CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE: FEBRUARY AND MARCH

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2004 (VIS) - Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided by the Holy Father during the months of February and March.

FEBRUARY

- Monday 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Day of Consecrated Life. In the Vatican Basilica at 5:30 p.m., blessing of candles, procession and Mass with members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

- Wednesday 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the Vatican Basilica at 4:30 p.m., Mass for the "Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi" and UNITALSI, presided by Cardinal Camillo Ruini. At the end of the celebration, the Holy Father will greet and bless the sick present in the basilica.

- Thursday 19, in the Clementine Hall at 11:00 a.m., consistory for a number of causes of canonization.

- Wednesday 25, Ash Wednesday. In the Vatican Basilica at 10:30 a.m., celebration of the Word, blessing and imposition of the ashes.

- Sunday 29, first Sunday of Lent. In the Apostolic Palace's "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel at 6:00 p.m., beginning of the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia.

MARCH

- Saturday 6, In the "Redemptoris Mater" Chapel at 9:00 a.m., conclusion of Roman Curia's spiritual exercises.

- Sunday 21, fourth Sunday of Lent. At 9:30 a.m., beatification of the Servants of God: Luigi Talamoni, Matilde del Sagrado, Corazon Tellez Robles, Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real, and Maria Candida dell'Eucaristia.
OCL/CALENDAR:FEBRUARY-MARCH/... VIS 20040202 (250)