Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Sept 2 - Bl Frederick Ozanam (1813-53) founder
Summary: Bl Frederick Ozanam died on 8th September 1853, but as that is also the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we have brought him forward to 2nd. An accomplished linguist and Dante scholar, Frederick also found time to care for the poor. The society he started has today over a million members in 32 countries.
Early Life
Frederick-Antoine Ozanam was one of fourteen children in his family to survive infancy. His father was an officer in Napoleon's army. He was born in Milan, but the family moved back to Lyon in France.
Patrick Duffy continues his story.
Frederick Forms a Lay Institute
He studied at the Collège Royal in Lyon and was interested in both law and literature. He became involved with a group of liberal Catholic intellectuals - Emmanuel Bailly, historians Montalambert and Chateaubriand, the Romantic poet Lamartine and the Dominican preacher Pere Lacordaire. This group along with a Daughter of Charity named Rosalie Rendu began the lay institute dedicated to caring for the physical and spiritual well-being of the poor.
Frederick was 20 years old when he began the Society with a number of friends in Paris on April 23, 1833.
He made this defining statement a year later. It still encompasses the spiritual ethos of the Society and its focus on working for social justice.
"The question which is agitating the world today is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much. It is a violent clash of opulence and poverty which is shaking the ground under our feet. Our duty as Christians is to throw ourselves between these two camps in order to accomplish by love what justice alone cannot do".
Frederick, the Founder of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul made these words, spoken in 1834, and still remain accurate in today’s world. He took his doctorate in law in 1836 and although his father died around this time, he went on to gain a doctorate in literature with a thesis on Dante's philosophy.
A Dante scholar and Accomplished linguist
In 1845 Frederick moved from Lyon to Paris and married Amalie, who soon gave birth to a daughter. He combined an academic career with lecturing to the Cercle catholique and visiting the poor.
An accomplished linguist, he was promoted to professor in 1846 and began a project on the literary history of the Middle Ages from the 5th century to Dante. But he contracted tuberculosis and his health began to fail.
Christian Socialism
With Pere Lacordaire he started a journal expounding Christian socialist principles. He went to Italy in 1853 partly for health reasons but also to collect a prestigious award for his work on Dante.
Declining Health
On the return journey Frederick collapsed and died at Marseilles on 8th September 1853.
Beatification
Pope John Paul II beatified him in August 1997, expressing the hope that more married people would be canonised.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul now has over a million members in 32 countries.
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. ... ~ Maya Angelou ~
“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting. ... ~ Brian Tracey ~
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself
in the service of others... ~ Mahatma Ghandi ~
“Giving does not only precede receiving; it is the reason for it. ...
~ Israelmore Ayivor ~
“No one has ever become poor from giving.
~ Anne Frank ~
Early Life
Frederick-Antoine Ozanam was one of fourteen children in his family to survive infancy. His father was an officer in Napoleon's army. He was born in Milan, but the family moved back to Lyon in France.Patrick Duffy continues his story.
Frederick Forms a Lay Institute
He studied at the Collège Royal in Lyon and was interested in both law and literature. He became involved with a group of liberal Catholic intellectuals - Emmanuel Bailly, historians Montalambert and Chateaubriand, the Romantic poet Lamartine and the Dominican preacher Pere Lacordaire. This group along with a Daughter of Charity named Rosalie Rendu began the lay institute dedicated to caring for the physical and spiritual well-being of the poor.
Frederick was 20 years old when he began the Society with a number of friends in Paris on April 23, 1833.
He made this defining statement a year later. It still encompasses the spiritual ethos of the Society and its focus on working for social justice.
"The question which is agitating the world today is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much. It is a violent clash of opulence and poverty which is shaking the ground under our feet. Our duty as Christians is to throw ourselves between these two camps in order to accomplish by love what justice alone cannot do".
Frederick, the Founder of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul made these words, spoken in 1834, and still remain accurate in today’s world. He took his doctorate in law in 1836 and although his father died around this time, he went on to gain a doctorate in literature with a thesis on Dante's philosophy.
A Dante scholar and Accomplished linguist
In 1845 Frederick moved from Lyon to Paris and married Amalie, who soon gave birth to a daughter. He combined an academic career with lecturing to the Cercle catholique and visiting the poor.
An accomplished linguist, he was promoted to professor in 1846 and began a project on the literary history of the Middle Ages from the 5th century to Dante. But he contracted tuberculosis and his health began to fail.Christian Socialism
With Pere Lacordaire he started a journal expounding Christian socialist principles. He went to Italy in 1853 partly for health reasons but also to collect a prestigious award for his work on Dante.
Declining Health
On the return journey Frederick collapsed and died at Marseilles on 8th September 1853.
Beatification
Pope John Paul II beatified him in August 1997, expressing the hope that more married people would be canonised.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul now has over a million members in 32 countries.
____________________________
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Memorable Sayings for Today
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. ... ~ Maya Angelou ~
“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting. ... ~ Brian Tracey ~
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself
in the service of others... ~ Mahatma Ghandi ~
“Giving does not only precede receiving; it is the reason for it. ...
~ Israelmore Ayivor ~
“No one has ever become poor from giving.
~ Anne Frank ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025
Tuesday of Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1
We are children of the day supporting each other in faith as we await the coming of the Lord.
FIRST READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 5:1-6. 9-11
Christ died for us, so that we should live united to him.
Y
ou will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about 'times and seasons', since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.
God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him. So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 26
Response I am sure I shall see the Lord's goodness
in the land of the living.
1. The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink? Response
2. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple. Response
3. I am sure I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord! Response
Gospel Acclamation Heb 4: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 7: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 4:31-37 Glory to you, O Lord.
I know who you are, the Holy one of God.
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath.
And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice,' Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.'
But Jesus said sharply, 'Be quiet! Come out of him!'
And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another,
'What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits, with authority and power and they come out.'
And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Tuesday, Twenty Second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 4:31-37
It is clear from today’s first reading that some members of the church in Thessalonica were asking Paul about a precise date for the return of the Lord, the Day of the Lord. In reply, Paul simply says that it will come ‘like a thief in the night’; there is no point speculating about what he calls ‘times and seasons’. He also reminds them that there is a sense in which the Day of the Lord has already come with the death and resurrection of Jesus. We already live in the light of the Day of the Lord, the light of Easter. That is why Paul goes on to say to them in that reading, ‘you are all sons and daughters of light and sons and daughters of the day’.
What is important is not idle speculation about the timing of the Day of the Lord but to live in the here and now as people who already belong to that Day. As people of the Day, we are to ‘stay wide awake’, alert to the presence of the risen Lord, responsive to his daily call, so that, as Paul says in that reading, ‘alive or dead, we should still live united with him’. The Lord wants to live in us and through us in the present moment, so that he can continue to be a healing presence in the world through us, as he was a healing presence for the man in the synagogue in today’s gospel reading. The response to the Psalm today is, ‘I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living’. As people of the Day, we are called to be the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living, in our own place and time.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made 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/
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Teasalónaigh 5:1-6. 9-11
Fuair an Críost bás ar ár son chun go mbeimis beo ina theannta.
Maidir le hamanna agus uaineacha, a bhráithre, ní gá scríobh chugaibh ina dtaobh. Tá a fhios agaibh féin go beacht gur mar a bheadh bithiúnach san oíche a thiocfaidh an Lá úd an Tiarna. Nuair a bheidh daoine á rá:“Táthar slán sábháilte,” ansin gan choinne is ea a thiocfaidh an tubaiste, mar a thagann an tinneas ar bhean atá trom, agus ní bheidh aon éalú acu uaithi. Ní sa dorchacht atá sibhse, áfach, a bhráithre, go dtiocfadh an lá úd aniar aduaidh oraibh mar a bheadh bithiúnach. Is clann an tsolais sibhse go huile, clann an lae. Ní leis an oíche ná leis an dorchacht sinn. Ná bímis inár gcodladh, dá bhrí sin, ar nós daoine eile, ach bímis inár ndúiseacht agus ar ár gciall.
Ní hí an fhearg atá ceaptha dúinn ag Dia ach go mbainfimis ár slánú amach trínár dTiarna Íosa Críost, a fuair bás ar ár son chun go mbeimis beo ina theannta, cibé acu beo nó marbh dúinn.
Dá bhrí sin, leanaigí ag spreagadh a chéile agus ag treisiú le chéile faoi mar atá sibh a dhéanamh cheana.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 26
Freagra Creidim go bhfeicfidh mé maitheas an Tiarna i dtír na mbeo.
1. Is é an Tiarna mo sholas is mo shlánú, cé a chuirfidh eagla orm?
Is é an Tiarna daingean m’anama; cé a chuirfidh ar crith mé? Freagra
2. Iarraim aon ní amháin ar an Tiarna; bím ag tnúth leis de shíor:
go gcónóidh mé in áras an Tiarna gach lá de mo shaol;
go bhfaighidh mé taitneamh in aoibhneas an Tiarna ’s go bhfeicfidh mé a theampall. Freagra
3. Creidim go bhfeicfidh mé maitheas an Tiarna i dtír na mbeo.
Fan leis an Tiarna go meanmnach; bíodh misneach i do chroí. Cuir do dhóchas sa Tiarna. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 4:31-37 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is eol dom cé hé tú: Naomh Dé.
San am sin chuaigh Íosa síos go Cafarnáum, cathair sa Ghailíl. Agus bhí sé á dteagasc lá sabóide. Agus ghabh iontas iad faoina theagasc, óir bhí údarás lena bhriathar. Bhí sa tsionagóg duine a raibh spiorad deamhain mhíghlain ann, agus scread sé amach de ghlór ard: “Há, cad ab áil leat dínn, a Íosa Nazairéanaigh? Ar tháinig tú chun sinn a mhilleadh? Is eol dom cé hé tú: Naomh Dé.”
Agus dúirt Íosa leis go bagrach: “Bí i do thost, agus imigh amach as.”
Agus theilg an deamhan ar lár os comhair chách é agus d’imigh amach as, gan dochar a dhéanamh dó.
Agus bhí alltacht ar chách agus bhí siad ag caint eatarthu féin a rá: “Cad é mar bhriathar é seo? Óir fógraíonn sé ar na spioraid mhíghlana le húdarás agus le cumhacht, agus gabhann siad amach.”
Agus leath a chlú i ngach áit ar fud na tíre.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 7th September, 2025
Twenty -Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
True wisdom means not being oppressed by our human nature but meeting the demands of our discipleship of Christ
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 9:13-18
Who can divine the will of God?
'What man indeed can know the intentions of God? Who can divine the will of the Lord?
The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable;
for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind.
It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, laborious to know what lies within our reach; who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?
As for your intention, who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from above?
Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened and men been taught what pleases you, and saved, by Wisdom.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 89: 3-6,12-14, 17, R/v 1
Response O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
1. You turn men back into dust and say: 'Go back, sons of men.'
To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night. Response
2. You sweep men away like a dream, like grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades. Response
3. Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. Response
4. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to Philomon 1:9-10. 12-17
Have him back, not as a slave anymore but as a dear brother.
This is Paul writing, an old man now and, what is more, still a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus. He was of no use to you before,
but he will be useful to you now, as he has been to me. I am sending him back to you, and with him - I could say - a part of my own self. I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while I am in the chains that the Good News has brought me. However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous. I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord.
So if all that we have in common means anything to you, welcome him as you would me.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
or Ps 118: 135
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 14:25-33 Glory to you, O Lord
None of you can be my disciple unless you give up all your possessions.
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them.'If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple.
Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 'And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, "' Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish".
Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand?
If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace.
So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions."
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, 7th September, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar hEagna 9:13-18
Cén duine ar féidir leis a dhéanamh amach céard is toil leis an Tiarna?
Cén duine ar féidir leis fios a fháil ar rún Dé nó a dhéanamh amach céard is toil leis an Tiarna?
Mar, tá réasúnaíocht an duine gan mhaith agus is guagach í ár n-intinn.
Óir tá an corp somhillte ina ualach ar an anamagus tá an bhoth thalmhaí ina meáchan ar an aigne shuaite.
Is ar éigean is féidir linn a bhfuil ar an talamh a thomhas
agus ní gan dua a fhaighimid a bhfuil in aice láimhe.
Cé hé ar féidir leis, mar sin, a bhfuil ar neamh a rianú?
Cé a fuair fios ar do rún riamh murar thug tusa an eagna dó
agus murar chuir tú do spiorad naofa chuige ó na flaithis?
Sa tslí sin díríodh bóithre mhuintir an tsaoil seo
agus múineadh do dhaoine céard ab áil leatsa, agus sábháladh iad tríd an eagna.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 89: 3-6,12-14, 17, R/v 1
Freagra A Thiarna, is tú ba thearmann dúinn, ár ndídean ó ghlúin go glúin.
1. Déanann tú deannach arís den duine, Á rá: Ar ais libh, a chlann Ádhaimh.'
Óir níl míle bliain i d'fhianaise ach mar an lá a d'imigh tharainn inné;
níl iontu ach faire na hoíche. Freagra
2.Tugann tú daoine chun siúil mar bhrionglóid nó mar fhéar úrghlas
a eascraíonn is a bhláthaíonn ar maidin is a bhíonn feoite seargtha faoi thráthnóna. Freagra
3.Múin dúinn ár laethanta a áireamh chun go mbainfimis amach críonnacht chroí
Fill, a Thiarna!-cá fhad? agus bí trócaireach le do sheirbhísigh. Freagra
4. Tabhair dúinn go luath ár sáith de do bhuanghá. is déanfaimid gairdeas is lúcháir de shíor.
Bíodh caoinchineáltas an Tiarna anuas orainn. Bí fabhrach d'obair ár lámh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig Filómen 9-10. 12-17
Glac leis, nac marsclábhaí a thuilleadh, ach rud níos fearr ná sclábhai - mar bhráthair ionúin.
A bhráithre, mise Pól, atá i mo thoscaire agus i mo ghéibheannach freisin faoi láthair thar ceann Íosa Críost, tá achainí le hiarraidh agam ort ar son Onaesamas, ar son an mhic úd agam a ghineas i ngéibheann.
Is é cnú mo chroí é ach táim á chur ar ais chugat, cé go mb’fhearr liom é a choimeád agam chun freastal orm thar do cheannsa, fad atáim i ngéibheann ar son an dea-scéil. Ach níor mhaith liom aon ní a dhéanamh gan do cheadsa, le heagla gur faoi éigean a dhéanfá an mhaith agus nach de do dheoin féin é. B’fhéidir gurb é fáth a raibh sé scartha leat ar feadh tamaill, i dtreo go bhfaighfeá seilbh shíoraí air, ach ní chun go mbeadh sé ina dhaor agat feasta é ach, rud is fearr ná sin, chun go mbeadh sé ina bhráthair ionúin. Mar dá ansa liomsa é nach mó is ansa leatsa é, mar dhuine agus mar Chríostaí. Dá bhrí sin, a dhuine na páirte, fáiltigh roimhe mar a d’fháilteofá romham féin.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 15: 15
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thug mé cairde oraibh, a deir an Tiarna, óir gach a gcuala ó m’Athair, chuir mé in iúl daoibh é.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 14:25-33
Gach duine agaibhse nach dtréigeann a mhaoin uile ní féidir dó bheith ina dheisceabal agam.
San am sin bhí sluaite móra á thionlacan, agus d’iompaigh sé agus dúirt leo:“Má thagann aon duine chugam agus gan fuath a bheith aige dá athair agus dá mháthair agus dá bhean agus dá chlann agus dá dheartháireacha agus dá dheirfiúracha, agus fiú amháin dá anam féin, ní féidir dó bheith ina dheisceabal agam.
Cibé nach ndéanann a chros a iompar agus teacht i mo dhiaidh, ní féidir dó bheith ina dheisceabal agam. Óir cé agaibh arb áil leis túr a thógáil, nach suífidh síos ar dtús agus an costas a mheas, féachaint an acmhainn dó é a chríochnú?Le heagla, tar éis dó bonn a leagan agus gan air a chumas é a thabhairt chun críche, go dtosódh an lucht féachana ag fonóid faoi á rá: ‘Thosaigh an duine seo ag tógáil agus níor chumas dó é thabhairt chun críche!’
Nó cén rí, agus é ag dul i ngleic cogaidh le rí eile, nach suífidh síos ar dtús ag déanamh comhairle, féachaint an bhféadfaidh sé dul, líon deich míle, faoina dhéin siúd atá ag déanamh air agus fiche míle aige? Agus mura bhféadann, le linn dó siúd bheith i bhfad uaidh, cuireann sé teachtaí chuige ag iarraidh coinníollacha síochána.
A dhála sin díreach, gach duine agaibhse nach dtréigeann a mhaoin uile ní féidir dó bheith ina dheisceabal agam.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
