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Monday of Holy Week Saint of the Day: St. Agape; Christian of Thessalonica; martyred, along with her two sisters, for the crime of possessing texts of the Scriptures during the persecution of Diocletian; died 304 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/3/23 Gospel: John 12:1-11

Palm Sunday; the beginning of Holy Week Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/2/23 Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Hugh of Grenoble, 1053-1132; born in the Dauphine region; named bishop of Grenoble in 1080; attempted to reform the diocese, but, discouraged, retired to Chaise Dieu Abbey; ordered back to Grenoble by Pope St. Gregory VII; Hugh gave St. Bruno the land on which the Grande Chartreuse was founded, starting the Carthusians Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/1/23 Gospel: John 11:45-56

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Benjamin, 329-424; deacon, imprisoned in the Persian persecution; released on the condition that he would never speak to any of the courtiers about religion; he continued to preach Christ, and was again apprehended, tortured, and executed Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/31/23 Gospel: John 10:31-42

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. John Climacus, 525-606; called "Climacus," because of his famous book, "The Climax," or, "The Ladder of Perfection"; lived as a hermit on Mount Sinai, then went to Thale; elected abbot of the monks of Mount Sinair at the age of 70 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/30/23 Gospel: John 8:51-59

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Berthold; believed to be the founder of the Carmelite order; born in Limoges, France; after ordination, he joined his brother Aymeric, the Latin Patriarch of Antioch, in Turkey, on the Crusades; on Mount Carmel, he found a group of hermits, joined them and established a rule; headed the Carmelites for 45 years; died in 1195 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/29/23 Gospel: John 8:31-42

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Venturino of Bergamo, 1304-1346; native of Bergamo, Italy; joined the Dominicans in 1319; planned to make a pilgrimage to Rome, but was suspected of trying to crown himself pope, so he was forbidden by Pope Benedict XII and by the Dominicans; unaware of the ban, he went to Rome, then to Avignon, where he was arrested and imprisoned until 1343; helped to organize a crusade at the behest of Pope Clement VI Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/28/23 Gospel: John 8:21-30

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Rupert, 660-717; appointed bishop of Worms, Germany; took over the deserted town of Iuvavum in 697, which was renamed Salzburg, Austria; founded a church, a monastery, and a school, brought in missionaries, and established a nunnery; revered as the Apostle of Bavaria and Austria Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/27/23 Gospel: John 8:1-11

Fifth Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/26/23 Gospel: John 11:1-45

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/25/23 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Aldemar; 11th Century abbot and miracle worker; monk at Monte Cassino, then became director of the religious in the new convent at Capua, built by Pricess Aloara; reassigned by his abbot to Monte Cassino, which angered the princess; one former companion tried to kill him; he fled the region and founded several more religious houses; died 1080 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/24/23 Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Turibius de Mongrovejo, 1538-1606; lawyer who was eventually appointed archbishop of Lima, Peru, in 1580; reformed the archdiocese, aided the poor, and defended the rights of Indians who were suffering under the occupation of Spain; founded schools, churches, hospitals, and the first seminary in the New World; also mastered several Indian dialects Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/23/23 Gospel: John 5:31-47

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Nicholas Owen, 1550-1608; born at Oxford, England, and worked as a carpenter, building hiding places for Jesuit priests; became a Jesuit lay brother in 1580; arrested in 1594, and released on the payment of a ransom by a wealthy Catholic; arrested again 1606, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tortured to his death; one for the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/22/23 Gospel: John 5:17-30

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Nicholas of Flue, 1417-1487; became a hermit at the age of 50; survived 19 years on nothing but the Eucharist; known for his holiness and wisdom, he was regularly visited by civic leader, powerful people, and simple men and women with a variety of needs; affectionately known as "Bruder Klaus"; patron saint of Switzerland Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/21/23 Gospel: John 5:1-16

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/20/23 Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/19/23 Gospel: John 9:1-41

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-386; as bishop of Jerusalem, he spent about half of his episcopate in exile, following a dispute with the nearby Arian bishop; vindicated, the Council of Constantinople called him a champion of orthodoxy against the Arians Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/18/23 Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Friday of the Third Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Patrick, 415-493; captured by Irish raiders and sold into slavery; after his escape, he spent years at Auxerre, France, and was consecrated bishop at age 43; dreamed of bringing the faith to the Irish, and he was sent to carry out the task; ordained many priests, divided the country into dioceses, held Church councils, founded several monasteries, and urged his people to holiness Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/17/23 Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Finian Lobhar; Sixth Century Irish abbot and disciple of St. Columba; founded a church and monastery at Innisfallen; later became abbot of Swords Abbey near Dublin; acquired the name Lobhar--"the leper"--when he contracted leprosy from a young boy whom he had cured of the disease; died 560 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/16/23 Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Louise de Marillac, 1591-1660; wanted to become a nun, but married Antony Legras, an official in the Queen's service; after his death, St. Vincent de Paul became her spiritual adviser; she helped to found the Sister of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul; traveled all over France, establishing her sisters in hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions; her congregation is now spread around the world Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/15/23 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19