Church, he is
the guardian of the Eucharist and the Christian family. Therefore, we must turn
to St. Joseph today to ward off attacks upon the real presence of Christ in the
Eucharist and upon the family. We must plead with St. Joseph to guard the
Eucharistic Lord and the Christian family during this time of peril.”
MARCH TIMETABLE
March Travel?[3]
·
Daytona, Florida-Bike Week February
27-March 8- Rev up for a week of diesel and fun at Daytona Bike Week.
The annual motorcycle rally attracts some of the fiercest bikers, clad in
leather (and sometimes little else) to celebrate the freedom of the open road.
·
Las
Fallas in Valencia, Spain March 1-19 Enjoy a high-spirited fiesta in Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city.
The annual bash, held in commemoration of Saint Joseph, sees neighborhoods
transformed into lively parties over a boisterous five-day period.
·
Holi
in India March 2nd Celebrate Spring
with a dash of color. The annual Holi festival in India inspires revelers to
hit the streets, playfully throwing powdered colors on each other. Once your
clothes are doused with all sorts of hues, you’ll understand why this is called
a festival of colors.
· Patrick’s Day
March 17th Don your friendliest green for St. Patrick’s Day. Boston is the place to be, with the city’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade drawing anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million people every year.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
Mar. 1st Second Sunday
of Lent
·
Mar. 2nd-US Premiere of film Hong
Kong 1933
·
Mar. 3rd-Full Worm Moon
·
Mar. 4th First
Wednesday
·
Mar. 6th First
Friday
·
Mar 7th- First
Saturday
·
Mar 8th Third Sunday
of Lent
·
Mar 15th Fourth Sunday
of Lent
·
Mar 16th Comedian Jerry
Lewis
·
Mar 17th-St. Patrick’s
Day
·
Mar 19th-Feast of St.
Joseph
·
Mar 20th-Spring
Begins
o
National Cherry Blossom
Festival
·
Mar 22nd-Fifth
Sunday of Lent
·
Mar 25th Annunciation
·
Mar 29th Palm Sunday
[3]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travels-best/photos/fun-things-to-see-and-do-in-february
Claire’s Corner Try “Filet Mignon”
· Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
- Spirit hour: St. Albans wine in honor of St. Albanus
- Bucket Item trip: “Walkabout” in Australia
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
- How to celebrate Mar 1st
- If you’re up for an adventure, start your day with a big smile and share compliments with everyone you meet. Get into the spirit of spreading joy and positivity. Attend a wheelchair awareness event to show your support, then grab a cup of coffee at a local cafe to celebrate baristas. Try a peanut butter treat and spend time with a Welsh Corgi if you can find one. Research Endometriosis Awareness and support the cause online.
- Later, plan your dream wedding or solo vacation. Take time to appreciate the artistry of black women in jazz. Indulge in a delicious fruit compote and a hearty meal to celebrate National Dadgum That’s Good Day.
- Learn about the Asiatic Fleet Memorial and reflect on history. Support horse and pig protection causes. Thank someone special with a heartfelt compliment for World Compliment Day. Take a self-care day to manage stress, perhaps with a luxurious hotel slipper day at home.
- Explore risk management ideas and make small changes at home for safety. Learn about Peace Corps volunteering or solo travel tips. Dive into seagrass conservation and environmental awareness. Remember the sacrifices made on Independence Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- End your day with a good book on your refired, not retired journey. Finally, enjoy a peaceful moment under the stars, appreciating the uniqueness of each weird holiday.
- Events
o Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain March 1-19 Enjoy a high-spirited fiesta in Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city. The annual bash, held in commemoration of Saint Joseph, sees neighborhoods transformed into lively parties over a boisterous five-day period.
Claire’s Perfect Weather World Tour
🇲🇹 Week 9 — Valletta, Malta
“Fortress Faith & Mediterranean Light”
March 1–7, 2026
Base: Valletta — Baroque Capital by the Sea
🌦️ Overview
Early March in Malta is warm, bright, and breezy — 62–68°F, perfect for walking the golden limestone streets and coastal paths. Malta is one of the oldest Christian nations on earth, shaped by St. Paul’s shipwreck and centuries of fortress faith.
Theme: resilience, apostolic courage, and walking with God in Mediterranean light.
📅 Daily Outline with Embedded Links
📌 Mar 1 — Arrival (Second Sunday of Lent)
Flight: Rome → Malta via ITA Airways or Air Malta
Mass: St. John’s Co‑Cathedral — heritagemalta.mt (heritagemalta.mt in Bing)
Lodging: The Cumberland Boutique Hotel (~$150/night)
Meals: ~$55/day
Symbolic Act: “Entering the Fortress” — write one area of life where you seek God’s protection
Fun: Try pastizzi (ricotta or pea pastries) still warm from the oven
📌 Mar 2 — Valletta’s Baroque Heart (Monday)
Visit: Upper Barrakka Gardens — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Walk: Republic Street → St. George’s Square
Mass: St. Paul’s Shipwreck Church — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Symbolic Act: “Stand Firm” — pray among the relics of St. Paul
Fun: Watch the noon cannon fire from the Saluting Battery
📌 Mar 3 — Mdina, the Silent City (Tuesday)
Visit: Mdina — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Walk: Mdina Gate → Cathedral Square
Mass: Mdina Cathedral — mdinacathedral.com
Symbolic Act: “Silence Before God” — spend 10 minutes in quiet in the cathedral
Fun: Try Mdina glass blowing demonstrations
📌 Mar 4 — St. Paul’s Bay & Shipwreck Chapel (Wednesday)
Visit: St. Paul’s Bay — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Chapel: St. Paul’s Shipwreck Chapel on Selmun Hill
Mass: Local parish in St. Paul’s Bay
Symbolic Act: “When Storms Break Us Open” — reflect on the storms God has carried you through
Fun: Take a photo with the St. Paul statue overlooking the bay
📌 Mar 5 — Blue Grotto & Coastal Cliffs (Thursday)
Visit: Blue Grotto — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Walk: Dingli Cliffs coastal path
Mass: Parish in Żurrieq
Symbolic Act: “Light on the Water” — meditate on God’s guidance
Fun: Drink a fresh pomegranate juice from a cliffside stand
📌 Mar 6 — Gozo Island Day Trip (Friday)
Ferry: Malta → Gozo — gozochannel.com
Visit: Victoria Citadel — visitgozo.com
Mass: Ta’ Pinu National Shrine — tapinu.org
Symbolic Act: “Mother of Hope” — light a candle at Ta’ Pinu
Fun: Try Gozitan cheeselets (ġbejniet)
📌 Mar 7 — Three Cities & Farewell (Saturday)
Visit: Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua — visitmalta.com (visitmalta.com in Bing)
Walk: Senglea Point → Safe Haven Gardens
Mass: Saturday Vigil at St. Lawrence’s Church
Symbolic Act: Leave a written prayer of gratitude overlooking the Grand Harbour
Fun: Ride a dgħajsa (traditional Maltese boat) across the harbor
💰 Cost Snapshot (Per Person)
Lodging (6 nights): ~$900
Meals (7 days): ~$385–$420
Tickets/Activities: ~$60–$120
Local Transport: ~$80–$120
Flight (Rome → Malta): ~$70–$140
➡️ Total: $1,495–$1,700
MARCH 1 Second Sunday of Lent,
Called “Reminiscere”
La Falla-Horse Rescue Day
Matthew, Chapter 17, verse 5-8
While he was still speaking,
behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a
voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen
to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much AFRAID. But Jesus came
and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their
eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
The
apostles during the transfiguration heard the voice of the Father; saw the
light of the Holy Spirit and were touched by the Son of God, Christ the
Messiah. They fully experienced the triune God which empowered them for the
trial ahead.
Copilot
The Gospel of the Transfiguration shows the apostles
overwhelmed by the Father’s voice, the Spirit’s radiance, and the touch of
Christ Himself. They fall in fear—not the fear of evil, but the awe that comes
when human frailty meets divine majesty. This is the heart of Reminiscere, the
ancient cry of the Church: “Remember, O Lord, Your mercies.” Lent begins by
reminding us that courage is born from remembering who God is. Fear loses its
grip when we recall the glory we have already seen, the covenant we belong to,
and the Beloved Son to whom we are commanded to listen.
In this mystery, the Rosary gives us the virtue of spiritual
courage, which is simply the Transfiguration lived out in daily life.
Reminiscere teaches us to remember God’s mercy; La Falla shows us that what is
false must burn; and the mountain reveals that courage is born not from our
strength but from Christ’s touch. Spiritual courage is the grace to rise when
fear presses down, to walk toward the Cross with clarity instead of confusion,
and to let the light of Christ expose every illusion that evil tries to cast.
It is the courage to remember what we have seen on the mountain, to carry that
fire into the valleys below, and to stand firm because the Beloved Son walks
beside us.
CHAPTER II
DIES CHRISTI
The Day of the Risen Lord
and of the Gift
of the Holy Spirit
The
day of the gift of the Spirit
28.
Sunday, the day of light, could also be called the day of "fire", in
reference to the Holy Spirit. The light of Christ is intimately linked to the
"fire" of the Spirit, and the two images together reveal the meaning
of the Christian Sunday. When he appeared to the Apostles on the evening of
Easter, Jesus breathed upon them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If
you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any,
they are retained" (Jn 20:22-23). The outpouring of the Spirit was
the great gift of the Risen Lord to his disciples on Easter Sunday. It was
again Sunday when, fifty days after the Resurrection, the Spirit descended in
power, as "a mighty wind" and "fire" (Acts 2:2-3),
upon the Apostles gathered with Mary. Pentecost is not only the founding event
of the Church but is also the mystery which forever gives life to the Church.
Such an event has its own powerful liturgical moment in the annual celebration
which concludes "the great Sunday", but it also remains a part of the
deep meaning of every Sunday, because of its intimate bond with the Paschal
Mystery. The "weekly Easter" thus becomes, in a sense, the
"weekly Pentecost", when Christians relive the Apostles' joyful
encounter with the Risen Lord and receive the life-giving breath of his Spirit.
Second
Sunday of Lent, Called “Reminiscere”[2]
AT the Introit to-day the Church asks of God the grace to fall -no more into sin: Remember, O God, Thy bowels of compassion, and Thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world, lest at any time our enemies rule over us; deliver us, O God, from all our tribulations. To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed; (Ps. xxiv.).
Explanation. St. Paul exhorts all Christians to live chastely and honestly, and continually to aspire to higher perfection. Such is the will of God, Who has called us to holiness, and will punish severely all impurity and injustice.
Grant, O Lord, that, according to my vocation, I may never be addicted to earthly and fleshly lusts like the heathen, who know Thee not, but may live in modesty, chastity, and holiness, and adorn my name as a Christian with good works. Amen.
Why was Jesus transfigured before His disciples on Mount Tabor?
1. To give them manifest proof of His divinity.
2. To prevent all doubt on their
part when they should see Him on Mount Calvary.
3. To encourage all the faithful to
patience under agony and suffering.
4. To show us how our glorified
bodies shall rise from the dead (i. Cor. xv. 52).
Why did Moses and Elias appear with Our Lord?
To
testify that Jesus was the Savior of the word spoken of by the law and the
prophets.
Lenten
Calendar[3]
Read: Today’s Gospel shares the story of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
· Devotion of the Seven Sundays: St Joseph-4th Sunday
Italy is not the only
country that claims great love for Saint Joseph. Here's an explanation of the
festivities in Valencia, Spain.
·
Among
the many folk festivals of Spain which each year attract large numbers of
tourists, Saint Joseph's Day in Valencia takes a unique position. La Falla
de San Chusep, as it is called in the local dialect, has been celebrated
for centuries, and it is perhaps the most spectacular, the most colorful of all
Spanish holidays. It starts on March 13 and attains its gala climax six days
later, after a solid week of fun and festivities.
·
San
Chusep (St. Joseph) is the patron saint of Valencia, and since the sixteenth
century his day has been celebrated by the city's artisans and craftsmen with a
great deal of zest, humor, and originality. In the Valencian dialect, falla
means "pyre." It seems that the term originated in the annual custom
of the carpenters who cleaned their shops of shavings and discarded wood at
this time of the year and burned the debris with a short ceremony. With the
scraps, a comical wooden figure depicting the most inept and backward of the
carpenter's apprentices was thrown into the flames. Eventually this developed
into a local tradition with all the guilds participating in the burning of
humorous and satirical effigies of animals, people, or subjects of local or
national ridicule and scorn. Apparently the falla figures are also a
product of Baroque art, with its emphasis on painting on wood, for which
Valencia's craftsmen became justly famous.
·
Today,
each guild, club, or association builds a falla of wood or papier-mâché.
A queen, la reine del Falla, is chosen, and a band accompanies the
queen, her court, and the falla to the contest on the main plaza of
Valencia. The lavish preparations for the festival attract artists and
musicians from the provinces who help the various groups build and exhibit
their entries to the contest of falla. During the week, bullfights are
held every day. The streets are jammed with visitors admiring the fallas.
In decorated booths and pavilions food and drinks are being served. And in the
streets and on the city squares people dance to the music of the innumerable
bands which accompany the fallas.
·
The
best productions in art and music are judged for subject matter and
presentation and awarded prizes. The most outstanding falla is
transferred to a special museum which harbors the prize winners of previous
years. On March 19, at midnight, all the other fallas, some towering
three stories in height, are burned in huge bonfires. Strings of firecrackers
explode around the plaza, and elaborate fireworks illuminate the scene with
brilliant flashes of color. As each falla crumbles into ashes, the
crowds shout with glee amidst the furiously burning pyres. As the fires slowly
burn down to the last embers, the merrymakers leave the scene, exhausted and
jubilant, already dreaming of next year, of the next falla.
Bible in a
year Day 242 King
Nebuchadnezzar's Role
Fr. Mike explains why God
asks his people to surrender to king Nebuchadnezzar even though it seems
contradicting. We learn that God can use evil circumstances to win the hearts
of his people back. In Daniel, as we read about the vision of the ram and the
goat, Fr. Mike reminds us that prophecy is always shrouded in mystery. Today we
read Jeremiah 26-27, Daniel 8-9, and Proverbs 16:9-12.
Today is Horse Rescue Day[5]
The Caisson Horses of The
Old Guard participate in all Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Full Honors
Funerals performed in Arlington National Cemetery. These magnificent animals
serve with the men of the Caisson Platoon daily to ensure final honors are given
in a dignified, professional, and respectful manner; and they love their job.
Each Caisson Horse offered for adoption has served on average for over a
decade. During the course of their service, they participate in thousands of
funerals for our nation’s heroes. Because of the long and distinguished service
of each and every horse in our stables, The Old Guard has introduced the
Caisson Horse Adoption Program to ensure each horse is rewarded with a great
home following its well-earned retirement.
The primary goal of the Caisson Horse Adoption Program is to select a home for a retiring Caisson Horse. The program publishes Horses ready for retirement to a website, identifies potential adopters, and selects the best candidate from a pool of applicants seeking to adopt a retired Caisson Horse. The specifics of the Caisson Horse Adoption Program is governed by The Old Guard.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End
to abortion
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
🎬 That Uncertain Feeling (1941)
Starring: Melvyn Douglas, Merle Oberon, Burgess Meredith
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
⭐ What Makes This Film Special
This is Lubitsch in his late‑period mode — lighter, airier, and more psychologically playful than his pre‑Code work. Instead of the sparkling sexual innuendo of Trouble in Paradise, you get a comedy of manners built around emotional hesitation, marital drift, and the strange ways people rediscover each other.
Douglas is at his best here:
- smooth but not smug
- wounded but never pathetic
- witty without ever breaking the emotional truth of the scene
Merle Oberon brings a cool, refined presence that plays beautifully against Douglas’s warmth. And Burgess Meredith — as the neurotic, self‑absorbed pianist — is the perfect destabilizing force.
🧭 Plot in a Nutshell
A married woman (Oberon) develops hiccups — a classic Lubitsch metaphor for emotional blockage — and visits a psychoanalyst. There she meets a temperamental pianist (Meredith) who draws her into a flirtation that threatens her marriage to her steady, affectionate husband (Douglas).
The comedy comes not from slapstick but from the elegant dance of misunderstandings, hesitations, and the subtle ways people test the boundaries of loyalty.
💡 Themes
1. The Fragility of Contentment
Lubitsch suggests that marriages don’t fall apart from catastrophe but from boredom, routine, and the desire to feel “interesting” again.
2. The Comedy of Self‑Discovery
Oberon’s character isn’t malicious — she’s simply trying to understand herself. The film treats this with gentleness rather than judgment.
3. The Douglas Touch
He plays the husband as a man who refuses to fight dirty. His dignity becomes the film’s moral center — and ultimately its romantic engine.
4. Lubitsch’s Moral Playfulness
No one is a villain. Everyone is a little foolish. And love, in the end, is something you choose again, not something you merely possess.
🍷 A Hospitality Pairing
This film pairs beautifully with something light, civilized, and slightly effervescent — a nod to the hiccup motif and the emotional carbonation of the story.
Suggested pairing:
- A chilled white (Riesling or Gewürztraminer)
- Light European snacks — olives, almonds, a soft cheese
- A quiet evening where conversation can drift as easily as the film’s tone
✨ A Spiritual Reflection
The film quietly affirms that fidelity isn’t just about resisting temptation — it’s about remembering the goodness of what you already have.
Douglas’s character embodies Romans 12:10 without ever quoting it:
“Outdo one another in showing honor.”
He honors his wife even when she is uncertain of herself, and that honor becomes the path home.
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