Mar 3 Bl. Liberatus Weiss, Samuele Marzorati and Michele Pio Fasoli	d. 1716. These three friars lived together in Ethiopia. They were stoned to death because they refused to deny their Faith. They were Franciscan missionaries of Vienna.
Mar 5 St. John Joseph of the Cross	Saint John Joseph of the Cross was born on the Island of Ischia, Southern Italy, 1654; d. 5 March, 1739. From his earliest years he was given to prayer and virtue. So great was his love of poverty that he would always wear the dress of the poor, though he was of noble birth. At the age of sixteen years he entered the Order of St. Francis at naples, amongst the Friars of the Alcantarine Reform, being the first Italian to join this reform which had been instituted in Spain by St. Peter of Alcantara. Throughout his life he was given to the greatest austerity: he fasted constantly, never drank wine, and slept but three hours each night. In 1674 he was sent to found a friary at Afila, in Piedmont; and he assisted with his own hands in the building. Much against his will, he was raised to the priesthood. As superior, he always insisted upon performing the lowliest offices in the community. In 1702 he was appointed Vicar Provincial of the Alcantarine Reform in Italy. He was favoured in a high degree with the gift of miracles, people of every condition being brought to him in sickness. His zeal for souls was such that even in sickness he would not spare any labour for them. His great devotion was to our Blessed Lady, and he was urgent with his penitents that they also should cultivate this. He was beatified in 1789, and canonized in 1839.  (from Catholic Encyclopedia Online Edition © 2003 by K. Knight)
Mar 12 Bl. Angela Salawa	Blessed Angela Salawa, daughter of Bartholomew Salawa and Eva Bochenek poor but religious farmers, was born on  September 9, 1881 in Siepraw, very barren and unproductive, distant region 18 kilometers of Cracovia. Angela was the youngest of nine brothers, born and grew up undernourished, weak and sickly, she was somewhat disobedient and capricious. She received some schooling and learned to read, but was not able to  spell very well. But she became pious and eager to read good books after a period of rebellion. In her late teens, she entered to the Association of Santa Zita, (working with sick people.) Little by little she understood that her vocation was to suffer with Christ, and accept it resolutely, but conscious of its weakness. She prayed many hours before the Santísimo Sacrament (Blessed Sacrament) and read books of high mystic content, taking notes from the practical points that she found. By order of her confesor, she began to make notes of the mystical experiences. The lady in whose house she worked, became ill seriously and died, attended by Angela . After this, two relatives of the widower happened to live with her, and began to make difficulty for Angela in the life and the work. She wrote that it feels suddenly that Jesus says to her: "Daughter, why do you worry? I have not left to you ". In order to follow more of and near the poor Christ and crucificado, she becomes a Franciscan tertiary on March 15 1912, and is professed on the 6th of August of 1913.  (From: Franciscanos.net (original language: Spanish))
Mar 18 St. Salvator of Horta	Saint Salvator of Horta, d. 1567. Franciscan confessor. Born at Santa Colomba, Gerona, Spain, he was orphaned as a child and became a shoemaker before joining the Franciscans in Barcelona as a lay brother. He worked for many years as a humble cook in the friary of Horta, near Tortosa, dying at the friary of Caliari, Sardinia. During his life, he was known for his many and severe austerities and his miracles. He was canonized in 1938. (Source: Catholic Online)
Mar 20 Bl. John of Parma	Born in Parma, Italy, in 1209; died 1289; cultus approved in 1777. After John was professed and ordained as a Franciscan, he taught theology at Bologna and Naples. In 1247, he was elected the 7th minister general of the Franciscans and held the office for ten years. He visited the Franciscan provinces of different countries, including England, and went to Constantinople as papal legate. He lived out his final 30 years in retirement at the hermitage of Greccio.
Mar 22 St. Benvenute of Osimo,	Saint Benvenute of Osimo, d. 1282 was a Franciscan bishop. He was born in Ancona, Italy, and studied law in Bologna, a fellow student of St. Sylvester. Appointed archdeacon of Ancona, he went on to become the bishop of Osimo, Italy. Before his episcopal ordination, Benvenutus became a Franciscan. He was canonized by Pope Martin IV. (Source: Catholic Online)
Mar 23 St. Catherine of Genoa	Saint Catherine of Genoa - Read the Life of Catherine of Genoa on this website
Mar 24 Bl. Ludovico of Casoria	Blessed Ludovico of Casoria was a man who saw the face of Christ in those around him. He was born in Naples in 1814, and became a priest when he was only twenty-three. In the Franciscan friary he served, he began a Pharmacy as an outreach to the poor, as well as in other places. Also, infirmaries, to assist the poor.
Mar 30 St. Peter Regaldo	Saint Peter Regaldo, a Friar Minor and reformer, born at Valladolid, 1390; died at Aguilera, 30 March, 1456. His parents were of noble birth and conspicuous for their wealth and virtue. Having lost his father in his early youth, he was piously educated by his mother. At the age of ten years Peter begged to be admitted into the Seraphic Order, which favour was granted him three years afterwards in the convent of his native town. In 1404 he became one of the first disciples of Peter de Villacreces, who in 1397 had introduced into Spain the reform of the Observance of which he became one of the most zealous propagators. In the newly-founded convent at Aguilera Peter found the life of solitude, prayer, and eminent poverty, which had always been the greatest object of his desire. In 1415 he became superior of the convent at Aguilera and, on the death of Peter de Villacreces (1422), also of that at Tribulos or del Abroyo. He observed nine, fasting on bread and water, and was endowed with the gift of miracles and prophecy and of every virtue. When his body was exhumed thirty-six years after his death, at the instance of Isabella the Catholic, it was found incorrupt and placed in a more precious tomb. He was beatified by Innocent XI, 11 March, 1684, and canonized by Benedict XIV, 29 June, 1746. His feast is celebrated 13 May, the day of the translation of his body. In art he is represented with flames bursting from his heart. (from Catholic Encyclopedia Online Edition © 2003 by K. Knight)