Churches of the Day
Feb 4 - St Andrew Corsini (1302-73)
Summary : St Andrew Corsini. Although rather wild in his youth, Andrew joined the Carmelites and in later life was noted for his penance and his love of the poor.
Patrick Duffy tells us what is known about him.
Conversion at Seventeen
Andrew was a member of the noble Florentine family of the Corsini. Rather dissolute as a youth, he repented when he at seventeen his mother told him of a strange dream she had before his birth. She dreamt she had given birth to a wolf that became a lamb on entering a Carmelite church. He asked to be admitted to the Carmelite order. When he was ordained priest in 1328, he offered his first Mass in a hermitage so as to avoid the customary family celebrations.
His Priesthood
After a short time in Florence Andrew went to Paris for further studies and completed them at Avignon where his uncle was a cardinal. Back in Florence, he was chosen prior of the Carmelite community there. He acquired a reputation as a preacher and as having the gift of healing of soul and body. One spectacular conversion was that of his cousin, a notorious gambler. Andrew was appointed provincial of Tuscany at the general chapter in Metz in 1348.
Bishop of Fiesole and Peacemaker
When the bishop of Fiesole died in 1360, Andrew was chosen as his successor. Here he devoted himself to the poor. He had a talent for making peace between warring political factions. Because of this, Pope Urban V appointed him as nuncio to Bologna, where there was strife between the nobility and the ordinary citizens.
His family connections made him acceptable to the nobility and his life of poverty endeared him to the poor and he succeeded in bringing peace.
Death and Influence
On his return to Fiesole, Andrew became ill on Christmas Day 1372 and died on 6 January 1373. He was buried in the Carmelite church in Florence. Miracles so multiplied at his death that the pope permitted a public cult quite quickly after he died; but it was only in 1629 that Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini 1623-44) canonized him. In the early eighteenth century, Pope Clement XII, born Lorenzo Corsini, erected in the Roman Basilica of St. John Lateran a magnificent chapel dedicated to his 14th century kinsman.
Patrick Duffy tells us what is known about him.
Conversion at Seventeen
Andrew was a member of the noble Florentine family of the Corsini. Rather dissolute as a youth, he repented when he at seventeen his mother told him of a strange dream she had before his birth. She dreamt she had given birth to a wolf that became a lamb on entering a Carmelite church. He asked to be admitted to the Carmelite order. When he was ordained priest in 1328, he offered his first Mass in a hermitage so as to avoid the customary family celebrations.His Priesthood
After a short time in Florence Andrew went to Paris for further studies and completed them at Avignon where his uncle was a cardinal. Back in Florence, he was chosen prior of the Carmelite community there. He acquired a reputation as a preacher and as having the gift of healing of soul and body. One spectacular conversion was that of his cousin, a notorious gambler. Andrew was appointed provincial of Tuscany at the general chapter in Metz in 1348.
Bishop of Fiesole and PeacemakerWhen the bishop of Fiesole died in 1360, Andrew was chosen as his successor. Here he devoted himself to the poor. He had a talent for making peace between warring political factions. Because of this, Pope Urban V appointed him as nuncio to Bologna, where there was strife between the nobility and the ordinary citizens.
His family connections made him acceptable to the nobility and his life of poverty endeared him to the poor and he succeeded in bringing peace.
Death and Influence
On his return to Fiesole, Andrew became ill on Christmas Day 1372 and died on 6 January 1373. He was buried in the Carmelite church in Florence. Miracles so multiplied at his death that the pope permitted a public cult quite quickly after he died; but it was only in 1629 that Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini 1623-44) canonized him. In the early eighteenth century, Pope Clement XII, born Lorenzo Corsini, erected in the Roman Basilica of St. John Lateran a magnificent chapel dedicated to his 14th century kinsman.
Roman Basilica of St. John Lateran
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Memorable Wisdom words for today
Do not judge me by my successes,
judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
~ Nelson Mandela ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 4th February, 2026
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
In the first reading today we are reminded to take responsibility for our actions
FIRST READING
A reading from the second book of Samuel 24:3, 9-17
It was I who sinned, taking a census of the people But these, this flock, what have they done?
King David said to Joab and to the senior army officers who were with him, ‘Now go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and take a census of the people; I wish to know the size of the population.’ Joab gave the king the figures for the census of the people; Israel numbered eight hundred thousand armed men capable of drawing sword, and Judah five hundred thousand men.
But afterwards David’s heart misgave him for having taken a census of the people. ‘I have committed a grave sin,’ David said to the Lord. ‘But now, Lord, I beg you to forgive your servant for this fault. I have been very foolish.’ But when David got up the next morning, the following message had come from the Lord to the prophet Gad, David’s seer,
‘Go and say to David, “The Lord says this: I offer you three things; choose one of them for me to do to you.”’
So Gad went to David and told him.‘Are three years of famine to come on you in your country,’ he said,
‘or will you flee for three months before your pursuing enemy,
or would you rather have three days’ pestilence in your country?
Now think, and decide how I am to answer him who sends me.’
David said to Gad,
‘This is a hard choice. But let us rather fall into the power of the Lord, since his mercy is great, and not into the power of men.’ So David chose pestilence.
It was the time of the wheat harvest. The Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning till the time appointed and plague ravaged the people, and from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of them died. The angel stretched out his hand towards Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord thought better of this evil, and he said to the angel who was destroying the people, ‘Enough now withdraw your hand.’
The angel of the Lord was beside the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When David saw the angel who was ravaging the people, he spoke to the Lord.
‘It was I who sinned;’ he said, ‘I who did this wicked thing.
But these, this flock, what have they done? Let your hand lie heavy on me then, and on my family.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31: 1-2, 5. 6. 7.
Response Forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sin.
1. Happy the man whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.
O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no guile. Response
2. But now I have acknowledged my sins, my guilt I did not hide.
I said: 'I will confess my offence to the Lord.'
And you, Lord, have forgiven the guilt of my sin. Response
3. So let every good man pray to you in the time of need.
The floods of water may reach high but him they shall not reach. Response
4. You are my hiding place, a Lord; you save me from distress.
You surround me with cries of deliverance. Response
Gospel Acclamation Mt 4: 4
Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia!
Or Jn 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord, I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 6: 1-6 Glory to you, O Lord
A prophet is only despised in his own country.
Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said,‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him.
And Jesus said to them,
‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Wednesday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Mark 6:1-6
We are familiar with the saying, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’. We see this saying working itself out in today’s gospel reading. Jesus returns to his home town of Nazareth. It was a very ordinary, insignificant, out of the way kind of place, which is never mentioned in the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus’ family were as ordinary as all the other inhabitants of this small town. He was the son of a ‘carpenter’, a term that can refer to a person with a skill not just with wood but with stone. Such a skill would have been in demand but indicated nothing exceptional. The people of Nazareth were familiar with Jesus’ family who continued to live among them and whom they could name off. Rather than rejoicing in the life-giving power of his ministry and the wisdom of his teaching, they were scandalized by him, because, in so many ways, he was no different from themselves.
We encounter here the scandal of the incarnation. God was powerfully present to them through someone who was one of their own. God comes to us all in and through the ordinary and the everyday. The great saints never ceased being amazed at the mysterious presence of God they sensed all around them. To grow in faith is to grow in our capacity to recognize the presence of the Lord in and through the ordinary and the familiar. ‘Ordinary time’ is filled with the mysterious presence of the Lord and every place can be holy ground.
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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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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 4th February, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an dara leabhar Samúél 24:2, 9-17
Is mise a pheacaigh,” ar sé, “is mise a rinne an drochrud seo. Ach an tréad seo, cad atá déanta acusan?
Dúirt Dháiví an rí le Ióáb agus leis na hoifigigh shinsir den arm a bhí in éineacht leis:
“Imígí libh anois i measc treibheanna Iosrael ó Dhán go Béar Seaba agus déanaigí daonáireamh; is mian liom a fhios a bheith agam cad é líon an phobail.” Thug Ióáb figiúir an daonáirimh don rí: ocht gcéad míle fear troda, lucht claíomh a tharraingt, a bhí in Iosrael agus cúig chéad míle in Iúdá.
Ach tháinig aiféala ar Dháiví ina chroí istigh ar ball cionn is go ndearna sé daonáireamh ar an bpobal. “Tá peaca trom déanta agam,” ar sé leis an Tiarna.
“Ach anois, a Thiarna, impím ort an cion seo a mhaitheamh do do sheirbhíseach. Ba an-amaideach an rud dom é.”
Nuair a d’éirigh Dáiví an mhaidin ina dhiaidh sin, bhí teachtaireacht ón Tiarna go dtí Gád fáidh, fear feasa Dháiví, á rá:
“Téigh agus abair le Dáiví: seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
‘Tairgim trí rud duit; bíodh do rogha agat astu agus déanfaidh mé duit é.’”
Chuaigh Gád chuig Dáiví mar sin agus d’inis sé sin dó. “Cé acu is fearr leat,” ar seisean,
“trí bliana de ghorta a theacht ort i do thír féin,
nó thú a bheith trí mhí ar do sheachaint agus do namhaid sa tóir ort,
nó plá a bheith ar do thír ar feadh trí lá?
Déan do mhachnamh air anois agus socraigh cad é an freagra a thabharfaidh mé don té a chuir uaidh mé.”
Dúirt Dáiví le Gád:
“Is é rogha na ndíogha agam é! Ach is fearr go dtitimis i láimh an Tiarna, óir is mór é a thrócaire, agus gan mé a thitim i lámha daoine.”
Mar sin thogh Dáiví an phlá.
Aimsir fhómhar na cruithneachta a bhí ann. Chuir an Tiarna plá ar Iosrael ón mhaidin go dtí an uair a bhí leagtha amach agus rinne aicíd léirscrios ar an bpobal, agus ó Dhán go Béar Seaba fuair seachtó míle acu bás. Shín an t-aingeal a lámh amach ionsar Iarúsailéim lena scrios, ach rinne an Tiarna athsmaoineamh faoin olc seo agus dúirt sé leis an aingeal a bhí ag scrios an phobail:
“Is leor sin! Fóill ar do láimh!” Bhí aingeal an Tiarna le hais urlár buailte Arauná an Iabúsach. Nuair a chonaic Dáiví an t-aingeal a bhí ag scrios an phobail, labhair sé leis an Tiarna:
“Is mise a pheacaigh,” ar sé, “is mise a rinne an drochrud seo. Ach an tréad seo, cad atá déanta acusan? Luíodh do lámh go trom ormsa mar sin, impím ort, agus ar mo chlann.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 31:1-2, 5. 6. 7.
Freagra Thug tú, A thiarna, maithiúnas dom ansin: mhaith tú mo pheaca dom.
1. Is méanar dár maitheadh a choir; dár folaíodh a pheaca;
an té nach gcuireann an Tiarna cion ina leith,
’s nach bhfuil cealg ina chroí. Freagra
2. Ach cheana, d’admhaíos mo pheaca duit agus níor cheil mé m’urchóid.
Dúirt mé: “Admhóidh mé anois mo choir don Tiarna.”
Agus thug tú maithiúnas dom ansin: mhaith tú mo pheaca dom. Freagra
3. Guífidh gach neach diaga thú, dá bhrí sin, in am an éigin.
Nuair a bhrúchtfaidh na tuilte móra ní thiocfaidh siad i ngar dó. Freagra
4. Is tú m’áit fholaigh, a Thiarna, do m’fhuascailt ó m’anacair;
cuireann tú gártha fuascailte thart timpeall orm. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 6:1-6 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Ní bhíonn fáidh faoi neamhchion ach amháin ina dhúiche féin.
San am sin tháinig Íosa ina dhúiche féin, agus lean a chuid deisceabal é. Agus ar an tsabóid thosaigh sé ag teagasc sa tsionagóg, agus ghabh iontas mórán dár chuala é; agus deiridís:“Cá bhfuair sé seo an méid sin? Agus cén eagna í seo a tugadh dó agus na míorúiltí móra seo a dhéantar trína lámha? Nach é seo an saor adhmaid, mac Mhuire agus bráthair Shéamais agus Iósaef agus Iúdáis agus Shíomóin? Agus nach bhfuil a shiúracha anseo inár measc?”
Agus ghlac siad scannal ann.
Ach dúirt Íosa leo:
“Ní bhíonn fáidh faoi neamhchion ach amháin ina dhúiche féin agus i measc a ghaolta féin agus ina theaghlach féin.”
Agus ní fhéadfadh sé míorúilt ar bith a dhéanamh ansiúd ach amháin a lámha a chur ar bheagán othar agus iad a leigheas, agus rinne sé ionadh dá ndíchreideamh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th February, 2026
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
The Beatitudes are how Jesus describes his own values in life and his wish for us
that we should live in tune with these advisories for the development of God's Kingdom.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 58:7-10
When will your light shine like the dawn
Thus says the Lord:Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor,
clothe the man you see to be naked and turn not from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.
Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, 'I am here'.
If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 111: 4-9, R/v1
Response The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
1. He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour. Response
2. The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord. Response
3. With a steadfast heart he will not fear; open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever. His head will be raised in glory. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Corinthians 2:1-5
During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus,
and only about him as the crucified Christ.
When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great 'fear and trembling' and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8:12
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5: 13-16 Glory to you, Lord
You are the light of the world.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.
In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Íseáia, Fáidh 58:7-10
Ansin scallfaidh do sholas amach mar an maidneachan
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Do chuid aráin a roinnt le lucht ocrais, dídean a thabhairt do bhochtáin gan teach gan treabh,
éadach a chur ar an té a fheiceann tú nocht
agus gan faillí a dhéanamh i do dhualgas i leith do mhuintire.
Ansin scallfaidh do sholas amach mar an maidneachan
agus is gearr go dtaga cneasú ar do chréachtaí.
Rachaidh d’fhíréantacht romhat amach
agus glóir an Tiarna i do dhiaidh.
Ansin, má ghlaonn tú, tabharfaidh an Tiarna freagra ort;
nuair a scairtfidh tú, déarfaidh sé: “Seo anseo mé.”
Má dhíbríonn tú an leatrom as do chúrsaí,
bagairt na méire agus an chaint urchóideach,
má thugann tú do chuid aráin don ocrach
agus a sháith don duine dearóil,
éireoidh do sholas sa dorchadas agus beidh do ghruaim ina loinnir mheán lae.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 111:4-9, R/v1
Freagra Lonraíonn an dea-dhuine sa dorchacht do dhaoine cneasta.
1. Lonraíonn sé sa dorchacht do dhaoine cneasta: is trócaireach é, is fial, is ionraic.
Bíonn an dea-dhuine carthanach airleacthach, riarann sé a ghnó go ceart onórach. Freagra
2. Ní chorrófar an fíréan choíche: mairfidh a chuimhne go brách na breithe.
Ní chuirfidh drochscéal eagla air; is daingean a chroí, is e an Tiarna a dhóchas. Freagra
3. Is dílis daingean a chroí gan eagla; feicfidh sé a naimhde agus iad á dtreascairt.
Dáileann sé a chuid go fial ar lueht an ghátair.Maireann a fhéile go brách agus choíche. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh 15: 3-8. 11
Fad a bheinn in bhur measc gan aon ní eile a aithint ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh.
I dtaca liomsa, a bhráithre, nuair a tháinig mé chugaibh, níor tháinig mé ag fógairt [rúndiamhair] Dé le hardnós cainte ná eagna. Shocraigh mé i m’aigne fad a bheinn in bhur measc gan aon ní eile a aithint ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh. Is mé a bhí go lagbhríoch in bhur measc agus mé lán d’uamhan agus d’eagla. Agus ní ar bhriathra mealltacha na heagna daonna a bhí mo scéal agus m’fhógra ag brath ach ar fhoilsiú an Spioraid agus na cumhachta, i dtreo nach ar eagna dhaonna a bheadh bhur gcreideamhsa bunaithe ach ar chumhacht Dé.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór, agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eóin 5: 13-16
Is sibhse solas an domhain
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:“Is sibhse salann na talún. Ach má éiríonn an salann leamh, cad a dhéanfaidh goirt arís é? Níl tairbhe ann feasta chun rud ar bith, ach é a chaitheamh amach mar a ngabhfar de chosa ann.
Is sibhse solas an domhain. Cathair ar mhullach cnoic ní féidir í a cheilt. Ná ní lastar lampa chun é a chur faoi bhéal na peice, ach in airde ar an gcrann solais mar a dtugann sé solas dá mbíonn sa teach.
Sibhse mar an gcéanna, bíodh bhur solas ag taitneamh os comhair daoine chun go bhfeicfidís bhur ndeaghníomhartha agus go nglóireoidís bhur nAthair atá ar neamh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
