During pandemic, priests work to bridge distance between deceased, family

IMAGE: CNS photo/Flavio Lo Scalzo, Reuters By Carol Glatz ROME (CNS) — When Father Mario Carminati went to bless the remains of one of his parishioners, he called the deceased man’s daughter on WhatsApp so they could pray together. “One … Continue reading →

Catholic nurses often only spiritual connection to hospitalized patients

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Tom Tracy WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CNS) — A tightening of some hospital visitor restrictions on religious ministers and patient family members has begun as the coronavirus pandemic ramps up around the U.S. “It … Continue reading →

Distraught, determined Little Sisters of the Poor cope with coronavirus

IMAGE: CNS photo/Don Blake, The Dialog By Joseph P. Owens WILMINGTON, Del. (CNS) — Mother Margaret Regina Halloran was doing her best to fight back tears in the early morning of March 27, but she wasn’t really winning the struggle. … Continue reading →

COVID-19 is not God's judgment, but a call to live differently, pope says

IMAGE: CNS photo/Yara Nardi, pool via Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The worldwide coronavirus pandemic is not God’s judgment on humanity, but God’s call on people to judge what is most important to them and resolve to … Continue reading →

Update: Coronavirus means quiet times for maritime ministers in U.S., Canada

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Deacon Wayne Lobell By Dennis Sadowski CLEVELAND (CNS) — Cargo ships from around the world may be docking at the port of Charleston, South Carolina, but for Deacon Paul Rosenblum, the days are pretty quiet. As the … Continue reading →

Vatican releases pope's pandemic-influenced plan for Holy Week, Easter

IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With public gatherings, including Masses, banned in Italy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Vatican published an updated version of Pope Francis’ schedule for Holy … Continue reading →

Pope thanks those who help, pray for vulnerable during pandemic

IMAGE: CNS photo/Yves Herman, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the many men and women who have been inspired to help the poor and accompany the sick and the elderly during … Continue reading →

Coronavirus may produce misery beyond disease to migrants, home countries

IMAGE: CNS photo/Lindsey Wasson, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Lack of jobs and economic disparity in Central America were already driving large numbers of migrants north before the coronavirus became a household word. And now those who long … Continue reading →

Texas Catholic family's quarantine dancing video goes viral

IMAGE: CNS photo/ courtesy Texas Catholic Herald By James Ramos HOUSTON (CNS) — When health officials recommended self-isolation to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Ali Hoffman and her parents, Michael and Michele, found themselves quarantined in their Fort Worth-area … Continue reading →

Pandemic casts spotlight on a nearly forgotten martyr: St. Corona

IMAGE: CNS photo/Thilo Schmuelgen, Reuters By BONN, Germany (CNS) — She had become nearly forgotten. Little is known about the young woman who was killed for her Christian faith, presumably in the second century A.D. But now, a pandemic is … Continue reading →

	March 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 St. Eudoxia St. Eudoxia March 1, 2020 Venerable Martyr. At first she led a profligate life but was baptized by Theodotus, Bishop. Arrested, she was beheaded for her Christianity about A.D. 107 during the leadership of Diogenes, in the reign of Trajan, Emperor. See more details •	2 St. Thodotus St. Thodotus March 2, 2020 Priest Martyr Bishop Cyrene, on the Island of Cyprus, was imprisoned, tortured for the Faith under Diocletian, Emperor. He survived and died peacefully A.D. 325. See more details •	3 St. Eutropius St. Eutropius March 3, 2020 St. Eutropius and his bodyguards. SS. Cleonicus and Basilicus, Martyrs. They suffered martyrdom A.D. 296 in the reign of Diocletian the Emperor. See more details •	4 Venerable Gerasimus Venerable Gerasimus March 4, 2020 Our venerable father, Gerasimus, a Hermit, founded a monastery on the bank of the River Jordan. In his youth a follower of the heretic Eutyches, he did severe penance the rest of his life. Died A.D. 475. See more details •	5 St. Conon St. Conon March 5, 2020 Martyr, a poor Christian gardener of Nazareth in Galilee, who in Pamphylia (Aisa Minor), or on the Island of Cyprus, was martyred A.D. 250 by Governor Pomplius. With nails driven through his ankles, he was forced to run before a chariot till he fell dying to be crushed under its wheels. See more details •	6 Forty-Two Martyrs at Ammorius Forty-Two Martyrs at Ammorius March 6, 2020 Theodore, Constantin, Callistus, Theophil and others with them died at the hands of the Saracens about A.D. 840, in the reign of Theophilus, the Iconoclast. See more details •	7 SS. Priest-Martyrs at Cherson SS. Priest-Martyrs at Cherson March 7, 2020 Basil, Ephrem, Capito, Eugene, Everius, Missionary Bishops to the Crimea and South of Russia, and four others with them. Suffered A.D. 296. -- Venerable Paul, the Simple, in Egypt, a Solitary of wonderful patience and meekness. He passed away about A.D. 339 in the reign of Constantine II, Emperor. See more details •
8 St.Theophylact Bishop-Confessor St.Theophylact Bishop-Confessor March 8, 2020 Our venerable father and confessor, Theophyclat, Bishop of Nicomedia, was a disciple of Tharasius. He defended the veneration of Icons and Statues of Saints. Died in 30 year exile A.D. 845 in the reign of Emperor Michael III. See more details •	9 40 Martyrs of Sebaste 40 Martyrs of Sebaste March 9, 2020 They were exposed naked on a frozen pond until death by the power of Licinius A.D. 320. See more details •	10 St. Codratus and Others Martyrs St. Codratus and Others Martyrs March 10, 2020 SS, Codratus and Companions; Cyprian, Anectus and Crisent, died A.D. 257 after years in prison under Valerian, Emperor. See more details •	11 Venerable Sophronius Venerable Sophronius March 11, 2020 Our Holy Father, Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, died A.D. 638 in the reign of Heraclius the Emperor. He revised the prominent Church Book called the "Minea," and also composed the prayer for the solomn blessing of the water on the Feast of the Epiphany. See more details •	12 Theophane Venerable- Confessor Theophane Venerable- Confessor March 12, 2020 Our venerable father and confessor, Theopane of Syngria, was banished by the Emperor Leo the Armenian for his stand against the Iconcolasts at the second Council of Nicea A.D. 787. Died in exile A.D. 818, bound and starved to death. Our holy father, Gregory the Great, Dialogus, Pope of Rome, who probably composed the Liturgy of the Presanctified for the Eastern Churches. He died A.D. 604 in the reign of Emperor Phocas. See more details •	13 Translation of the Relics of our father Nicephor Translation of the Relics of our father Nicephor March 13, 2020 Patriarch of Constantinople, he defended the practice of the veneration of Icons in the persecution of Leo the Armenian. He died in the fifteenth year of his exile A.D. 771 in the reign of Constantine V Copronymus, Emperor. (Confer June 2.) See more details •	14 St. Benedict Venerable St. Benedict Venerable March 14, 2020 Our Venerable father, Benedict, Abbot. He founded in Italy in the sixth century the Benedictine Order based on the rules of St. Basil the Great, hence merited the title of "Patriarch of the Western Monks." Died A.D. 543. --- St. Alexander of Pidna, Priest-Martyr, suffered and died in Thrace A.D. 272 in the reign of Aurelian, Emperor. See more details •
15 St. Agapius and Others Martyrs St. Agapius and Others Martyrs March 15, 2020 St. Agapius, Martyr, and with him six others. Timolaus, two Alexanders, Romel, two Dionisii. These were put to death A.D. 290 in the reign of Diocletian, Emperor. See more details •	16 St. Sabinus & Papas Martyrs St. Sabinus & Papas Martyrs March 16, 2020 SS. Sabinus and Papas, Martyrs, Egyptians, were thrown into the River Nile A.D. 296 in the persecution under Diocletian. -- St. Julian, Martyr, died A.D. 298 in the reign of Maximian, Emperor. -- St. Alexander, Priest-Martyr, Pope of Rome, passed away about A.D. 119 under Hadrian, Emperor. See more details •	17 St. Alexis, Man of God Venerable St. Alexis, Man of God Venerable March 17, 2020 Our venerable father, Alexis, man of God, was the only son of a Roman Senator; died A.D. 404. Pope Innocent I and the Emperor Honorius are said to have been present at his burial. See more details •	18 St. Cyril of Jerusalem St. Cyril of Jerusalem March 18, 2020 Our holy father, Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem. His "Catechetical Instruction," given to the Catechumens, on the elements of the Faith are among the most precious documents of Catholic teaching. He was named by Pope Leo XII among the Doctors of the Church. He died A.D. 386 in the reign of Theodosius, Emperor. -- SS. Alexandra, Claudia, Evphrasia and other Martyrs who suffered death in Missena A.D. 237, during the reign of Maximian, Emperor. See more details •	19 Chrysanthu & Daria Martyrs Chrysanthu & Daria Martyrs March 19, 2020 SS. Chrysanthus and Daria, Martyrs, came from the East to Rome, where they suffered death by being buried alive A.D. 283. -- Our venerable father, Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople, died in peace during the reign of Phocas, Emperor A.D. 608. See more details •	20 Venerable Fathers of the St. Sabbas Monastery Venerable Fathers of the St. Sabbas Monastery March 20, 2020 Our venerable fathers, martyred in the Monastery of St. Sabbas. See more details •	21 St. James of Catania Bishop - Confessor St. James of Catania Bishop - Confessor March 21, 2020 Our venerable father and confessor, James of Catania, Bishop died in the persecution of the Iconoclasts A.D. 765. See more details •
22 St. Basil St. Basil March 22, 2020 Confessor and co-faster with St. Procopius. Famous for their resistance at Constantanople to the Decree of Leo III, the Isaurian, ordering the destruction of holy pictures. They died about 740. See more details •	23 St. Nicon and Others Venerable-Martyrs St. Nicon and Others Venerable-Martyrs March 23, 2020 St. Nicon, Venerable-martyr and two hundred disciples fled the persecution in Palestine to a refuge in Sicily where they were put to death A.D. 250 under Decius, Emperor. See more details •	24 St. Zachary Venerable and James Confessor St. Zachary Venerable and James Confessor March 24, 2020 Our venerable father, Zachary, and James, Confessor. -- Our holy father, Artemius, Bishop of Thessalonica, a Seuleucian by birth, he was elevated to the Bishopric by St. Paul the Apostle. -- St. Artemon, Martyr-presbyter of Laodicea, was burned to death A.D. 305 under Diocletian, Emperor. See more details •	25 Annunciation of the Theotokos Annunciation of the Theotokos March 25, 2020 Annunciation of the Theotokos made by the Archangel Gabriel. (This Feast of B. V. Mary is celebrated from the 5th century.) See more details •	26 Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel March 26, 2020 Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel. His chief ministry to mankind was his appearing to the Theotokos to tell her that she was chosen Mother of the Messias. St. Gabriel was the Angel sent to Zachary also, to announce the conception of St. John the Baptist. (Confer July 13.) See more details •	27 St. Matrona Venerable St. Matrona Venerable March 27, 2020 Our holy mother, Matrona of Seluna, Martyr, was improsoned and cruelly tortured with fire to death. See more details •	28 St. Hilary and Stephen Venerable St. Hilary and Stephen Venerable March 28, 2020 Our venerable father, Hilary, Monk, and St. Stephen, wonderworker, died during the reign of Leo the Armenian. --St. Jonas and His brother, St. Barachisius of Bethasa, Martyrs, and others, suffered cruel tortures under King Sapor of Persia and died A.D. 327 in the reign of Constantine, Emperor. See more details •
29 Venerable Father Mark Venerable Father Mark March 29, 2020 Our venerable father, Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, and Cyril, a Palestinian Decon, and other Martyrs, Suffered death from tortures under Julian the Apostate A.D. 362 for destruction of idol temples. See more details •	30 St. John Climacus St. John Climacus March 30, 2020 Our venerable father, John Climacus, Hegumen-Abbot, born in Palestine. At the age of 16 he declined a brilliant worldly future and retired to a Monastery on Mt. Sinai, where at the age of 75, chosen Hegumen-Abbot, he wrote the famous "Ladder of Perfection." He died A.D. 605. -- Venerable, John the Silent, Bishop of Colonia, in Armenia. Resigned his Bishopric and retired into the Monastery of St. Sabbas, where, concealing the fact that he was a Bishop, he did menial work. Called for ordination by St, Sabbas, his true state was revealed in confidence. Aged 104, he died A.D. 558. See more details •	31 St. Hypatius Bishop St. Hypatius Bishop March 31, 2020 Venerable father, Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra in Paphlagonia (Asia Minor), he attended the Ecumential Council of Nicea A.D. 325. See more details •