Saint Patrick, Bishop

Optional memorial

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Brought to Ireland as a slave, Patrick escaped, became a bishop and returned to evangelize the Irish in the 5th century.

Readings of the day

Glorious Mysteries

Second Mystery: The Ascension

“When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.”Acts 1:9

Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His apostles and ascends into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Fruit of the mystery: Hope

From St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Traditional; tr. Cecil Frances Alexander, 1889

Get this prayer every morning

A notification each morning with the day’s mysteries, a mystery to meditate on with its scripture, and a short prayer. Free, no account.

This day’s five mysteries (Glorious Mysteries)

The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary
The Coronation of Mary

Coming up

Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin MaryFri, Mar 19 · Solemnity
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the LordSun, Mar 21 · Sunday
Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord’s SupperThu, Mar 25
Friday of the Passion of the LordFri, Mar 26
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the LordSun, Mar 28 · Solemnity

✝ Pray the full Rosary

Liturgical calendar for the dioceses of the USA (General Roman Calendar and U.S. proper), checked against the USCCB liturgical calendar. Readings: citations from the U.S. Lectionary for Mass, text from the Douay-Rheims Bible (public domain).

Scripture from the Douay–Rheims Bible. Private: no account. Visits are counted with Cloudflare Web Analytics (cookieless, no personal data). If you sign up, the server keeps only your browser’s anonymous push address, the time you chose and your time zone.