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Worldpriest Annual Global Rosary Relay
Date: Friday 28th June 2019Location: Worldwide
Worldpriest Annual Global Rosary Relay
Date: Friday 28th June 2019
Location: Worldwide
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Christian Radio Stations
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The Joy of the Gospel – Reflection 4 by Bishop Alan McGuckian
St Columba – 1500 years
Celebration of the life and legacy of St Colmcille/Columba
Bishop Alan McGuckian
The Joy of the Gospel – April 29th
Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Dec 5 - St Sabas of Jerusalem (439-522) monk and abbot
Summary : Sabas was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, and educated at a monastery near his home. He liked monastic life so much that he decided to become a hermit in the Cedron valley near Jerusalem. The 'Laura', or complex of hermits' huts around a church which he set up, became an influential foundation and even still houses twenty Eastern Orthodox monks.
Patrick Duffy traces his story.
Early life
Sabas was born in 439 at Mutalasca near Caesarea in Cappadocia (central Turkey today). His parents were pious Christians, but being a soldier, his father had to go to Alexandria and took his wife with him. He left the boy with his wife's brother and his wife, but when they did not treat the boy well, Sabas went to a nearby monastery where the abbot looked after him well and taught him the monastic way. Sabas decided to become a monk, and when he was eighteen, went to Jerusalem to see the holy places and visit the hermits who lived there. But the abbot Euthymius urged him to live in a community with a life of prayer and manual work. When he was thirty, he allowed him to spend five days each week alone in a cave and come back to the community at the week-end. He helped the monastery by weaving fifty baskets a week from palm fronds.
The desert and the Laura
When Euthymius died, Sabas spent four years alone in the desert near Jericho, where the Cedron brook provided him with water and local people brought him food. Pressed to found a community, he set up a laura, or complex of hermits' huts around a central church, at what is now called Mar Saba. When a hundred and fifty monks joined, he reluctantly agreed to be ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the age of 53. Monks came from as far away as Armenia and Egypt. His mother, now a widow, also came to provide a guest house and two hospitals. In 493 the Patriarch made Sabas archimandrite or leader over all the Palestinian monks.
Visit to Constantinople
In 511, a new patriarch sent him with others on a delegation to the emperor Anastasius at Constantinople, but the guard at the door turned him away, thinking he was a beggar. He sat apart and when the emperor read a glowing account of him from the patriarch, and asked where he was, Sabas was admitted and spent the winter there opposing the Monophysite heresy.
Second visit
When he was ninety, Sabas went again to Constantinople on behalf of the new patriarch of Jerusalem, Peter, to protest against a violent oppression by imperial troops of a revolt by Samaritans. The emperor Justinian received him well and offered to endow his monasteries. Sabas declined, but asked for a reduction in taxes for Palestine, a pilgrim hostel in Jerusalem and protection for monks against raiders, to which the emperor agreed.
Death and influence
Sabas returned home and appointed his successor and lay down for four days before he died.
His great laura at Mar Saba overlooking the Kidron valley is still functioning today with about twenty Eastern Orthodox monks.
Patrick Duffy traces his story.
Early life
Sabas was born in 439 at Mutalasca near Caesarea in Cappadocia (central Turkey today). His parents were pious Christians, but being a soldier, his father had to go to Alexandria and took his wife with him. He left the boy with his wife's brother and his wife, but when they did not treat the boy well, Sabas went to a nearby monastery where the abbot looked after him well and taught him the monastic way. Sabas decided to become a monk, and when he was eighteen, went to Jerusalem to see the holy places and visit the hermits who lived there. But the abbot Euthymius urged him to live in a community with a life of prayer and manual work. When he was thirty, he allowed him to spend five days each week alone in a cave and come back to the community at the week-end. He helped the monastery by weaving fifty baskets a week from palm fronds.The desert and the LauraWhen Euthymius died, Sabas spent four years alone in the desert near Jericho, where the Cedron brook provided him with water and local people brought him food. Pressed to found a community, he set up a laura, or complex of hermits' huts around a central church, at what is now called Mar Saba. When a hundred and fifty monks joined, he reluctantly agreed to be ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the age of 53. Monks came from as far away as Armenia and Egypt. His mother, now a widow, also came to provide a guest house and two hospitals. In 493 the Patriarch made Sabas archimandrite or leader over all the Palestinian monks.
Visit to Constantinople
In 511, a new patriarch sent him with others on a delegation to the emperor Anastasius at Constantinople, but the guard at the door turned him away, thinking he was a beggar. He sat apart and when the emperor read a glowing account of him from the patriarch, and asked where he was, Sabas was admitted and spent the winter there opposing the Monophysite heresy.
Second visit
When he was ninety, Sabas went again to Constantinople on behalf of the new patriarch of Jerusalem, Peter, to protest against a violent oppression by imperial troops of a revolt by Samaritans. The emperor Justinian received him well and offered to endow his monasteries. Sabas declined, but asked for a reduction in taxes for Palestine, a pilgrim hostel in Jerusalem and protection for monks against raiders, to which the emperor agreed.
Death and influenceSabas returned home and appointed his successor and lay down for four days before he died.
His great laura at Mar Saba overlooking the Kidron valley is still functioning today with about twenty Eastern Orthodox monks.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 5th December, 2021
Second Sunday of Advent
Scripture theme:
God's promises to us are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We look forward to the Kingdom when, pure and blameless, we will reach the perfect goodness which Christ produces in us.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Baruch 5:1-9
Theme: God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven.
Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress,
put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever,
wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you,
put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head:
since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven,
since the name God gives you for ever will be,
'Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness'.
Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights and turn your eyes to the east:
see your sons reassembled from west and east
at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered them.
Though they left you on foot,
with enemies for an escort,
now God brings them back to you
like royal princes carried back in glory.
For God has decreed the flattening
of each high mountain, of the everlasting hills,
the filling of the valleys to make the ground level
so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God.
And the forests and every fragrant tree will provide shade
for Israel at the command of God;
for God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory
with his mercy and integrity for escort.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 125
Response What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
1. When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs. Response
2.The heathens themselves said:
'What marvels the Lord worked for them!'
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad. Response
3. Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap. Response
4. They go out, they go out, full of tears
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
carrying their sheaves. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 1:3-6. 8-11
Theme: Be pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ.
Every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes. God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception. so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Lk 3:4.6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight..
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:1-6 Glory to you, O Lord.
Theme: All mankind shall see the salvation of God.
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrach of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. He went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low,
winding ways will be straightened
and rough roads made smooth.
And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.
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/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 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, 5th December, 2021
AN DARA DOMNACH DEN AIDBHINT
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Fáidh Barúch 5:1-9
Óir taispeánfaidh Dia do bhreáthacht do gach náisiún faoin spéir.
Bain díot, a Iarúsailéim,
do róba dobróin agus ainnise
agus bíodh niamhracht ghlóir Dé
á caitheamh agat go brách.
Cóirigh thú féin faoi bhrat na fíréantachta
a thagann ó Dhia;
cuir ar do cheann coróin ghlóir an Neach Shíoraí.
Óir taispeánfaidh Dia do bhreáthacht
do gach náisiún faoin spéir.
Is é an t-ainm a thabharfaidh Dia ort feasta:
An tSíocháin a Ghineann an Fhíréantacht,
An Ghlóir a Eascraíonn ón gCráifeacht.
Éirigh, a Iarúsailéim, agus seas ar na harda
agus breathnaigh soir, go bhfeice tú do chlann
agus iad bailithe le chéile aniar agus anoir,
ar ordú an Neach Naofa
agus iad ag déanamh lúcháire
de bhrí go bhfuil Dia tar éis cuimhneamh orthu.
Óir, d’imigh siad amach uait de shiúl a gcos
agus iad á dtiomáint ag a naimhde.
Ach tá Dia á dtabhairt ar ais chugat
agus iad á n-iompar go glórmhar
mar fhlatha ríoga.
Mar tá Dia tar éis ordú a thabhairt
go n-ísleofaí gach cnoc ard agus na sléibhte síoraí,
agus go líonfaí isteach na gleannta, ina machaire réidh,
chun go bhféadfadh Iosrael siúl go sábháilte slán faoi ghlóir Dé.
Tabharfaidh na coillte agus gach crann cumhra
scáth d’Iosrael ar ordú Dé.
Óir treoróidh Dia Iosrael go lúcháireachagus leis an trócaire agus leis an ionracas is dual dó.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia.
Salm le Freagra Sm 125
Freagra Rinne an Tiarna éachtaí dúinn: táimid go lúcháireach.
1. Nuair a thug an Tiarna príosúnaigh Síón abhaile
ba chosúil le brionglóid é.
Ansin líonadh ár mbéal le gáire,
agus ár dteanga le gairdeas. Freagra
2. Ansin bhíothas á rá i measc na gciníocha:
'Rinne an Tiarna éachtaí.'
Rinne an Tiarna éachtaí dúinn:
táimid go lúcháireach. Freagra
3. Saoraigh sinn, a Thiarna, ón ár bpriosúin,
ar nós sruthanna san fhásach ó dheas.
An mhuintir a chuireann síol le deora,
bainfidh siad an fómhar le gairdeas. Freagra
4. Ag imeacht dóibh imíonn siad ag sileadh na ndeor,
agus iad ag iompar síl chun a scaipthe;
ag teachtar aís dóibh tiocfaidh siad le gairdeas,
agus a bpunanna á n-iompar acu. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipighi: 3-6. 8-11
Go mbeidh sibh glan gan locht i gcomhair lá Chríost.
A bhráithre, gach uair dá gcuimhním oraibh gabhaim buíochas le mo Dhia agus gach uair a bhím ag guí déanaim guí oraibh uile go lúcháireach, mar gheall ar an bpáirt a bhí agaibh sa dea-scéal ón gcéad lá riamh go dtí inniu.
Agus táim cinnte den mhéid seo: an té a thosaigh an dea-obair in bhur measc go leanfaidh sé á chur i gcrích go dtí lá Íosa Críost. Is maith is ceart dom an aigne seo a bheith agam in bhur dtaobh go léir, de bhrí go bhfuil sibh i gcochall mo chroí agam agus a rá go bhfuil sibh go léir rannpháirteach sa ghrásta a bhronn Dia orm, cibé acu a bhím i gcuibhreacha nó ag cosaint agus ag daingniú an dea-scéil. Tá a fhios ag Dia go bhfuilim ag tnúth libh uile le cion Íosa Críost féin. Is é mo ghuí go rachaidh bhur ngrá dá chéile i méid agus i méid le barr eolais agus tuisceana, sa tslí go mba rogha libh na nithe is fearr agus go mbeidh sibh glan gan locht i gcomhair lá Chríost agus go mbeidh sibh lán de thorthaí na fíréantachta sin a thagann trí Íosa Críost, chun moladh agus glóire Dé.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Lc 3:4, 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Ullmhaigí bóthar an Tiarna, déanaigi díreach a chosáin.
Agus feicfidh an uile cholainn slánú Dé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 3:1-6 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Feicfidh an uile cholainn slánú Dé.
Sa chúigiú bliain déag de réimeas Thibir Céasar, nuair a bhí Pointias Pioláit ina ghobharnóir ar Iúdáia, agus Héaród ina rí cúige ar an nGailíl, agus Pilib a dheartháir ina rí cúige ar cheantar Iotúráia agus Treachóinítis, agus Lusáinias ina rí cúige ar Aibiléiné, faoi ardsagartacht Annas agus Cháiafas, tháinig briathar Dé chun Eoin mac Zachairias san fhásach. Agus ghabh sé ar fud na tíre go léir timpeall na Iordáine ag fógairt bhaiste aithrí chun peacaí a mhaitheamh, mar atá scríofa i leabhar asÍseáia fáidh:
“Glór duine ag éamh san fhásach:‘ Réitígí bóthar an Tiarna,
déanaigí díreach a chosáin.
Líonfar gach cumar,
agus ísleofar gach sliabh agus cnocán;
déanfar na camshlite díreach
agus na bóithre anacra réidh,
agus feicfidh an uile cholainn slánú Dé.’”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th December, 2021
Third Sunday of Advent
Gaudete (Rejoice, be Happy) Sunday
Scripture Theme
John the Baptist inaugurates the Gospel already from his mother’s womb he welcomes the coming of Christ and rejoices in being ‘the friend of the bridegroom whom he points out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Zephaniah 3:14-18
Theme: The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.
Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 12
Response Sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
1. Truly, God is my salvation,
I trust, I shall not fear.
For the Lord is my strength, my song,
he became my saviour.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation. Response
2. Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!
Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!
Declare the greatness of his name. Response
3. Sing a psalm to the Lord
for he has done glorious deeds,
make them known to all the earth!
People of Zion, sing and shout for joy
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 4: 4-7
Theme: The Lord is very near.
I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Is 61:1
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me.He has sent me to bring good news to the poor
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18 Glory to you, O Lord.
Theme: What must we do?
When all the people asked John,'What must we do, then?'
he answered,
'If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.'
There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him,
'Master, what must we do?'
He said to them,
'Exact no more than your rate.'
Some soldiers asked him in their turn,
'What about us? What must we do?'
He said to them,
'No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!'
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all,
'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'
As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.
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/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 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, 12th December, 2021
AN TRÍÚ DOMNACH DEN AIDBHINT
(Domnach Gaudete (bígí lúcháireach)
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Fáidh Sófania: 3:14-18
Tógfaidh sé gártha áthais ar do shon faoi mar a dhéantar ar lá an tsollúntais.’
“Déan gairdeas, a iníon Shíón;
tóg gártha áthais, a Iosrael;
bíodh lúcháir agus gliondar ar do chroí go hiomlán,
a iníon Iarúsailéim.
Tá an Tiarna tar éis an breithiúnas
a bhí ag bagairt ort a thógáil díot
agus do chuid naimhde a thiomáint chun siúil uait.
Tá an Tiarna, rí Iosrael, i do lár
agus ní healaí duit
eagla an mhí-áidh a bheith ort níos mó.
An lá sin déarfar le Iarúsailéim:
‘Ná bíodh eagla ort, a Shíón;
ná lagtar do lámha!
Tá an Tiarna, do Dhia, i do lár
mar laoch caithréimeach;
déanfaidh sé gairdeas go spleodrach mar gheall ort.
Athnuafaidh sé thú le neart a ghrá;
tógfaidh sé gártha áthais ar do shon
faoi mar a dhéantar ar lá an tsollúntais.’
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Is 12:2-5 fr6 Is 12:2-6
Freagra Gáirigí le háthas agus liúirigí óir
is mór le rá é in bhur measc Neach Naofa Iosrael.”
1. An bhfeiceann sibh, is é Dia mo shlánaithe é,
tá muinín agam agus níl mé eaglach níos mó,
óir is é an Tiarna mo neart agus mo cheol,
is é mo shlánu é!
agus tarraingeoidh sibh uisce go lúcháireach
as toibreacha an tslánaithe. Freagra
2. Túgaigí buíochas don Tiarna,
glaoigí air ina ainm!
Fógrágí a éachtaí don phobal,
meabhraígí gurb oirirc dá ainm. Freagra
3. Canaigí an Tiarna, óir tá iontais déanta aige!
foilsítear iad ar fud an domhain chláir.
Gáirigí le háthas agus le lúcháir,
a mhuintir Síón!
óir is mór é i do lár
Neach Naofa Isráél. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Litir Niamh Pól cuig na chuig na Filipigh 4:4-7
Ní fada uainn an Tiarna.
A bhráithre, bígí lúcháireach i gcónaí sa Tiarna. Deirim arís é: bíodh lúcháir oraibh. Bíodh bhur gceansacht le feiceáil ag an saol mór mar ní fada uainn an Tiarna. Ná bígí imníoch faoi rud ar bith ach cibé ní atá in easnamh oraibh cuirigí in iúl do Dhia é le hurnaí agus guí agus buíochas buan. Agus sa tslí sin beidh síocháin Dé atá os cionn ár dtuisceana ag cosaint bhur gcroí agus bhur smaointe in Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Is 61:1
Allelluia Alleluia
Tá Spiorad an Tiarna orm. Chuir sé uaidh mé ag tabhairt an dea-scéil dona bochtáin.
Allelluia Alleluia
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 3:10-18
Cad tá le déanamh againn ?
San am sin bhí na sluaite ag fiafraí d'Eoin:“Cad tá le déanamh againn, más ea?”
Dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:
“An té a bhfuil dhá chóta aige, tugadh sé cóta don té atá ina uireasa, agus an té a bhfuil rud le hithe aige, déanadh sé a leithéid chéanna.”
Tháinig poibleacánaigh freisin chun baiste a fháil agus dúirt siad leis:
“A mháistir, cad tá le déanamh againne?”
Dúirt sé leo:
“Gan níos mó a éileamh ná a bhfuil ordaithe daoibh.”
D’fhiafraigh saighdiúirí de, freisin:
“Agus cad tá le déanamh againne?”
Agus dúirt sé leo:
“Gan éigean a dhéanamh ar dhuine ar bith, ná dearbhú éithigh; agus sibh a bheith sásta le bhur bpá.”
Ó bhí an pobal ar fionraí, agus cách ag machnamh ina gcroí i dtaobh Eoin, go mb’fhéidir gurbh é an Críost é, d’fhreagair Eoin á rá leo uile:
“Táimse do bhur mbaisteadh le huisce, ach tá an té ag teacht atá níos treise ná mé, nach fiú mé iall a chuarán a scaoileadh; baistfidh seisean sibh leis an Spiorad Naomh agus le tine. Tá a
cháiteog ina láimh aige chun a láithreán a léirghlanadh agus an t-arbhar a chruinniú isteach ina scioból, ach dóifidh sé an lóchán le tine dhomhúchta.”
Agus trína lán nithe eile fós a rá leo á spreagadh, bhí sé ag fógairt an dea-scéil don phobal.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
