Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 7 - St Willibrord (658-739) bishop, missionary and patron of Benelux countries
Summary: St Willibrord, bishop and missionary. Willibrord was born in Northumbria in 658, entered the Benedictine order and sent to Rathmelsige (probably Clonmelsh in County Carlow in Ireland ) to study. After ordination he was sent with eleven companions to evangelize Frisia, established a mission at Utrecht and in 695 was ordained archbishop of Utrecht by Pope Sergius I, founded a monastery at Eichtemach in Luxembourg in 700, where he died in 739.
Willibrordis not a name we associate with Irish saints. A native of Yorkshire, he spent some years of his training and was ordained in Ireland, so he is included in the Irish calendar of saints for this day. He was one of the first missionaries to what are now known as the Benelux countries: the image is a commemorative postage stamp from Luxemburg.
Patrick Duffy gathers what is known about him.
The Irish Connection
Willibrord was a native of Yorkshire and was educated from an early age by St Wilfrid at Ripon. He was professed at fifteen and when Wilfrid was dislodged in 678, Willibrord went with two companions Egbert and Wigbert to Rath Melsigi in Ireland for further studies and formation. (Rath Melsigi, which is mentioned by Bede, is variously located at Clonmelsh, Co Carlow, at Mellifont, Co Louth, and at Mayo where Anglo-Saxon Gerald and his monks set up a monastery after the Synod of Whitby.) He was ordained priest in Ireland and in 690 returned to England with his companions.
Consecration by Pope Sergius I
Willibrord's first action was to visit Rome where he obtained approval for his mission and relics to set up churches from Pope Sergius I (687-701). His mission prospered and in 695, with Pepin's recommendation, he went to Rome again and was consecrated archbishop of the Frisians and set up his metropolitan see at Utrecht.
Monastery at Echternach
In 701 Willibrord established an important monastic centre at Echternach in what is now eastern Luxemburg. To this he invited some monks from Ireland and it later developed as an important library and scriptorium in the Frankish empire. After the death of Pepin in 714 the pagan Frisian prince Radbod drove Willibrord out of Utrecht, but on Radbod's death in 719, Willibrord was able to move not only into West Frisia, but also east and north into Germany and Denmark.
Missionary Methods
Willibrord's missionary methods show his conviction of the power of the Christian religion. In Denmark he bought thirty slave-boys whom he educated as Christians. In Heligoland he flouted the pagan custom of not drawing water without observing the strictest silence when he baptised three persons in a fountain and pronouncing the words aloud. He also killed some sacred cows for his companions to eat and incurred no retribution.
St Boniface joined Willibrord for three years before moving on further into Germany. Similar stories are told about Boniface and the cutting down the tree sacred to the god Thor and which people say is the origin of the Christmas tree.
The Calendar of St Willibrord
This is an 8th century manuscript now in the National Library in Paris, which seems to have been written as a personal liturgical calendar of Willibrord and used in his household. It provides an index to those saints who were widely honoured in early eighth-century Europe, but also little-known saints from places as far away as Constantinople and Syria. A facsimile of the manuscript itself with an introduction and commentary on the saints commemorated was published for the Henry Bradshaw Society by H.A. Wilson (d.1927), one of England's outstanding liturgical scholars.
Death and Influence
Willibrord died aged eighty-one at his monastery at Echternach. Very soon after his death he was venerated as a saint and pilgrims came to his grave. St Bede (672-735) wrote an edifying account of his penance, devotion and charity and St Boniface (672-754) mentions him in a letter, so that his reputation soon spread throughout northern Europe. Alcuin (735-804) wrote a biography some years after his death. Willibrord is seen as a patron saint of the Benelux countries.
An annual dancing procession takes place in Echternach on Whit Tuesday to honour this saint of truly European dimension. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, professor of medieval Irish history at NUIG, argues for a connection through Willibrord between Irish and Echternach manuscripts and between the procession there and Irish dancing.
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
~ C.T. Studd ~
Willibrordis not a name we associate with Irish saints. A native of Yorkshire, he spent some years of his training and was ordained in Ireland, so he is included in the Irish calendar of saints for this day. He was one of the first missionaries to what are now known as the Benelux countries: the image is a commemorative postage stamp from Luxemburg.Patrick Duffy gathers what is known about him.
The Irish Connection
Willibrord was a native of Yorkshire and was educated from an early age by St Wilfrid at Ripon. He was professed at fifteen and when Wilfrid was dislodged in 678, Willibrord went with two companions Egbert and Wigbert to Rath Melsigi in Ireland for further studies and formation. (Rath Melsigi, which is mentioned by Bede, is variously located at Clonmelsh, Co Carlow, at Mellifont, Co Louth, and at Mayo where Anglo-Saxon Gerald and his monks set up a monastery after the Synod of Whitby.) He was ordained priest in Ireland and in 690 returned to England with his companions.
Mission
Egbert had wanted to evang
elise Frisia, but, instructed by a vision, he went to Iona to bring the Roman usage there. He persuaded his companions to go to Frisia. Wigbert went for two years and returned without success. Willibrord set out with a band of monks and was well received by Pepin of Herstal, duke and prince of the Franks.
Consecration by Pope Sergius I
Willibrord's first action was to visit Rome where he obtained approval for his mission and relics to set up churches from Pope Sergius I (687-701). His mission prospered and in 695, with Pepin's recommendation, he went to Rome again and was consecrated archbishop of the Frisians and set up his metropolitan see at Utrecht.
Monastery at Echternach
In 701 Willibrord established an important monastic centre at Echternach in what is now eastern Luxemburg. To this he invited some monks from Ireland and it later developed as an important library and scriptorium in the Frankish empire. After the death of Pepin in 714 the pagan Frisian prince Radbod drove Willibrord out of Utrecht, but on Radbod's death in 719, Willibrord was able to move not only into West Frisia, but also east and north into Germany and Denmark.
Missionary MethodsWillibrord's missionary methods show his conviction of the power of the Christian religion. In Denmark he bought thirty slave-boys whom he educated as Christians. In Heligoland he flouted the pagan custom of not drawing water without observing the strictest silence when he baptised three persons in a fountain and pronouncing the words aloud. He also killed some sacred cows for his companions to eat and incurred no retribution.
St Boniface joined Willibrord for three years before moving on further into Germany. Similar stories are told about Boniface and the cutting down the tree sacred to the god Thor and which people say is the origin of the Christmas tree.
The Calendar of St Willibrord
This is an 8th century manuscript now in the National Library in Paris, which seems to have been written as a personal liturgical calendar of Willibrord and used in his household. It provides an index to those saints who were widely honoured in early eighth-century Europe, but also little-known saints from places as far away as Constantinople and Syria. A facsimile of the manuscript itself with an introduction and commentary on the saints commemorated was published for the Henry Bradshaw Society by H.A. Wilson (d.1927), one of England's outstanding liturgical scholars.
Death and InfluenceWillibrord died aged eighty-one at his monastery at Echternach. Very soon after his death he was venerated as a saint and pilgrims came to his grave. St Bede (672-735) wrote an edifying account of his penance, devotion and charity and St Boniface (672-754) mentions him in a letter, so that his reputation soon spread throughout northern Europe. Alcuin (735-804) wrote a biography some years after his death. Willibrord is seen as a patron saint of the Benelux countries.
An annual dancing procession takes place in Echternach on Whit Tuesday to honour this saint of truly European dimension. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, professor of medieval Irish history at NUIG, argues for a connection through Willibrord between Irish and Echternach manuscripts and between the procession there and Irish dancing.
________________________
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Memorable Saying for Today
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
~ C.T. Studd ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 7th November, 2026
Saturday of the Thirty-First Week of Ordinary Time, Year 2
Mass of Our Lady on Saturday
Saint of the Day: 7th Nov; St Willibrord, a Northumbrian who became an irish monk, bishop and missionary.)
C/f short history of today’s saints can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection
FIRST READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 4:10-19
There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength
It is a great joy to me, in the Lord, that at last you have shown some concern for me again; though of course you were concerned before, and only lacked an opportunity. I am not talking about shortage of money: I have learnt to manage on whatever I have, I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything
anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty.There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength. All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships. In the early days of the Good News, as you people of Philippi well know, when I left Macedonia, no other church helped me with gifts of money. You were the only ones; and twice since my stay in Thessalonika you have sent me what I needed. It is not your gift that I value; what is valuable to me is the interest that is mounting up in your account.
Now for the time being I have everything that I need and more: I am fully provided now that I have received from Epaphroditus the offering that you sent, a sweet fragrance-the sacrifice that God accepts and finds pleasing. In return my God will fulfil all your needs, in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as only God can.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 111; 1-2, 5-6,8-9
Response Happy the man who fears the Lord.
Or Alleluia!
1. Happy the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth; the children of the upright are blessed. Response
2. The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever. Response
3. With a steadfast heart he will not fear. Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever. His head will be raised in glory. Response
Gospel Acclamation Acts 16: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
Or 2 Cor 8: 9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor for your sakes,
to make you rich out of his poverty.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 16:9-15 Glory to you, O Lord
If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches?
Jesus said to his disciples, | 'And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.
If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?'No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.'
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them,
'You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people's sight, but God knows your hearts.
For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Saturday Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Luke 16:9-15
The issue Jesus raises in today’s gospel reading is the relationship of his followers to money. He presupposes that some of his followers will have money over and above what they need. He didn’t call everyone to sell all their possessions in response to his call to follow him. At present, money is scarce for many who desire to follow Jesus. Some have lost their jobs or have seen their wages greatly reduced. Yet, the issue of how to use our financial and material resources remains an important one for all of us who seek to walk in the way of Jesus.
What Jesus warns against above all in the gospel reading, is becoming a slave of money. Rather than possessing money, we can allow money to possess us. Jesus uses the language of trust in relation to money in the gospel reading. ‘If you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches?’ God puts his trust in us to use our financial resources well, whether we have a lot or a little, and that means using them to serve the well-being of others.
As Jesus says, we are to use money to win us friends who will go on to welcome us into the tents of eternity. According to Paul in our first reading, this was the attitude of the members of the church in Philippi to their financial resources. They used some of these resources to serve Paul in his need. As Paul says to them in that reading, ‘When I left Macedonia, no other church helped me with gifts of money. You were the only one.’ Paul assures them that in return for their generosity towards him, ‘God will fulfil all our needs, in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as only God can’. Paul reflects the message of Jesus here that when we are generous with what we have been given we open ourselves up more fully to experiencing God’s generosity towards us, both in this life and the next.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published in 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel Reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings : My Words Will Not Pass Away by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookstore
________________
Saint of the Day: 7th Nov; St Willibrord, a Northumbrian who became an Irish monk, bishop and missionary.)
Willibrord was born in Northumbria in 658, entered the Benedictine order and sent to Rathmelsige (probably Clonmelsh in County Carlow in Ireland ) to study. After ordination he was sent with eleven companions to evangelize Frisia, established a mission at Utrecht and in 695 was ordained archbishop of Utrecht by Pope Sergius I, founded a monastery at Eichtemach in Luxembourg in 700, where he died in 739.
Willibrord is not a name we associate with Irish saints. A native of Yorkshire, he spent some years of his training and was ordained in Ireland, so he is happily included in the Irish Calendar of Saints for this day. He was one of the first missionaries to what are now known as the Benelux countries: the image (left) is taken from a commemorative postage stamp from Luxemburg.Patrick Duffy gathers what is known about him.
The Irish Connection
Willibrord was a native of Yorkshire and was educated from an early age by St Wilfrid at Ripon. He was professed at fifteen and when Wilfrid was dislodged in 678, Willibrord went with two companions Egbert and Wigbert to Rath Melsigi in Ireland for further studies and formation. (Rath Melsigi, which is mentioned by the Venerable Bede, is variously located at Clonmelsh, Co Carlow, at Mellifont, Co Louth, and at Mayo where Anglo-Saxon Gerald and his monks set up a monastery after the Synod of Whitby.) He was ordained priest in Ireland and in 690 returned to England with his companions.
Mission
Egbert had wanted to evangelise Frisia, but, instructed by a vision, he went to Iona to bring the Roman usage there. He persuaded his companions to go to Frisia. Wigbert went for two years and returned without success. Willibrord set out with a band of monks and was well received by Pepin of Herstal, duke and prince of the Franks.
Consecration by Pope Sergius I
Willibrord's first action was to visit Rome where he obtained approval for his mission and relics to set up churches from Pope Sergius I (687-701). His mission prospered and in 695, with Pepin's recommendation, he went to Rome again and was consecrated archbishop of the Frisians and set up his metropolitan see at Utrecht.
Monastery at Echternach
In 701 Willibrord established an important monastic centre at Echternach in what is now eastern Luxemburg. To this he invited some monks from Ireland and it later developed as an important library and scriptorium in the Frankish empire. After the death of Pepin in 714 the pagan Frisian prince Radbod drove Willibrord out of Utrecht, but on Radbod's death in 719, Willibrord was able to move not only into West Frisia, but also east and north into Germany and Denmark.
Missionary MethodsWillibrord's missionary methods show his conviction of the power of the Christian religion. In Denmark he bought thirty slave-boys whom he educated as Christians. In Heligoland he flouted the pagan custom of not drawing water without observing the strictest silence when he baptised three persons in a fountain and pronouncing the words aloud. He also killed some sacred cows for his companions to eat and incurred no retribution.
St Boniface joined Willibrord for three years before moving on further into Germany. Similar stories are told about Boniface and the cutting down the tree sacred to the god Thor and which people say is the origin of the Christmas tree.
The Calendar of St Willibrord
This is an 8th century manuscript now in the National Library in Paris, which seems to have been written as a personal liturgical calendar of Willibrord and used in his household. It provides an index to those saints who were widely honoured in early eighth-century Europe, but also little-known saints from places as far away as Constantinople and Syria. A facsimile of the manuscript itself with an introduction and commentary on the saints commemorated was published for the Henry Bradshaw Society by H.A. Wilson (d.1927), one of the England's outstanding liturgical scholars.
Death and InfluenceWillibrord died aged eighty-one at his monastery at Echternach. Very soon after his death he was venerated as a saint and pilgrims came to his grave. St Bede (672-735) wrote an edifying account of his penance, devotion and charity and St Boniface (672-754) mentions him in a letter, so that his reputation soon spread throughout northern Europe. Alcuin (735-804) wrote a biography some years after his death. Willibrord is seen as a Patron Saint of the Benelux countries.
An annual dancing procession takes place in Echternach on Whit Tuesday to honour this saint of truly European dimension. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, professor of medieval Irish history at NUIG, argues for a connection through Willibrord between Irish and Echternach manuscripts and also between the procession there and Irish dancing.
******************************
Memorable Saying for Today
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
~ C.T. Studd ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 7th November, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh 4:10-19
Táim in ann gach ní a dhéanamh le cabhair an Té úd a thugann neart dom.
Bhí ar
dáthas orm sa Tiarna gur tháinig athbhláth faoi dheireadh thiar ar an tsuim atá agaibh ionam i gcónaí ach gan aon chaoi agaibh í a thaispeáint. Ní ag casaoid faoin ngannchúis atáim mar tá foghlamtha agamsa bheith sásta lena bhfuil agam. Tá eolas agam ar an gcaolchuid agus ar an bhflúirse. Tá seantaithí agam ar gach sórt: ar an mórdhóthain agus ar an ocras, ar an bhflúirse agus ar an ngannchuid. Táim in ann gach ní a dhéanamh le cabhair an té úd a thugann neart dom. Mar sin féin ba mhaith an mhaise daoibhse teacht i gcabhair orm i mo chruachás.Tá a fhios agaibh féin, a mhuintir Fhilipí, nuair a d’fhág mé an Mhacadóin ag tosú ar an tsoiscéalaíocht, nach ndeachaigh aon eaglais i bpáirtíocht ná i gcomhar liom sa ghnó ach sibhse amháin. Agus le linn dom bheith i dTeasaloinicé, chuir sibh riar mo cháis chugam, agus ní aon uair amháin é ach faoi dhó. Ach ní hé bhur síntiús is mór agamsa ach an brabach iomadúil atá ag dul daoibh. Tá mo dhóthain agamsa anois agus breis. Tá flúirse agam ó fuair mé bhur síntiús ó Eapafraidíteas. Is geall le boladh cumhra an síntiús sin nó le híobairt thaitneamhach a shásódh Dia. Agus déanfaidh mo Dhia riar go fial ar gach riachtanas daoibhse as a fhlúirse féin i nglóir in Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 111
Freagra Is aoibhinn don fhear ar a mbíonn eagla an Tiarna
Malairt freagra Alleluia
1. Is aoibhinn don fhear ar a mbíonn eagla an Tiarna;
a thugann taitneamh dá aitheanta uile.
Beidh a shliocht siúd go tréan ar talamh;
is beannaithe clann an duine ionraic. Freagra
2. Bíonn an dea-dhuine carthanach fial lena chuid;
riarann sé a ghnó go ceart onórach.
Ní chorrófar an fíréan choíche;
mairfidh a chuimhne go brách na breithe. Freagra
3. Is dílis daingean a chroí gan eagla;
Dáileann sé a chuid go fial ar lucht an ghátair;
maireann a fhéile go brách agus choíche.
Tógfar a cheann, ardófar a chumhacht go glórmhar. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 16:9-15 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Mura raibh sibh iontaofa faoin airgead mímhacánta, cé a thaobhóidh libh an saibhreas fírinneach?
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Deirim féin libh, déanaigí cairde daoibh féin leis an airgead mímhacánta, ionas, nuair a chlisfidh sé, go nglacfaidh siad isteach sibh sna bothanna síoraí.
An té a bhíonn iontaofa faoin mbeagán, bíonn sé iontaofa faoin mórán freisin; agus an té a bhíonn mímhacánta faoin mbeagán, bíonn sé mímhacánta faoin mórán freisin. Dá bhrí sin, mura raibh sibh iontaofa faoin airgead mímhacánta, cé a thaobhóidh libh an saibhreas fírinneach? Agus mura raibh sibh iontaofa faoin rud a bhí ar iasacht agaibh, cé thabharfaidh daoibh an rud is libh de sheilbh dhílis?
Ní féidir do sclábha ar bith dhá mháistir a riaradh, óir beidh fuath aige do dhuine acu agus grá aige don duine eile, nó beidh sé ag déanamh dúthrachta do dhuine acu agus ag déanamh neamhshuim den duine eile. Ní féidir daoibh Dia a riaradh agus an t-airgead.”
Bhí na Fairisínigh, a thug grá don airgead, ag éisteacht leis an méid sin uile agus bhí siad ag dranngháire faoi. Agus dúirt sé leo:
“Is sibhse an dream a chuireann ríocht na bhfíréan oraibh féin i láthair daoine, ach is eol do Dhia bhur gcroíthe, óir an rud a bhíonn ardmheasúil dar le daoine, is ábhar déistine é i láthair Dé.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th November, 2026
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Wisdom 6:12-16
Wisdom is found by those who look for her.
Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim. By those who love her she is readily seen, and found by those who look for her.
Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.
Watch for her early and you will have no trouble; you will find her sitting at your gates.
Even to think about her is understanding fully grown; be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.
She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her and graciously shows herself to them as they go, in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62: 2-8
Response For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.
1. O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. Response
2. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise. Response
3. So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy. Response
4. On my bed I remember you. On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4:13-18
God will bring them with him those who have died in Jesus.
We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope.We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord's own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord's coming will not have any advantage over those who have died.
At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them; to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
__________________________________________
Shorter Form of the Second Reading
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4:13-14
God will bring them with him those who have died in Jesus.
We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope.
We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus:
God will bring them with him.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
_____________________________
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know
the hour when the Son of Man is coming.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 25:1-13 Glory to you, O Lord
The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.
Jesus told this parable to his disciples: 'The kingdom of heaven will be like this:
Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.
The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.
But at midnight there was a cry,"The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him."
At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out".
But they replied, "There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves".
They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said "open the door for us."
But he replied, "I tell you solemnly, I do not know you".
So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th November, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar hEagna 6:12-16
Gluaiseann Eagna faoina ndéin gach uair a smaoiníonn siad uirthi.
Is niamhrach domhúchta í an eagna;na daoine a bhfuil grá acu di, tugann siad faoi deara í gan dua; agus na daoine a bhíonn á lorg,
faigheann siad í go furasta.Ligeann sí a haithne roimh ré leis na daoine a bhfuil dúil acu inti.
An té a éiríonn go moch ar a tóir ní bheidh a shaothar in aisce aige,
mar gheobhaidh sé í ina suí ag a gheataí.
Is é barr na tuisceana é machnamh uirthi; agus an té a dhéanann faire ar a son is gairid go mbeidh sé saor ó imní.
Óir téann sí féin timpeall ag lorg a díol de dhaoine; agus le neart dea-mhéine taispeánann sí í féin dóibh ar na bóithre, agus gluaiseann sí faoina ndéin gach uair a smaoiníonn siad uirthi.
Briathar Dé. Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 62: 2-8
Freagra Ta íota tarta ar m'anam chugat, a Thiarna, a Dhia liom.
1. A Dhia, mo Dhia thú; iarraim thú go dícheallach. Ta íota tarta ar m'anam chugat,
santaíonn mo cholainn thú amhail talamh atá tirim is spalptha cheal uisce. Freagra
2. Is mar sin a bhím ag breathnú ort sa sanctóir chun go bhfeicfinn do chumhacht is do ghlóir.
Óir is fearr do bhuanghrá ná an bheatha. Fógróidh mo bheola do mholadh. Freagra
3. Mar sin a bheannóidh mé thú le mo bheo, i d'ainmse a thógfaidh mé mo lámha.
Líonfar m'anam mar le fleá, is molfaidh mo bhéal thú le beola lúcháireacha. Freagra
4. Cuimhním ort agus mé ar mo leaba; i bhfaireacháin na hoíche déanaim machnamh ort.
Óir tháinig tú i gcabhair orm, agus gairdím faoi scáth do sciathán. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na Teasalónaigh 4:13-18
Déanfaidh Dia and mhuintir a fuair bás i bpáirt le Críost a thabhairt leis chomh maith.
A bhráithre, níor mhaith liom, a bhráithre, go mbeadh sibh aineolach i dtaobh na marbh i dtreo nach mbeadh sibh dobrónach ar nós na ndaoine eile atá gan aon dóchas. Creidimid go bhfuair Íosa bás agus gur aiséirigh sé; ar an gcuma chéanna an mhuintir a fuair bás I bpáirt le Críost, tabharfaidh Dia iad siúd leis ón mbas chomh maith.
Agus tá an méid seo le rá againn libh ar fhocal an Tiarna féin: an méid a fhágfar beo dínn go dtí teacht an Tiarna, ní bheidh aon bhuntáiste againn orthu sin a bheidh tar éis bháis: mar nuair a thabharfar an fógra le glór an ardaingil agus le trumpa Dé, tiocfaidh an Tiarna féin anuas ó neamh agus ar dtús éireoidh na mairbh i gCríost. Ansin an méid a bheidh fágtha beo dínn, ardófar chun siúil sinn mar aon leo trí na néalta in airicis an Tiarna sa spéir, agus ar an gcuma sin beimid i dteannta an Tiarna go deo. Déanaigí a chéile a mhisniú, más ea, leis na briathra sin.
Briathar Dé. Buíochas le Dia
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Malairt DARA LÉACHT gearr
Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na Teasalónaigh 4:13-14
Déanfaidh Dia and mhuintir a fuair bás i bpáirt le Críost a thabhairt leis chomh maith.
A bhráithre, níor mhaith liom, a bhráithre, go mbeadh sibh aineolach i dtaobh na marbh i dtreo nach mbeadh sibh dobrónach ar nós na ndaoine eile atá gan aon dóchas.
Creidimid go bhfuair Íosa bás agus gur aiséirigh sé; ar an gcuma chéanna an mhuintir a fuair bás I bpáirt le Críost, tabharfaidh Dia iad siúd leis ón mbas chomh maith.
Briathar Dé. Buíochas le Dia
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Comhgháir/Alleluia Mth 24: 42. 44
Alleluia, alleluia!
Bígí ag faire, dá bhrí sin agus bígí ullamh,
óir is ar an uair nach síleann sibh a thiocfaidh Mac an Duine.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha, 25:1-13 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bígí ag faire, dá bhrí sin, mar níl a fhios agaibh an lá ná an uair.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail: “Is iad dála ríocht na bhflaitheas:
An uair sin mar a bhí ag deichniúr maighdean a chuaigh amach agus a lampaí acu in airicis an fhir nuaphósta.
Cúigear díobh seo, bhí siad gan tuiscint agus bhí an cúigear eile ciallmhar; mar, thug na mná gan tuiscint na lampaí leo agus gan aon ola acu, ach thug na mná ciallmhara ola ina bpróiciní leo chomh maith leis na lampaí.
Bhí an fear nuaphósta ag déanamh moille, agus tháinig sámhán orthu uile agus thit
siad ina gcodladh.Ach glaodh i lár na hoíche: ‘Chugaibh an fear nuaphósta! Amach libh ina airicis!’
D’éirigh na maighdeana sin uile ina suí agus dheasaigh siad a lampaí. Ach dúirt na mná gan tuiscint leis na mná ciallmhara:
‘Tugaigí dúinn braon de bhur n-olasa, mar tá ár lampaíne in éag.’
D’fhreagair lucht na céille iad: ‘Le heagla,’ ar siad, ‘nach mbeadh ár ndóthain ann dúinn féin agus daoibhse, b’fhearr daoibhse dul go dtí lucht a díolta á ceannach daoibh féin.’
Bhí siad ag dul á ceannach nuair a tháinig an fear nuaphósta, agus iad seo a bhí ullamh, chuaigh siad isteach in éineacht leis chun na bainise, agus dúnadh an doras. Sa deireadh, tháinig na maighdeana eile freisin: ‘
A thiarna, a thiarna,’ ar siad, ‘oscail dúinn!’
Ach d’fhreagair sé agus dúirt: ‘Deirim libh go fírinneach, níl aithne agam oraibh.’
Bígí ag faire, dá bhrí sin, mar níl a fhios agaibh an lá ná an uair.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
