Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Pictorial Thought not available for today.
Dec 22 - St Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)
Summary: St Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first United States citizen to be canonised was born in Northern Italy. She wanted to be a missionary in China, her local Bishop Scalabrini wanted her to work locally but Pope Leo XIII directed her to work among Italian workers in the United States. There, despite many adversities, her deep trust in God gave her the strength to set up many schools, orphanages and hospitals. Today, her sisters, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, have centres today on six continents.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Born in Italy
Born in 1850, the youngest of thirteen children of an Italian farmer Agostino and her mother Stella; they lived at Sant’Angelo Lodigiano in the province of Lombardy, northern Italy. Francesca (her baptismal name) had a strict upbringing. When she was twenty, both her parents died. She qualified as a primary school teacher and wanted to join religious life, but the two orders she applied to rejected her. She was less than five feet in height!
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
She began charitable work with a team of young women at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadogno, Italy, but this had to be closed down for lack of funds.In September 1877, she took religious vows and wanted to go as a missionary to China and added Xavier to her name. Seven of her companions at the orphanage joined her in the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. At the urging of Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini of Piacenza who had founded a missionary society of priests for Italian migrants, and at Pope Leo XIII urgings she went instead with six sisters to New York in 1889 to work with Italian immigrants living and working there.
Italian Immigrants in New YorkHere she met with many disappointments. Archbishop of New York Michael Corrigan was at first unsupportive and advised her to return home. However, she valiantly began teaching and caring for the sick and orphans. Bishop Scalabrini convinced Corrigan that her work deserved better support and at his request she undertook hospital work for the Italian sick poor in New York city.
In 1890 she set up the novitiate and head house of her congregation in the USA at West Park on the River Hudson. She later travelled to Chicago and Seattle and established other hospitals there. Her sisters staffed a parish school and an orphanage for a colony of Italian immigrants working under harsh conditions in the mines in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and later in the Santa Monica Mountains in California.
Going Global
Soon Mother Cabrini sought to extend her order's missions to Latin America, at first in Nicaragua and later in Argentina, where she opened a school, Colegio Santa Rosa, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. She crossed the Atlantic to Italy nine times to find new recruits. Always a prolific writer, during her second voyage, she began the custom of writing letters to her sisters in the form of a travel diary. These letters are preserved today and are valuable as biographical documentation.She set up houses in France and Spain, aware that Italian Sisters alone could not be effective where other languages were spoken. In 1907 she became a citizen of the USA so she could have legal protection of all the properties her Order had there. There, despite many adversities, her deep trust in God gave her the strength to set up many schools, orphanages and hospitals. Her sisters, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, have centres today on all six continents.
Death and Legacy
When Mother Cabrini died on 22nd December 1917, 67 missions of the Institute had been established, ministries of healing, teaching, caring, giving and reaching out, in cities of the United States, Italy, France, England, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Nicaragua. In 1946, she became the first American citizen to be canonised. Pope Pius XII also declared her 'Patroness of Immigrants.'
The final resting place of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
is located at 701 Fort Washington Avenue, New York.
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Her order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, is flourishing on six continents. Their work is in education, pastoral ministry, religious instruction and outreach to those in need spiritually and materially. For more, see www.mothercabrini.com
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Memorable Sayings for Today
You can't break a woman who gets her strength from God.
AMEN to that.
~ Author unknown ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 22nd December, 2025
Octave day 6 before Christmas -22 Dec 2025- O Rex Gentium( King of the people)
The Almighty has done great things for me.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of Samuel 1:24-28
Hanna gives thanks for Samuel's birth'.
When Hanna had weaned Samuel, she took him up with her together with a three-year old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child's mother came to Eli. She said,'If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.'
There she left him, for the Lord.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm 1 Sam 2: 1, 4-6, 6-7 , 8
Response My heart exults in the Lord my saviour.
1. My heart exults in the Lord, I find my strength in my God;
my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help. Response
2. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength.
Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more.
The childless wife has children now but the fruitful wife bears no more. Response
3. It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back;
it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high. Response
4. He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dung heap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes, to give him a glorious throne.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, on them he has set the world. Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Root of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save us and delay no more.
Alleluia!
or
Alleluia, alleluia!
King of the peoples and corner-stone of the Church,
come and save man whom you made from the dust of the earth.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:46-56 Glory to you, O Lord.
The Almighty has done great things for me.
Mary said:
'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
-according to the promise he made to our ancestors-
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.'
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection 22nd Dec. Luke 1:46-56
Today’s gospel reading is the prayer that we have come to know as the Magnificat. It is prayed every evening by those who pray the Evening Prayer of the Church. In the opening part of this prayer, Mary praises God for what God has done for her, ‘he has looked upon his lowly handmaid’. Mary sees herself as the humble servant of the Lord. She is aware that, by the standards of the age, she had no status or standing. Yet, she is also aware that God chose her for a very special role; she was to be the mother of God’s Son. In the remainder of her prayer, Mary recognizes that God’s choice of her, someone whom the world would consider lowly and of no consequence, is in keeping with how God has related to his people in the past.
It is the lowly that God has exalted; it is the hungry that he has filled with good things. In contrast, the proud of heart, the princes of this world, have been routed and cast down. Mary’s prayer recognizes that it is only those who are aware of their need of God, those who know their poverty before God, who will experience God’s saving presence, God’s helping hand. At this time of the year, we are invited to come before the Lord in our poverty, in our neediness, like Mary, like the shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth. If we do so, we too will know the joy of his saving help and come to discover the great things that the Lord can do for us.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Fr. Martin Hogan of the Dublin Archdiocese and published by Messenger Publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 22nd December, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an céad leabhar Samuél 1:24-28
Uime sin thug mé suas don Tiarna é lena shaol.
Nuair a bhi Hanná tar éis Samuél a bhaint den chíoc, thug sí léi é, maille le tarbh trí bliana, agus éafá plúir, agus soitheach fíona; thug sí go teach an Tiarna i Sileo é, agus é fós ina leanbh óg. Ansin mharaíodar an tarbh, agus thugadar an leanbh do Éilí.Dúirt Hanná
“A mháistir, dar do bheo, mise an bhean a sheas anseo láimh leat ag guí chun an Tiarna.
Seo é an leanbh á bhí a iarraidh agam, agus dheonaigh an Tiarna dom an rud a d’iarr mé air.
Uime sin thug mé suas don Tiarna é lena shaol. Tá sé tugtha suas don Tiarna.”
D’fhag sí ansiúd ag an Tiarna é.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra 1 Sam : 1. 4-6, 6-7 , 8.
Freagra Déanann mo chroí lúcháir sa Tiarna, mo Shlánaitheoir.
1. Déanann mo chroí lúcháir sa Tiarna; méadaítear mo neart sa Tiarna;
déanann mo bhéal fonóid faoi mo naimhde toisc go ndéanaim gairdeas i do shlánú. Freagra
2.Tá boghanna na dtréan briste, ach tá na laga crioslaithe le neart.
iad siúd a bhí lán, caithfidh siad arán a shaothrú, ach lucht an ocrais, ní bheidh ocras orthu feasta.
Rug an bhean aimrid mórsheisear clainne, ach tá an bhean thorrach go dealbh dearóil. Freagra
3. Is é an Tiarna a thugann bás agus beatha; seolann se daoine síos go Seól, seolann iad aníos.
Is é an Tiarna a thugann saibhreas agus daibhreas. Íslíonn sé daoine is ardaíonn sé iad. Freagra
4. Ardaíonn sé daoine ísle as an luaithreach, tógann sé na dearóla ón gcarn aoiligh
chun iad a chur ina suí i measc prionsaí, agus chun suíochán onórach a thabhairt dóibh. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 1:46-56 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Óir rinne an Té atá cumhachtach nithe móra dom.
Agus dúirt Muire:
“Mórann m’anam an Tiarna, agus rinne mo spiorad gairdeas i nDia mo Shlánaitheoir.
Óir dhearc sé le fábhar ar ísle a bhanóglaigh; mar féach, déarfaidh na glúine uile feasta gur méanar dom.Óir rinne an Té atá cumhachtach nithe móra dom
agus is naofa a ainm, agus tá a thrócaire ó ghlúin go glúin dóibh seo ar a mbíonn a eagla.
Thaispeáin sé neart a láimhe:
scaip sé an dream a bhí uaibhreach i smaointe a gcroí.
Leag sé prionsaí óna gcathaoireacha, agus d’ardaigh sé daoine ísle;
Líon sé lucht an ocrais le nithe maithe,agus chuir sé na saibhre uaidh folamh.
D’fhóir sé ar Iosrael a sheirbhíseach, ag cuimhneamh dó ar a thrócaire – de réir mar gheall sé dár n-aithreacha – d’Abrahám agus dá shliocht go brách.”
D’fhan Muire aici timpeall trí mhí, agus d’fhill abhaile.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 28th December, 2025
The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Feast, Year A
Sunday within the Octave of Christma
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus (Sirac) 3:2-6. 12-14
He who fears the Lord, respects his parents
The Lord honours the father in his children,
and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.
Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins,
he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune.
Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own,
he shall be heard on the day when he prays.
Long life comes to him who honours his father,
he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord.
My son, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.
Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;
for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm 127:1-5 R/v 1
Response O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat You will be happy and prosper. Response
Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive around your table. Response
Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord
May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12-21
Family life in the Lord
You are God's chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion,
in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins.
The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them,
put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together
as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness.
Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord.
Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Col 3:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts,
let the message of Christ find a home in you.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL Year A
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 2:13-15. 19-23 Glory to you, O Lord
Take the child and his mother and escape into Egypt
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
'Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you,
because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him'.
So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt, where they stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.'
After Herod's death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead'.
So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth.
In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: 'He will be called a Nazarene.'
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/
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Alternative Gospels
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 2:22-40 Glory to you, O Lord
The child grew, filled with wisdom.
When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord — observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord — and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked
forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected — and a sword will pierce your own soul too — so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.
She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 28th December, 2025
FÉILE AN TEAGHGLAIGH NAOFA Blian A
(Blian A: 2025)
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Sírach - 3:2-6, 12-14
An té ar bhfuil eagla an Tiarna, tugann sé onóir dá thuismitheoirí
Tugann an Tiarna onóir don athair trí bhíthin a chlainne,
agus déanann sé údarás na máthar ar a cuid clainne a dhaingniú.
An té a mbíonn urraim aige dá athair, déanann sé leorghníomh ina pheacaí.
An té a thugann onóir dá mháthair, is cosúil é le duine atá ag cnuasach stóir dó féin.
An té a mbíonn urraim aige dá athair, beidh a chlann féin ina n-ábhar áthais dó,
agus nuair a dhéanfaidh sé guí, éistfear leis.
An té a thugann onóir dá athair, beidh fad saoil aige,
agus an té a dhéanann rud ar an Tiarna, tabharfaidh sé sólás dá mháthair.
A mhic, glac cúram d’athar ort féin i ndeireadh a shaoil agus ná cuir brón air fad is beo dó.
Fiú amháin má thagann meath ar a mheabhair, bí foighneach leis;
ná bíodh drochmheas agat air, toisc, tú féin a bheith i mbarr do mhaítheasa.
Óir an charthanacht a dhéanann tú ar d’athair, ní dhéanfar dearmad uirthi choíche,
agus cuirfear síos duit é in aghaidh do pheacaí.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Diatiarna
Salm le Freagra Sm 127 L: 1-5 R/v 1
Freagra Is aoibhinnaidh tú toradh do shaothair féin.
do chách lerb eagal an Tiarna agus a shiúlann ins shlite
1. Is aoibhinn do chách lerb eagal an Tiarna agus a shiúlann ins shlite.
Íosfaidh tú toradh do shaothair féin. Beidh úgo sona séanmhar. Freagra
2. Beidh do bhean amhail finiúin thorthach i gcearlár di thí
beidh do clann mar bhuinneáin olóige agus iad mórthimpeall do bhoird. Freagra
3. Is amhlaidh a bheannófar an fear ar a mbíonn eagla an Tiarna.
Go mbeannaí an tiarna thú as Sión amach gach láde do shaol. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Colosaigh: 3:12-21
Saol an teaghlaigh i nDia
A bhraithre, ós sibhse an pobal tofa, pobal naofa muirneach Dé, cuirigí umaibh trua
croí, cineáltas, uirísle, ceansacht agus foighne. Cuirigí suas le chéile agus cibé locht a
bhíonn ag duine agaibh ar dhuine eile maithigí dá chéile é; faoi mar a mhaith an Tiarna
daoibh, déanaigí-se mar an gcéanna. Agus mar bharr ar gach ní acu sin cuirigí umaibh an grá mar is é a chuirfidh bail agus críoch ar an iomlán. Agus bíodh síocháin Chríost i réim in bhur gcroí mar is chun síocháin a bheith agaibh a glaodh sibh le chéile in aon chorp amháin.
Agus bígí buíoch. Bíodh briathar Chríost ina chónaí faoi rath in bhur measc. Déanaigí a chéile a chomhairliú agus a theagasc le barr eagna. Canaigí sailm agus iomainn agus laoithe spioradálta in ómós do Dhia agus buíochas in bhur gcroí. Agus gach ní dá ndéanann sibh le briathar nó le gníomh, déanaigí an t-iomlán in ainm an Tiarna
Íosa ag gabháil buíochais le Dia an tAthair tríd. Saol an Teaghlaigh
A mhná, bígí faoi smacht bhur bhfear céile mar is dual sa Tiarna.
A fheara, bíodh grá agaibh do bhur mná agus gan bheith garg leo.
A leanaí, bígí umhal do bhur dtuismitheoirí i ngach ní mar is taitneamhach sin leis an Tiarna.
A aithreacha, ná déanaigí bhur leanaí a chrá le heagla go gcuirfí drochmhisneach orthu.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Diatiarna
Alleluia Véarsa Col 3 :15-16
Alleluia, alleluia
Bíodh síocháin Chríost i réim in bhur gcroí;
bíodh briathar Chríost ina chónaí faoi rath in bhur measc.
Alleluia
SOISCÉAL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 2:22-40 Glory to you, O Lord.
Feach, is dán dó seo bheith ina thrúig leagtha agus éirithe dá lán in Iosrael.
Nuair a bhí ocht lá caite agus é le timpeallghearradh, tugadh Íosa mar ainm air, mar a thug an t-aingeal air sular gabhadh sa bhroinn é. Agus nuair a bhí na laethanta caite agus iad le híonghlanadh de réir dhlí Mhaois, thug siad go Iarúsailéim é le toirbhirt don Tiarna – mar atá scríofa i ndlí an Tiarna: “Gach fíreannach atá ina chéadghin, is rud coisricthe don Tiarna é” – agus chun go n-ofrálfaidís mar íobairt, de réir a bhfuil ráite i ndlí an Tiarna, “péire colm nó dhá ghearrcach colúir.”
Bhí fear in Iarúsailéim
darbh ainm Simeon, agus bhí an fear seo fíréanta diaga, ag súil le sólás Iosrael, agus bhí an Spiorad Naomh ina luí air. Agus bhí foilsiú faighte ón Spiorad Naomh aige nach bhfeicfeadh sé an bás nó go bhfeicfeadh Meisias an Tiarna. Tháinig sé, faoi luí an Spioraid, isteach sa Teampall; agus le linn dá thuismitheoirí bheith ag tabhairt an linbh Íosa isteach chun go ndéanfaidís ar a shon de réir nós an dlí, ghlac seisean chuige ina ucht é, agus mhol Dia agus dúirt:“Anois atá tú ag scaoileadh do sheirbhísigh uait, a
Thiarna, de réir d’fhocail, faoi shíocháin,
mar tá mo shúile tar éis do shlánú a fheiceáil
atá ullamh agat faoi chomhair na bpobal uile:
solas chun na náisiúin a shoilsiú agus glóir do phobail Iosrael.”
Agus bhí a athair agus a mhathair ag déanamh ionadh de na nithe a dúradh mar gheall air. Agus bheannaigh Simeon iad agus dúirt le Muire a mháthair:
“Feach, is dán dó seo bheith ina thrúig leagtha agus éirithe dá lán in Iosrael agus ina chomhartha a shéanfar – agus gabhfaidh claíomh trí d’anam féin – chun go bhfoilseofaí smaointe as mórán croíthe.”
Agus bhí banfháidh ann freisin, Anna iníon Fanuéil, de threibh Áiséar, í anonn I mblianta móra: mhair sí seacht mbliana ag a fear céile tar éis a hóghachta. Fágadh ina baintreach í, agus bhí ceithre bliana ochtód an uair seo aici; agus ní fhágadh sí an Teampall, ag seirbhís do Dhia de lá agus d’oíche le troscadh agus le hurnaithe. Tháinig sí i láthair an uair sin féin, agus thug moladh agus buíochas do Dhia; agus labhair sí mar gheall air le cách a bhí ag súil le Iarúsailéim a fhuascailt.
Nuair a bhí gach ní curtha i gcrích acu de réir dhlí an Tiarna, d’fhill siad ar an nGailíl, go dtí a gcathair féin Nazarat. Agus d’fhás an leanbh agus neartaigh, é lán d’eagna; agus bhí grásta Dé ina luí air.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia
Greamaithe le chéile sa carrthanacht
Na rudaí is mó a cheanglaíonn teaghlaigh le chéile is iad grá agus maithiúnas. Béidh an bhua ag an ghrá sa deireadh, fiú amháin más mór é uaireanta a theaspáint i bhfoirm "grá dian" agus caint oscailte, macánta. Nuair is gá ordú a chur i bhfeidhm, mura ndéantar é i slí grámhar, ba féidir go ndiúltófar é mar mhí-úsáid. Má tá mí-áth ar ár dteaghlaigh ar bhealach ar bith, is cosúil gur c#uis le sin ná easpa grá ar chuid an duine. Nuair a oibríonn saol an teaghlaigh go maith, is íontach an bhúa é. Ach bagairt mhór do theaghlaigh an lá atá inniu ann nach gcaithimid go leor ama ag labhairt le chéile. B'fhéidir go bhfuil muid ró-ghnóthach ag obair, ar an ghuthán, ag cearrbhachas ar ár IPads agus ár smartphones, nó ag breathnú ar Netflix agus teilifís. Ar féasta an Teaghlaigh Naofa, d'fhéadfaimis ár dtosaíochtaí a athnuachaint agus beagán níos mó ama a chaitheamh i gcaidreamh leo siúd is gaire dúinn.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
