Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 16 - St Brendan, Abbot AD 486-578
Summary: St Brendan, abbot. a Kerryman who was born in 484-486. He studied at Clonard under Finnian. His name is connected with many places in Kerry such as Ardfert and Mount Brandon. He visited Scotland and reached the Hebrides and possibly areas beyond. He founded a monastery in Clonfert in 568 and died there in 578.)
St Brendan of Kerry
There is very little secure information concerning Brendan's life, although at least the approximate dates of his birth and death, and accounts of some events in his life, are found in the Irish annals and genealogies.
Paddy Duffy draws the different strands together
St Brendan, abbot. a Kerryman The first mention of Brendan occurs in Adamnan's Vita Sancti Columbae, written between 679 and 704. Often referred to as The Navigator, he first he first came to notice as a seafarer in the ninth century Martyrology of Tallaght.
The principal works devoted to the saint and his legend are a 'Life of Brendan' in several Latin and Irish versions (Vita Brendani / Betha Brenainn) and the better known 'Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot' (Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis). Unfortunately, the Lives and the Voyage provide little reliable information about his life and travels; they do, however, attest to the development of his following in the centuries after his death. An additional problem is that the precise relationship between the Vita and the Navigatio traditions is uncertain.
Any attempt to reconstruct the details of the life of the real Brendan or to understand the nature of the Brendan legend has to be based principally on the Irish annals and genealogies and on the various versions of the Vita Brendani.
In 484 AD Brendan was born in Tralee, in County Kerry, in the province of Munster, in the south-west of Ireland. He was born among the Altraige, a tribe originally centred around Tralee Bay, to parents called Finnlug and Cara. Tradition has it that he was born in the Kilfenora/Fenit area on the North side of the bay.
He was baptised at Tubrid, near Ardfert by Saint Erc, and was originally to be called "Mobhí" but signs and portents attending his birth and baptism led to him being christened 'Broen-finn' or 'fair-drop'. For five years he was educated under Saint Ita, "the Brigid of Munster". When he was six he was sent to Saint Jarlath's monastery school at Tuam to further his education. Brendan is one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland", one of those said to have been tutored by the great teacher, Finnian of Clonard.
At the age of twenty-six, Brendan was ordained a priest by Saint Erc. Afterwards, he founded a number of monasteries. Brendan’s first voyage took him to the Arran Islands, where he founded a monastery. He also visited Hinba (Argyll), an island off Scotland where he is said to have met Columcille (Columba). On the same voyage he traveled to Wales, and finally to Brittany, on the northern coast of France. Between the years 512 and 530 Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and, at the foot of Mount Brandon, Shanakeel— Seana Cill, usually translated as "the old church". From here he is supposed to have set out on his famous seven-year voyage for Paradise. The old Irish Calendars assigned a special feast for the "Egressio familiae S. Brendani".
Legendary journeys
St. Brendan is chiefly renowned for his legendary journey to the Isle of the Blessed as described in the ninth century Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator. Many versions exist that tell of how he set out onto the Atlantic Ocean with sixteen pilgrims (other versions have fourteen, plus three unbelievers who join at the last minute) searching for the Garden of Eden. One of these companions is said to have been Saint Malo, the namesake of Saint-Malo. If it happened, this would have occurred sometime between AD 512–530, before his travel to the island of Great Britain. On his trip, Brendan is supposed to have seen Saint Brendan's Island, a blessed island covered with vegetation. He also encountered a sea monster, an adventure he shared with his contemporary Saint Columba. The most commonly illustrated adventure is his landing on an island which turns out to be a giant sea monster called Jasconius or Jascon. This too, has its parallels in other stories, not only in Irish mythology but in other traditions, from Sinbad the Sailor to Pinocchio.
The Voyage of Saint Brendan
The earliest extant version of The Voyage of Saint Brendan was recorded around AD 900. There are over 100 manuscripts of the story across Europe, as well as many additional translations. The Voyage of Saint Brendan is an overtly Christian narrative, but also contains narratives of natural phenomena and fantastical events and places, which appealed to a broad populace. The Voyage of Saint Brendan contains many parallels and inter-textual references to the Voyage of Bran and the Voyage of Máel Dúin.
On the Kerry coast, he built a currach-like boat of wattle, covered it with hides tanned in oak bark softened with butter, set up a mast and a sail. He and a small group of monks fasted for forty days, and after a prayer upon the shore, embarked in the name of the Trinity. The account is characterized by a great deal of literary license and contains references to hell where “great demons threw down lumps of fiery slag from an island with rivers of gold fire” and “great crystal pillars.” Many now believe these to be references to the volcanic activity around Iceland, and to icebergs.
Later life
Brendan travelled to Wales and the holy island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland; returning to Ireland, he founded a monastery at Annaghdown, where he spent the rest of his days.He also founded a convent at Annaghdown for his sister Briga. Having established the bishopric of Ardfert, St Brendan proceeded to Thomond, and founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim (now Coney Island), in the present parish of Killadysert, County Clare, about the year 550. He then journeyed to Wales and studied under Saint Gildas at Llancarfan, and thence to Iona, for he is said to have left traces of his apostolic zeal at Kil-brandon (near Oban) and Kil-brennan Sound. After a three years' mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, and did more proselytising in various parts of Leinster, especially at Dysart (County Kilkenny), Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. He established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway and at Inishglora, County Mayo, and founded Clonfert in Galway around 557 AD. He died c. 577 at Annaghdown, while visiting his sister Briga. Fearing that after his death his devotees might take his remains as relics, Brendan had arranged before dying to have his body secretly carried back to the monastery he founded at Clonfert concealed in a luggage cart. He was buried in Clonfert Cathedral.
St Brendan of Kerry
There is very little secure information concerning Brendan's life, although at least the approximate dates of his birth and death, and accounts of some events in his life, are found in the Irish annals and genealogies.Paddy Duffy draws the different strands together
St Brendan, abbot. a Kerryman The first mention of Brendan occurs in Adamnan's Vita Sancti Columbae, written between 679 and 704. Often referred to as The Navigator, he first he first came to notice as a seafarer in the ninth century Martyrology of Tallaght.
The principal works devoted to the saint and his legend are a 'Life of Brendan' in several Latin and Irish versions (Vita Brendani / Betha Brenainn) and the better known 'Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot' (Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis). Unfortunately, the Lives and the Voyage provide little reliable information about his life and travels; they do, however, attest to the development of his following in the centuries after his death. An additional problem is that the precise relationship between the Vita and the Navigatio traditions is uncertain.
Any attempt to reconstruct the details of the life of the real Brendan or to understand the nature of the Brendan legend has to be based principally on the Irish annals and genealogies and on the various versions of the Vita Brendani.
In 484 AD Brendan was born in Tralee, in County Kerry, in the province of Munster, in the south-west of Ireland. He was born among the Altraige, a tribe originally centred around Tralee Bay, to parents called Finnlug and Cara. Tradition has it that he was born in the Kilfenora/Fenit area on the North side of the bay.
He was baptised at Tubrid, near Ardfert by Saint Erc, and was originally to be called "Mobhí" but signs and portents attending his birth and baptism led to him being christened 'Broen-finn' or 'fair-drop'. For five years he was educated under Saint Ita, "the Brigid of Munster". When he was six he was sent to Saint Jarlath's monastery school at Tuam to further his education. Brendan is one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland", one of those said to have been tutored by the great teacher, Finnian of Clonard.
At the age of twenty-six, Brendan was ordained a priest by Saint Erc. Afterwards, he founded a number of monasteries. Brendan’s first voyage took him to the Arran Islands, where he founded a monastery. He also visited Hinba (Argyll), an island off Scotland where he is said to have met Columcille (Columba). On the same voyage he traveled to Wales, and finally to Brittany, on the northern coast of France. Between the years 512 and 530 Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and, at the foot of Mount Brandon, Shanakeel— Seana Cill, usually translated as "the old church". From here he is supposed to have set out on his famous seven-year voyage for Paradise. The old Irish Calendars assigned a special feast for the "Egressio familiae S. Brendani".
Legendary journeys
St. Brendan is chiefly renowned for his legendary journey to the Isle of the Blessed as described in the ninth century Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator. Many versions exist that tell of how he set out onto the Atlantic Ocean with sixteen pilgrims (other versions have fourteen, plus three unbelievers who join at the last minute) searching for the Garden of Eden. One of these companions is said to have been Saint Malo, the namesake of Saint-Malo. If it happened, this would have occurred sometime between AD 512–530, before his travel to the island of Great Britain. On his trip, Brendan is supposed to have seen Saint Brendan's Island, a blessed island covered with vegetation. He also encountered a sea monster, an adventure he shared with his contemporary Saint Columba. The most commonly illustrated adventure is his landing on an island which turns out to be a giant sea monster called Jasconius or Jascon. This too, has its parallels in other stories, not only in Irish mythology but in other traditions, from Sinbad the Sailor to Pinocchio.The Voyage of Saint Brendan
The earliest extant version of The Voyage of Saint Brendan was recorded around AD 900. There are over 100 manuscripts of the story across Europe, as well as many additional translations. The Voyage of Saint Brendan is an overtly Christian narrative, but also contains narratives of natural phenomena and fantastical events and places, which appealed to a broad populace. The Voyage of Saint Brendan contains many parallels and inter-textual references to the Voyage of Bran and the Voyage of Máel Dúin.
On the Kerry coast, he built a currach-like boat of wattle, covered it with hides tanned in oak bark softened with butter, set up a mast and a sail. He and a small group of monks fasted for forty days, and after a prayer upon the shore, embarked in the name of the Trinity. The account is characterized by a great deal of literary license and contains references to hell where “great demons threw down lumps of fiery slag from an island with rivers of gold fire” and “great crystal pillars.” Many now believe these to be references to the volcanic activity around Iceland, and to icebergs.
Later life
Brendan travelled to Wales and the holy island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland; returning to Ireland, he founded a monastery at Annaghdown, where he spent the rest of his days.He also founded a convent at Annaghdown for his sister Briga. Having established the bishopric of Ardfert, St Brendan proceeded to Thomond, and founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim (now Coney Island), in the present parish of Killadysert, County Clare, about the year 550. He then journeyed to Wales and studied under Saint Gildas at Llancarfan, and thence to Iona, for he is said to have left traces of his apostolic zeal at Kil-brandon (near Oban) and Kil-brennan Sound. After a three years' mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, and did more proselytising in various parts of Leinster, especially at Dysart (County Kilkenny), Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. He established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway and at Inishglora, County Mayo, and founded Clonfert in Galway around 557 AD. He died c. 577 at Annaghdown, while visiting his sister Briga. Fearing that after his death his devotees might take his remains as relics, Brendan had arranged before dying to have his body secretly carried back to the monastery he founded at Clonfert concealed in a luggage cart. He was buried in Clonfert Cathedral.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
The Christian's journey through life is not a sprint,
it's a marathon.
We aren’t only called to become Christians;
we are called to be Christians.
Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment;
being a Christian is the work of a lifetime.
~ Rev Billy Graham ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th May, 2025
Friday, Fourth Week of Easter
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Jesus urges peace upon us at all times
also the feast of St Joseph the worker, special readings may be used.
Optional Memorial of St Brendan, a Kerryman, abbot, founded a monastery at Confert, died AD 578
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:26-33
God has fulfilled his promise by raising Jesus from the dead.
Paul stood up in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
'My brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you.
What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed.
When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people.
'We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the first psalm:
You are my son: today I have become your father.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 2
Response You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.
Or Alleluia!
1. 'It is I who have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.'
I will announce the decree of the Lord: The Lord said to me: 'You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.' Response
2. 'Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations, Put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them, shatter them like a potter's jar.' Response
3. Now, O kings, understand, take warning rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe and trembling, pay him your homage. Response
Gospel Acclamation Apoc 1:5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; no one can come to the Father except through me.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14 1-6 Glory to you, O Lord
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.'
Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'
Jesus said: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Friday Fourth Week of Easter John 14:1-6
Many of us find departures difficulty, especially when the person departing from us is significant for us in some way. The words Jesus speaks in today’s gospel reading are set by the evangelist within the context of the last supper on the evening before Jesus was crucified. Jesus is about to leave his disciples. Yet, in leaving them he also assures them that he is not abandoning them. He will in fact come back to them. That is the promise of Jesus to the disciples in today’s gospel reading, ‘I shall return to take you with me’. That promise is generally heard as a promise that at the end of our earthly lives Jesus will come and take us to the many roomed house of his Father, which is why this reading is so often chosen for the funeral liturgy.
However, Jesus goes on to assure his disciples that we don’t have to wait to the end of our lives to experience his coming. He will come to us in and through the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, ‘whom the Father will send in my name’ and who ‘will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you’. Through the Spirit, the Lord comes to us here and now, today, and his coming through the Spirit is a foretaste, an anticipation, of his coming to us at the end of our lives. That is why Saint Paul refers to the Spirit as the first fruit of the final harvest, eternal life. Our present calling is to allow the first fruit of the Spirit to bear the rich fruit of love in our lives.
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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 his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: St Brendan, abbot and missionary
Summary: St Brendan, abbot, and a Kerryman who was born in 484-486. He studied at Clonard under St Finnian. His name is connected with many places in Kerry such as Ardfert and Mount Brandon. He visited Scotland and reached the Hebrides and possibly areas beyond. He founded a monastery in Clonfert in 568 and died there in 578.)
St Brendan of Kerry
There is very little secure information concerning Brendan's life, although at least the approximate dates of his birth and death, and accounts of some events in his life, are found in the Irish annals and genealogies. Paddy Duffy draws the different strands together for us here.The first mention of Brendan occurs in Adamnan's Vita Sancti Columbae, written between 679 and 704. Often referred to as The Navigator, he first he first came to notice as a seafarer in the ninth century Martyrology of Tallaght.
The principal works devoted to the saint and his legend are a 'Life of Brendan' in several Latin and Irish versions (Vita Brendani / Betha Brenainn) and the better known 'Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot' (Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis). Unfortunately, the Lives and the Voyage provide little reliable information about his life and travels; they do, however, attest to the development of his following in the centuries after his death. An additional problem is that the precise relationship between the Vita and the Navigatio traditions is uncertain.
Any attempt to reconstruct the details of the life of the real Brendan or to understand the nature of the Brendan legend has to be based principally on the Irish annals and genealogies and on the various versions of the Vita Brendani.
In 484 AD Brendan was born in Tralee, in County Kerry, in the province of Munster, in the south-west of Ireland. He was born among the Altraige, a tribe originally centred around Tralee Bay, to parents called Finnlug and Cara. Tradition has it that he was born in the Kilfenora/Fenit area on the North side of the bay.
He was baptised at Tubrid, near Ardfert by Saint Erc, and was originally to be called "Mobhí" but signs and portents attending his birth and baptism led to him being christened 'Broen-finn' or 'fair-drop'. For five years he was educated under Saint Ita, "the Brigid of Munster". When he was six he was sent to Saint Jarlath's monastery school at Tuam to further his education. Brendan is one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland", one of those said to have been tutored by the great teacher, Finnian of Clonard.
At the age of twenty-six, Brendan was ordained a priest by Saint Erc. Afterwards, he founded a number of monasteries. Brendan’s first voyage took him to the Arran Islands, where he founded a monastery. He also visited Hinba (Argyll), an island off Scotland where he is said to have met Columcille (Columba). On the same voyage he traveled to Wales, and finally to Brittany, on the northern coast of France. Between the years 512 and 530 Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and, at the foot of Mount Brandon, Shanakeel— Seana Cill, usually translated as "the old church". From here he is supposed to have set out on his famous seven-year voyage for Paradise. The old Irish Calendars assigned a special feast for the "Egressio familiae S. Brendani".
Legendary journeys
St. Brendan is chiefly renowned for his legendary journey to the Isle of the Blessed as described in the ninth century Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator. Many versions exist that tell of how he set out onto the Atlantic Ocean with sixteen pilgrims (other versions have fourteen, plus three unbelievers who join at the last minute) searching for the Garden of Eden. One of these companions is said to have been Saint Malo, the namesake of Saint-Malo. If it happened, this would have occurred sometime between AD 512–530, before his travel to the island of Great Britain. On his trip, Brendan is supposed to have seen Saint Brendan's Island, a blessed island covered with vegetation. He also encountered a sea monster, an adventure he shared with his contemporary Saint Columba. The most commonly illustrated adventure is his landing on an island which turns out to be a giant sea monster called Jasconius or Jascon. This too, has its parallels in other stories, not only in Irish mythology but in other traditions, from Sinbad the Sailor to Pinocchio.The Voyage of Saint Brendan
The earliest extant version of The Voyage of Saint Brendan was recorded around AD 900. There are over 100 manuscripts of the story across Europe, as well as many additional translations. The Voyage of Saint Brendan is an overtly Christian narrative, but also contains narratives of natural phenomena and fantastical events and places, which appealed to a broad populace. The Voyage of Saint Brendan contains many parallels and inter-textual references to the Voyage of Bran and the Voyage of Máel Dúin.
On the Kerry coast, he built a currach-like boat of wattle, covered it with hides tanned in oak bark softened with butter, set up a mast and a sail. He and a small group of monks fasted for forty days, and after a prayer upon the shore, embarked in the name of the Trinity. The account is characterized by a great deal of literary license and contains references to hell where “great demons threw down lumps of fiery slag from an island with rivers of gold fire” and “great crystal pillars.” Many now believe these to be references to the volcanic activity around Iceland, and to icebergs.
Later life
Brendan travelled to Wales and the holy island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland; returning to Ireland, he founded a monastery at Annaghdown, where he spent the rest of his days. He also founded a convent at Annaghdown for his sister Briga. Having established the bishopric of Ardfert, St Brendan proceeded to Thomond, and founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim (now Coney Island), in the present parish of Killadysert, County Clare, about the year 550. He then journeyed to Wales and studied under Saint Gildas at Llancarfan, and thence to Iona, for he is said to have left traces of his apostolic zeal at Kil-brandon (near Oban) and Kil-brennan Sound. After a three years' mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, and did more proselytising in various parts of Leinster, especially at Dysart (County Kilkenny), Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. He established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway and at Inishglora, County Mayo, and founded Clonfert in Galway around 557 AD. He died c. 577 at Annaghdown, while visiting his sister Briga. Fearing that after his death his devotees might take his remains as relics, Brendan had arranged before dying to have his body secretly carried back to the monastery he founded at Clonfert concealed in a luggage cart. Brendan was buried in Clonfert Cathedral.
____________________________
******************************
Memorable Sayings for Today
The Christian's journey through life is not a sprint,
it's a marathon.
We aren’t only called to become Christians;
we are called to be Christians.
Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment;
being a Christian is the work of a lifetime.
~ Rev Billy Graham ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th May, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:26-33
Thóg Dia Íosa ó mhairbh.
Nuair a tháinig Pól go dtí Antíoc na Pisidia dúirt sé sa tsionagog:
A bhráithre liom, a shliocht Abrahám agus a mhuintir in bhur measc a bhfuil ómós agaibh do Dhia, is chugainne a cuireadh an teachtaireacht shlánaitheach seo.Níor aithin muintir Iarúsailéim ná a gcuid uachtarán [Íosa], ach nuair a dhaor siad é, is amhlaidh a chuir siad i gcrích ráite úd na bhfáithe a bhíodh á léamh dóibh gach lá sabóide. Cé nach bhfuair siad aon chúis bháis ann d’iarr siad ar Phioláit é a chur den saol.
Agus nuair a bhí gach ní dá raibh scríofa ina thaobh comhlíonta acu thóg siad anuas den chrann é agus shín i dtuama é.
thóg Dia ó mhairbh é agus ar feadh mórán laethanta chonacthas é dóibh sin a tháinig anuas leis ón nGailíl go Iarúsailéim agus is finnéithe anois iad air os comhair an phobail.
Agus seo é an dea-scéal atá le fógairt againne daoibh: an gealltanas úd a rinneadh dár sinsir, go bhfuil Dia tar éis é a chomhlíonadh dúinne, dá sliocht, trí Íosa a thógáil ó mhairbh, de réir mar atá scríofa sa dara salm: ‘Is Tusa mo mhac. Inniu féin a ghin mé Thú.’
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 2
Freagra Is tú mo mhac, inniu is ea a ghin mé thú.
Malairt freagra Alleluia!
1. “Chuir mise mo rí féin i réimeas ar Shíón, ar mo shliabh naofa.”
Foilseoidh mé reacht an Tiarna.
“Is tú mo mhac,” a dúirt an Tiarna liom, “inniu is ea a ghin mé thú. Freagra
2. Iarr orm agus tiomnóidh mé na ciníocha duit agus críocha na cruinne mar oidhreacht duit.
Déanfaidh tú iad a bhriseadh le slat iarainn; brisfidh tú ina mbloghanna iad amhail soitheach cré.” Freagra
3. Bígí críonna, dá bhrí sin, a ríthe; aire chugaibh! a rialtóirí na cruinne.
Déanaigí fónamh don Tiarna le heaglaagus tugaigí ómós dó go creathnach. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14: 1-6 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is mise an tslí, an fhírinne agus an bheatha.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
'Ná bíodh buaireamh ar bhur gcroí: creideann sibh i nDia; creidigí ionamsa leis.
Is iomaí áras i dteach m’Athar. Mura mbeadh, d’inseoinn daoibh é.
Óir táim ag dul ag cur áite i gcóir daoibh, agus má théim agus áit a chur i gcóir daoibh,
tiocfaidh mé arís agus tógfaidh mé sibh chugam féin;
i dtreo, an áit ina mbeidh mise, go mbeidh sibhse chomh maith.
Tá eolas na slí agaibh mar a bhfuilim ag dul.'
Dúirt Tomás leis: “A Thiarna, ní eol dúinn cá bhfuil tú ag dul agus cén chaoi is féidir dúinn eolas na slí a bheith againn?”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
'Is mise an tslí, an fhírinne agus an bheatha. Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th May, 2025
The Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C
The mutual love of Church members is a living witness to the whole world and helps ease the burden of world suffering.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 14:21-27
They gave an account of all that God had done with them.
Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. We all have to experience many hardships' they said 'before we enter the kingdom of God.'
In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144
Response I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
Or Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. Response
2. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God,
to make known to men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign. Response
3. Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the book of the Apocalypse 21:1-5
God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
I, John saw a new heaven and a new earth ; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea.I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne,
'You see this city? Here God lives among men.
He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God;
his name is 'God-with-them.'
He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death,
and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.'
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: 'Now I am making the whole of creation new.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 13: 34
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 13:31-35 Glory to you, O Lord
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
When Judas had gone Jesus said:
'Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.
My little children, I shall not be with you much longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.'
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, 18th May, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 14:21-27
D’eachtraigh siad don an Eaglais le chéile a raibh déanta ag Dia i gcomhar leo.
D’fhill Pól agus Barnabas arís ar Liostra agus ina dhiaidh sin ar Iocoiniam agus Aintíoch, ag cur misnigh ar na deisceabail agus á spreagadh chun bheith dílis don chreideamh, “Mar,” ar siad, “ní foláir dúinn mórán a fhulaingt chun dul isteach i ríocht Dé.”
Thogh siad seanóirí dóibh ar gach Eaglais acu agus tar éis urnaithe agus troscadh a dhéanamh chuir siad iad faoi choimirce an Tiarna ina raibh a gcreideamh.
Shiúil siad an Phisíde ar fad nó gur tháinig siad go Paimfile;
tar éis dóibh an briathar a chraobhscaoileadh i bPeirgé chuaigh siad síos go hAtailia agus as sin ar bord loinge go hAintíoch – an áit ar cuireadh faoi choimirce ghrásta Dé iad le haghaidh na hoibre a bhí anois curtha i gcrích acu.Ar theacht dóibh, thionóil siad an Eaglais le chéile, agus d’eachtraigh dóibh a raibh déanta ag Dia i gcomhar leo agus mar a d’oscail sé doras an chreidimh do na págánaigh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 144
Freagra: Beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor, a Dhia liom is a Rí
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. Is ceansa trócaireach é an Tiarna, mall chun feirge agus lan de chineáltas.
Is maith é an Tiarna don uile ní is is trócaireach é dá oibreacha uile. Freagra
2. Ceiliúrfaidh d'oibreacha thú, a Thiarna, agus beannóidh do dhaoine naofa thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir do ríochta, agus foilseoidh siad do chumhacht
chun do chumhacht a nochtadh don chine daonna agus glóir do ríochta maorga. Freagra
3. Ríocht shíoraí do ríochtsa, is maireann do cheannas ó ghlúin go glúin. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Apacailipsis 21:1-5
Glanfaidh Dé gach deoir óna súile
Ansin chonaic mé neamh nua agus talamh nua. Bhí an chéad neamh agus an chéad talamh bailithe leo agus gan an fharraige ann feasta. Agus chonaic mé an chathair naofa, an Iarúsailéim nua, ag teacht anuas ó na flaithis, ó Dhia agus í ullamh maisithe mar nuachair i gcomhair a fir chéile.
chuala mé guth tréan ón ríchathaoir á rá:“Féach, tá áitreabh Dé fara daoine, agus cónóidh sé ina measc, agus beidh siad ina bpobal aige, agus beidh Dia féin faru. Glanfaidh sé gach deoir óna súile, agus ní bheidh an bás ann feasta, ná ní bheidh caoineadh ná olagón ná pian ann a thuilleadh, óir tá an seansaol thart.”
Ansin dúirt an té a bhí ina shuí sa ríchathaoir:“Féach, tá gach aon ní á dhéanamh nua agam.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 13:34
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh
grá dá chéile, faoi mar a thug mise grá daoibhse.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 13:31-35 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh grá dá chéile.
Nuair a d’imigh Iúdás amach, dúirt Íosa:
“Tá glóir faighte ag Mac an Duine anois, agus tá glóir faighte ag Dia ann.
Má fuair Dia glóir ann, tabharfaidh Dia glóir dósan ann féin, agus tabharfaidh sé glóir dó gan mhoill.
A chlann ó, is gearr eile atá agam in bhur bhfochair.
Beidh sibh ar mo lorg, agus faoi mar a dúirt mé leis na Giúdaigh,
deirim libhse arís: ‘An áit ina bhfuilimse ag dul ní féidir daoibhse teacht.’
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh grá dá chéile;
faoi mar a thug mise grá daoibhse, go dtabharfadh sibhse grá dá chéile.
As sin a bheidh a fhios ag cách gur deisceabail liomsa sibh má bhíonn grá agaibh dá chéile.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
