Churches of the Day

Feb 14 - Saints Cyril (1) (d 869) and Methodius (d. 885)

Summary : Cyril and Methodius: These were two brothers from Thessalonica in Greece who became apostles of the Slavs, translated the Scriptures and indigenised the liturgy for the Slav people. In 1980 they were named by Pope John Paul II along with St Benedict as co-patrons of Europe. Slavic peoples celebrate these two saints with a national holiday.

Patrick Duffy tells their story.

Evangelisers of the Slavs

Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (825-885) were the evangelisers of the Slavs. They translated the Bible into the Old Church Slavic language and, against all the odds, created an indigenous Slavic liturgy. They invented an alphabet (first called Glagolitic and later, after some modifications, Cyrillic) that is today used for Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Serbian. Pope John Paul II considered these two saints such pillars of civilisation that in 1980 he proclaimed them “co-patrons of Europe” along with St Benedict and five years later wrote an encyclical letter Slavorum Apostoli commemorating their work. In hindsight after the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe, we can now appreciate the prophetic nature of his action.

Administrators and linguists

Born in Thessaloniki of a Greek military-officer father and a Slavic mother, the brother's upbringing was multi-cultural. As their father died young, their uncle Theoctistes, who was responsible for the postal services and the diplomatic relations of the Byzantine empire, brought them to Constantinople. Cyril studied philosophy and theology at the university under Photius who later became Patriarch of Constantinople, while Methodius was placed as a commander of a Slavic administrative region of the empire. Both were gifted scholars and linguists.

After his education Cyril was ordained and became a monk. Soon he was teaching philosophy and theology and held the important position of chartophylax (keeper of the archives) and secretary to the patriarch. The fact that he was both a linguist, having learned Arabic and Hebrew, and a theologian led to his being sent first on a diplomatic mission to discuss the Trinity with Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad and later on a missionary expedition to the Khazars in the Crimea.

Meanwhile Methodius had moved through the administrative and political ranks of the Byzantine empire to become a monastic abbot.

Missionaries and inculturation conflict
In 862 the Emperor Michael III (842-867) and the Patriarch Photius received a request from Prince Rastislav of Greater Moravia (a territory that covers present day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary) to send missionaries to evangelise his Slavic people. Rastislav had already had some intrusion from German missionaries and was anxious for support from Constantinople to keep his kingdom independent. He also wanted a teacher who could instruct his people and celebrate the liturgy in the Slavonic language. The brothers Cyril and Methodius were entrusted with the task.

They began their preparation by training assistants and translating the bible into the language that is now known as Old Church Slavonic. They then travelled to Greater Moravia to promote it, but came into conflict with German clerics (Archbishop Theotmar of Salzburg and Passau) firstly because they came from Constantinople which had a reputation for schism but also because of their efforts to create a Slavic liturgy.

Journey to Rome
As a result of this conflict, Pope Nicholas I (858-867) invited the brothers to Rome but he died before they arrived. His successor Adrian II (867-872) warmly received them and approved their project of a Slavic liturgy in Moravia. Pope Adrian also decided to ordain Cyril and Methodius bishops, but Cyril died in Rome on 4th February, 869 and did not return to Moravia.

Cyril buried at San Clemente

In the lower Basilica under San Clemente on Via Labicana Rome, which is cared for by the Irish Dominicans, there is a chapel to Cyril and Methodius and in the 4th century basilica underneath there is an altar to St Cyril under which it is possible that his relics lie. (A legend tells that St Clement had been exiled to the Crimea by the emperor Trajan and was drowned there tied to an anchor, that Cyril found his relics there while on his way to evangelise the Khazars, kept them and brought them to Rome to ensure a good reception for himself and that Pope Adrian II placed them in the high altar. (Unlikely, but there you have it!)

Second mission and more conflict
Pope Adrian II set up an archdiocese of Moravia ( = Czech Republic and Slovakia) and Pannonia (= Eastern Austria through Western Hungary to the River Danube) at the request of the Moravian princes, Rastislav and Svatopluk, and the Slav Prince Kocel of Pannonia and appointed Methodius archbishop. In 870 King Louis and the German bishops summoned Methodius to a synod at Ratisbon in Germany where he was deposed and imprisoned for three years. The next pope, John VIII (872-882), sent a personal representative to demand his liberation. He was immediately released and reinstated and continued to spread the faith among the Bohemians and the Poles in Northern Moravia.

Soon, however, he was called to Rome again to answer allegations of unorthodoxy brought against him by a German priest, Wiching. Again, he was vindicated and the Slavonic liturgy approved, but with a new requirement that at Mass the Gospel should be read, first in Latin, and then in Slavonic.

Wiching, in the meantime, had been nominated as one of the suffragan bishops of Methodius and continued to oppose his metropolitan. Methodius then returned to Constantinople where, with the help of several priests, he completed the translation of the Bible into Slavonic. Worn out by his long struggle and with no let-up in the antagonism of his opponents, he died on 6th April, 885.

Subsequent and present day influence
Methodius's influence in Moravia was wiped out after his death but was carried on to Bulgaria, Serbia, and Russia, where the southern Slavonic language of Cyril and Methodius is still the liturgical language of both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Cyrillic alphabet used in those countries today, traditionally ascribed to St. Cyril, was probably the work of his followers. It was based on the Glagolithic alphabet used by Cyril himself and still used by certain Croatian and Montenegrin Catholics.

Both brothers were canonised in Eastern Orthodoxy as “equal-to-apostles” and were included in the universal Roman Catholic Church Calendar by Pope Leo XIII in 1880.

A national holiday in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Macedonia
In the Czech Republic and in Slovakia today, 5th July is believed Ss Cyril and methodius 1

to be the date of the arrival of the two brothers to Greater Moravia in 863 and is kept as Saints Cyril and Methodius Day - a national holiday. In Bulgaria Cyril and Methodius Day is on 24th May. It is a national holiday celebrating Bulgarian culture and the invention of the Slavic alphabet. This date is also a national holiday in the Republic of Macedonia and is known as the day of "Salonica Brothers" (in Macedonian: Solunski braka) from their place of origin.

Patrons of indigenisation of the Christian message and liturgy
Since their inculturation of Christianity was so successful in Eastern Europe and they were well received in Rome, it is easy to see how they have become not just pillars of European solidarity, but also patrons of indigenisation of the Christian message and liturgy in all the cultures to which it is brought.

_____________________

******************************

Memorable Saying for today

Two brothers like two hands,
working together can achieve great things.

....author unknown

We must learn to live together as brothers
or perish together as fools.

~Martin Luther King Jr~

**********************************

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 14th February, 2026

Saints of the Day; 14 Feb. - Ss Cyril, monk, 826—69 and Methodius,bishop 815—85 ad
Co-Patrons of Europe,
These were brothers from Thessalonica in Greece. They preached the Gospel in Moravia using their own translation of the Scriptures and the liturgy in the local language. These translations into Slavonic were in an alphabet, now called Cyrillic, which they devised. They are honoured as Apostles of the Slavic peoples.
C/f short history of today’s saints can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection

FIRST READING
A reading from the  Acts of the Apostles 13:46-49
We must turn to the pagans.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly to the Jews.
'We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans.
For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:
I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.'

It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside. The Word of the Lord        Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116 R/v Mk16:15
Response Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good news.
Or Alleluia!

1. O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!    Response

2. Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever Response

Gospel Acclamation Lk 4:158
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.                  And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 10:1-9        Glory to you, O Lord
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.
He said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.

Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"
And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.

Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you".

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

********************
Gospel Reflection 14th Feb. Feast of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Co-Patrons of Europe Luke 10:1–9

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers from Macedonia in Greece who in the ninth century preached the gospel in Moravia, an area that corresponds to the modern day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary. In their efforts to convey the gospel message to this Slavic people, they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slav language. They understood that only if the texts were in the vernacular could they communicate to the local people. In the process they invented a new alphabet, from which the present Slav alphabet is derived; it is still called Cyrillic to his day, after Saint Cyril. For that reason they are regarded as the founders of Slavonic literature. Because of opposition from Christian missionaries from Germany, who disapproved of their methods of evangelization, they had to leave Moravia and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. Pope Adrian, however, gave his seal of approval to their work in Moravia and created the two brothers bishops. Cyril died in Rome in 869.

There is an Irish connection to Cyril; he is buried in the Irish Dominican Church of San Clemente, Via Labicana, Rome 95 where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he preached the gospel in spite of great opposition, including opposition from local bishops who continued to object to his use of the vernacular. Worn out by his labourers, he died in 885. Both brothers were wonderful examples of what today’s gospel reading calls labourers in the Lord’s harvest. Their basic message was the message Jesus asked the seventy two to proclaim in whatever town they entered, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you’. That remains the gospel message for us today.

The kingdom of God, God’s loving reign, is very near to us, especially in and through the risen Lord and the Holy Spirit. There is an Irish saying, ‘God’s help is nearer than the door’. Cyril and Methodius travelled far from their homes to proclaim to the Slav peoples that God was not far from their home but was nearer to them than the door of their home. The Lord is near and he is always inviting us to draw near to him, so that we can draw life and strength from his loving presence to us and within us, and become his labourers in the harvest.

________________________________

The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop /

________________

Saints of the Day; 14 Feb. - Ss Cyril, monk, 826—69 and Methodius, bishop, missionaries 815—85 ad Co-Patrons of Europe,

Cyril: A monk who was born about 826 in Thessalonica (Greece); died at Rome in 869.
Methodius (his brother) : Born about 815; died in Velehrad (Czech Republic) in 885.

With papal approval they preached the gospel in Moravia using their own translations of the Scriptures and the liturgy in the local language. These translations into Slavonic were based on an alphabet they invented, now called Cyrillic.
The success of their preaching aroused jealous Frankish opposition. Honoured as apostles of the Slavic peoples, for their contribution to Slavic culture, their missionary inculturation of the Christian faith, and for establishing links between East and West.

Fr John Murray PP tells the story of the two Greek monks who became evangelisers of the Slavic people and how Pope John Paul II made them co-patrons of Europe with St Benedict.

From the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope John Paul II frequently spoke of Europe as 'breathing with two lungs'. In that first decade from his election in 1978, Europe was still divided and people in the west had forgotten about the countries behind the 'Iron Curtain' as belonging to Europe.

Saint Benedict's place as patron of Europe was never in question. So it must have given the Pope, the 'man from a far country', great pride to declare two co-patrons of Europe on 31 December 1980.

Tradition tells us that the two brothers, Methodius and Constantine (he did not take the name Cyril until just before his death), grew up in Thessaloniki (Greece) as sons of a prominent Christian family. We know that Constantine was born in 827. Both were highly intelligent men and while Methodius became an important civil official, his brother became a scholar and professor in the great city of Constantinople.

Because many Slays came to live in their area of Greece, the brothers had become proficient in the Slavic languages. Their first missionary journey was into Ukraine. Later Rastislav, a prince in Moravia (modern-day Czech Republic), invited them into his territory. The motive was not entirely spiritual; the prince was struggling for independence from German influence. He felt that Christian missionaries from the east, replacing the German missionaries, would help him to consolidate power in his own country, especially if they spoke the Slavonic language. Before they even left on their mission, Constantine constructed a script for Slavonic, a script which became the basis of the Cyrillic alphabet named after him.

The brothers were keen to help and were firm believers in translating the liturgy into the local language, whereas the custom in the west was to use Greek or Latin (as it was until Vatican II). When the brothers appealed to Rome - in the issue of having some Slavic candidates ordained for the priesthood - , the Pope - with his own reasons too - approved the use of Slavonic in services and ordained the men Methodius and Constantine had forwarded. The brothers also translated the New Testament and the Psalms into the Slavonic language.

Sadly, Constantine would never return to Moravia, and he died in Rome where he had assumed the monastic habit and taken on the name by which history remembers him. There is also an Irish slant to Cyril's story. Cyril had laboured hard during his lifetime to return the relics of Saint Clement (the fourth bishop of Rome) to the city and this he did in 867. The martyred pope was interred in the church of his name on the street which runs from the Colosseum to St. John Lateran Basilica. Cyril died not long afterwards (14 February 869) and was buried also in the same church.

[caption id="attachment_91801" align="alignright" width="309"] Sam Clememte holds to tombs of St Cyril and Methodius

Sam Clememte holds to tombs of St Cyril and Methodius

San Clemente Basilica in Rome holds the tombs of Ss Cyril and Methodius in an underground Basilica.[/caption]

Ironically the tomb of Cyril was somehow 'lost' when the 12th century basilica was later built on top of the 4th century one. It wasn't until Fr. Joseph Mullooly, the Irish Dominican prior of St. Clement's, did some excavations in 1868-70 that the tomb of the Slav saint - as well as the 4th century church and 1st century buildings - was rediscovered. In 2007 the Irish Post Office honoured Fr. Mullooly, featuring him on a number of stamps.

Methodius meanwhile was grief-stricken with the death of his brother and he too, wanted to retire to a monastery but his brother's dying wish was that he should return to his missionary endeavours. Cyril had said to him, 'Listen, my brother, we have shared the same destiny, ploughing the same furrow... I know your love for your mountain (monastery) but do not for the sake of the mountain give up your work of teaching.'

Methodius continued to spread the gospel to other regions of Eastern Europe and seminaries were founded in Bulgaria and what is modern-day Belarus and Ukraine. Methodius himself was ordained as archbishop of Pannonia (modern Hungary) and became Papal legate for the Slavic peoples. However his life was not without difficulty, even to the point of spending two years in prison, only being set free by the personal intervention of Pope John VII. The work of inculcating the scriptures and the liturgy into the language of the people he served was continually being regarded with suspicion. In latter years he also translated further books of the Bible into the languages he and his brother loved so much.

In his encyclical, Slavorum Apostoli ('the Apostles of the Slavs', June 1985) Pope John Paul II spoke of the brothers as ideal examples of the true missionary spirit - faithful to the traditions which had formed them and yet endeavouring to understand the peoples to whom they were sent. They had endeavoured successfully to create an alphabet and a literature for the languages which they encountered. Yet constantly they submitted their work to the judgement of the Apostolic See which they saw as the visible sign of the Church's unity. The prayer of Jesus, 'that they may be one', was indeed their motto.

cyril_methodius

Pope John Paul II concluded his encyclical with a beautiful prayer:
'Great God, One in Trinity,
I entrust to you the heritage of the faith of the Slav nations.
Preserve and bless this work of yours!
Grant to the whole of Europe, O most Holy Trinity - through the intercession of the two holy brothers - to feel the need for religious and Christian unity and for a communion of all its peoples. The Pope of Slav origin thanks you for calling the Slav nations into the communion of the faith. May it never fail!'

The feast of Ss Cyril and Methodius, co-patrons of Europe with St Benedict, is celebrated each year on 14 February.

******************************

Memorable Scripture text for today

We are (brothers, sisters and) partners with Christ
if we hold firmly to the end
the confidence we had at the beginning.

~Hebrews 3:14 ~
(inclusive translation!)

**********************************

This article first appeared in The Messenger (February 2008), a publication of the Irish Jesuits. www.messenger.ie/bookshop /

Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 14th February, 2026

Naombh Cyril agus Methodius

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:46-49
Táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach.

Dúirt Pól agus Barnabas leo go neamhbhalbh:

“Is daoibhse ab éigean briathar Dé a labhairt ar dtús; ach ós rud é go bhfuil sibh ag cur suas de agus gur dóigh libh féin nach fiú sibh an bheatha shíoraí a bheith agaibh, táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach.
Mar sin é an t-ordú atá faighte ón Tiarna againn:
‘ Tá tú ceaptha agam le bheith i do sholas do na náisiúin,
ionas go mbeidh tú i d’ábhar slánaithe go himeall an domhain.’”

Bhí áthas ar na págánaigh an méid sin a chloisteáil agus bhí ardmholadh acu ar bhriathar an Tiarna; agus an méid acu a bhí réamhcheaptha don bheatha shíoraí, ghlac siad an creideamh, agus bhí briathar Dé á fhógairt go forleathan ar fud na tíre go léir. Naombh Cyril agus Methodius Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 95
Freagra Imígí faoin domhan uile agus fógraígí an soiscéal don chruthaíocht uile.

1. Molaigí an Tiarna, a chiníocha uile;
moladh na náisiúin go léir é. Freagra

2. Óir is daingean é go deimhin, a bhuanghrá dúinn;
maireann a dhílseacht go brách. Freagra

Alleluia Véarsa   Lc 2: 32
Alleluia, Alleluia!
An solas chun na náisiúin a shoilsiú agus glóir do phobail Iosrael.
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.    Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 10:1-9            Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá an fómhar fairsing, ach níl ann ach meitheal bheag.
San am sin cheap an Tiarna a dó seachtód eile agus chuir sé amach roimhe féin iad ina mbeirt agus ina mbeirt go dtí gach cathair agus gach áit a raibh sé féin le teacht ann.
Dúirt sé leo: harvest

“Tá an fómhar fairsing, ach níl ann ach meitheal bheag. Dá bhrí sin, guígí Máistir an fhómhair go gcuirfeadh sé meitheal uaidh isteach ina fhómhar. Imígí: féach, táim do bhur gcur uaim ar nós uan i measc faolchon. Ná beirigí sparán libh, ná tiachóg, ná cuaráin, agus ná beannaígí d’aon duine ar an mbóthar. Cibé teach a rachaidh sibh isteach ann, abraigí ar dtús:
‘Síocháin don teach seo,’ agus má bhíonn mac síochána ann, fanfaidh bhur síocháin aige; ach mura mbíonn fillfidh sí oraibh féin.

Fanaigí sa teach sin, ag ithe agus ag ól na nithe a bhíonn acu; óir is fiú an fear oibre a thuarastal. Ná bígí ag aistriú ó theach go teach. Agus cibé cathair a rachaidh sibh isteach inti agus go nglacfar sibh, ithigí na nithe a chuirfear os bhur gcomhair agus leigheasaigí na daoine tinne a bhíonn inti, agus abraigí leis na daoine: ‘Tá ríocht Dé in achmaireacht daoibh.’

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026

-15-2-2026-

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We have been give the freedom to obey God's will.
Christ calls to choose love as our way of fulfilling God's will and fullness of life but....

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus ( Ben Sirach) 15:15-20
He never commanded anyone to be godless.

If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power. He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Response They are happy who follow God's law!

1. They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God's law!
They are happy those who do his will, seeking him with all their hearts. Response

2. You have laid down your precepts to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm to obey your statutes. Response

3. Bless your servant and I shall live and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may consider the wonders of your law. Response

4. Teach me the demands of your statutes and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 2:6-10
God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began.

We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: The things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.

These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!

or   Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.   And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew   5:17-37 Glory to you, O Lord
You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have come not to abolish them but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved.

Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire.

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

‘You have learnt how it was said:
You must not commit adultery.

But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.

‘It has also been said:
Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal.
But I say this to you: Everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.
But I say this to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.
All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

_______________________

Shorter Gospel form

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:20-22.
Theme: You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you....

Jesus said to his disciples:
'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to complete them.
I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

'For I tell you,if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never get into the kingdom of heaven

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Shíorach 15:15-20
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine ríamh bheith aindiaga.

Más áil leat é, is féidir duit na haitheanta a choimeád,
agus ort féin atá sé ag brath a bheith dílis.
Tá tine agus uisce curtha aige os do chomhair;
sín amach do lámh chuig cibé acu is rogha leat.
Tá an bás agus an bheatha os comhair an duine,
agus tabharfar dó cibé acu is mian leis.
Óir is fairsing í eagna an Tiarna; Is mór í a chumhacht agus feiceann sé an uile ní.
Bíonn a shúile ar na daoine a bhfuil eagla orthu roimhe,
agus is eol dó gach beart dá ndéanann an duine.
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine riamh a bheith aindiaga,
ná níor thug sé cead d’aon duine riamh peaca a dhéanamh.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Freagra Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.

I. Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a bhfuil a slí gan locht, a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.
Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a dhéanann de réir a thola, a iarrann é óna gcroí go hiomlán. Freagra

2. Thug tú do phroiceapta chun go gcomhlíonfaí iad go beacht.
Á, dá mbeadh mo slite socraithe go daingean chun do reachtanna uile a choimeád. Freagra

3. Bí go maith le do ghiolla, go maire mé, agus go gcoimeáda me do bhriathra.
Oscail mo shúile chun go bhfeice mé íontais do dhlí. Freagra

4. Múin dom, a Thiarna, slí do reachtanna, agus coimeádfaidh mé go beacht iad.
Déan mo theagasc chun do dhlí a chomhlíonadh ionas go gcoimeádainn ó chroí é. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 2:6-10
Cheap Dia an eagna roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinn.

A bhráithre, labhraimidne eagna i measc na muintire atá tagtha in inmhe, ach ní hí eagna an tsaoil seo í ná eagna lucht ceannais an tsaoil seo, dream atá ag imeacht as. Is í eagna rúnda Dé atá i gceist againne, an eagna a bhí folaithe ó dhaoine ach a bhí ceaptha ag Dia roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinne. Ní raibh fios na heagna seo ag duine ar bith de cheannairí an tsaoil seo mar dá mbeadh a fhios acu í ní chéasfaidís Tiarna na glóire ar an gcrois. Mar atá scríofa:
“Nithe nach bhfaca súil iad agus nár chuala cluas iad, nithe nár smaoinigh an duine orthu ina aigne,
is iad atá ullamh ag Dia dóibh siúd a bheir grá dó.”

Is dúinne a nocht Dia [na nithe seo] le cabhair an Spioraid.Scrúdaíonn an Spiorad gach uile ní, fiú duibheagáin Dé féin.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Alleluia Véarsa Eo 6: 63, 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin

Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:17-37 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.

San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus na fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé.

Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.
Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

“Chuala sibh go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná déan marú; agus má dhéanann duine marú beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas, agus má deir aon duine lena bhráthair ‘Ceann baoth’, beidh air freagairt ann don tsainidrín; agus má deir sé ‘Amadán’ leis, beidh air freagairt ann i dtine ifrinn. Dá réir sin, má bhíonn tú ag tabhairt d’ofrála chun na haltóra agus go gcuimhneoidh tú ansin go bhfuil cúis ghearáin éigin ag do bhráthair ort, fág d’ofráil ansiúd os comhair na haltóra, imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair, agus tar ansin ag déanamh na hofrála. An duine a chúisíonn thú, tar chun réitigh leis gan mhoill agus tú ag gabháil na slí leis, le heagla go dtabharfadh fear do chúisithe suas don bhreitheamh thú, agus an breitheamh don phóilín, agus go gcuirfí i bpriosún thú. Deirim leat go fírinneach, ní thiocfaidh tú amach as sin go mbeidh an cianóigín deireanach díolta agat.

“Chuala sibh go ndúradh: ‘Ná déan adhaltranas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhreathnaíonn ar bhean le dúil inti, tá adhaltranas déanta aige léi cheana féin ina chroí. Más siocair pheaca duit do shúil dheas, srac amach í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná do chorp ar fad a chaitheamh isteach in ifreann. Agus más siocair pheaca duit do lámh dheas, gearr anuas í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná go rachadh do chorp ar fad isteach in ifreann.

“Dúradh fós: ‘Má scaoileann duine a bhean uaidh tugadh sé litir idirscartha di.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: gach aon duine a scaoileann uaidh a bhean, taobh amuigh de chás an striapachais, ligeann sé le hadhaltranas í, agus duine ar bith a phósann bean a scaoileadh, déanann sé adhaltranas.

“Chuala sibh freisin go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná sáraigh do mhionn; déan do mhionna a chomhlíonadh don Tiarna.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh, gan mionn ar bith a thabhairt: gan a thabhairt dar neamh, óir is é ríchathaoir Dé é; ná dar an talamh, óir is é stól a chos é; ná dar Iarúsailéim, óir is í cathair an Rí mhóir í; ná mionnaigh dar do cheann ach chomh beag, mar ní féidir duit aon ribe amháin de a dhéanamh geal ná dubh. Is é amháin is ráite daoibh: ‘Is ea, is ea.’ ‘Ní hea, ní hea.’ Focal thar an méid sin, is ón Olc é!

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

_____________________________

Soiscéal gearr

Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:20-22,
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.

San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus

fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé. Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.
Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas. Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

Churches of the Day

Pictorial Thought for Today

Feb 14 - Saints Cyril (1) (d 869) and Methodius (d. 885)