This year, March comes in with Septuagesima and goes out with the 5th week of Lent. Yes, Easter is late this year, on April 20th. Easter may be celebrated from March 22nd to April 25th. Have a look at the (Old Farmer’s) Almanac page below for an explanation of how the date of Easter is determined, including potential complications and the “Golden Number” method. This article is chock-full of interesting facts and links. I support the Almanac for their great work in gardening and traditional ideas, and also their respect for the Catholic Church. They are an invaluable resource. You can even type in your zip code and get the seasonal planting schedule for your area. It’s about 15 pages, but well-worth printing.
Almanac: When is Easter? Why it Falls so Late in 2025
Also, the above article gives us an idea on one thing we can do to celebrate a holy Lent! The 7 Penitential Psalms…
“In the sixth century, Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public penance. On Ash Wednesday, they donned a hair shirt (which they wore for 40 days), and the local bishop blessed them and sprinkled them with ashes. Then, while others recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the holy place. They could not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday…when they received absolution.”
Here they are, along with the Songs of the Suffering Servant, from Isaiah, which are also customary to recite during Lent:
USCCB: The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant
Traditionally during Lent, meat was only eaten at one meal per day and no meat was eaten on Holy Saturday. Obviously, we refrain from meat every Friday and there is fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Some also recite the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary each day in Lent.
The Spring Equinox is March 20th. Since we are preppers here, it is time to start thinking about our gardening. If you have never gardened or are rusty at it, the Almanac above is fabulous for getting started. Don’t worry if you can’t get it together for a Spring garden, Summer is a fine time to plant. How about making that a goal? Food resilience is becoming more and more important, as food supply and farmers are undergoing attack throughout the world. Growing your own food is really just a normal part of being human, like my Sicilian-born grandmother did in a tiny yard in Brooklyn, New York. My father carried on her example at our home in Levittown, growing tomatoes in the backyard and eggplant on the front lawn! It’s a wonderful thing to teach our children and they have a natural love for it. The miracle of watching a seed grow into a beautiful plant that you can eat, is endlessly enthralling and gives you an appreciation for God’s creation. Maybe that’s one reason why the forces of evil do not want us growing food. Faith is a threat to their New World Order (remember when garden centers were considered “unessential” during Covid?).
Here are some notable feasts of this month, including the Ember Days of Lent. These present a further opportunity for penance and prayer. The traditional Mass readings are quite inspiring. You can also get creative with these Ember Days which harken to the season of Spring, with nature-themed activities and crafts with children. Take note of the Annunciation, 9 months before Christmas, and Laetare Sunday, like Gaudete Sunday in Advent, when we are reminded of joy in the midst of penance, and the vestments are rose-colored…
2nd-Quinquagesima Sunday
4th-Shrove Tuesday
5th-Ash Wednesday
6th-Saints Perpetua & Felicity
7th-Saint Thomas Aquinas, Perpetua & Felicity (new)
12th-Ember Wednesday
14th-Ember Friday
15th-Ember Saturday
17th-Saint Patrick
19th-Saint Joseph
21st-Saint Benedict
24th-Saint Gabriel the Archangel
25th-ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
30th-Laetare Sunday
+ + +
Month of Saint Joseph, Foster-Father of Our Lord
In this month dedicated to Saint Joseph, his feast is celebrated March 19th. There are so many ways to honor him and show our love for this most faithful intercessor. Here is a printable PDF of the “Thirty Days Prayer:”
THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH
In Honor of the 30 Years Spent with Jesus & Mary
Below are some thoughts by one of our readers, regarding the monthly Catholic themes. I love the idea of writing your own prayer-what a great activity for children!
“For me, monthly devotions help to build a greater understanding and deeper relationship with the Lord and His Church. You can bring it naturally into the monthly cycle and feel a little more God-centered. Some suggestions:
Read up on the subject of the month’s devotion.
Form an understanding of why the devotion is important.
How does the devotion impact your life?
Is there a feast day?
Research a monthly Marian connection.
Choose a nine-day novena that brings you closer to the devotion.
Read about the Saints who were part of or partial to the devotion.
Compose your own prayer.
It doesn’t take long and you are taking time to spend with the Lord and the Faith.”
Jenna, New York
Thank you, Jenna! We welcome feedback from readers and may post your comments. Wishing you all a most holy and blessed Lent:)