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A MAN OF SORROWS AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF
Date: 28th MarchLocation: St. Eugene's Cathedral, Derry
A MAN OF SORROWS AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF
Date: 28th March
Location: St. Eugene's Cathedral, Derry
The Pope Video – June 2021
The beauty of marriage
Christian Radio Stations
Bishop Alan McGuckian
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
Photo by Hilary Musgrave
Jun 18 - St Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341)
Summary: St Juliana was a spirited young woman of Florence who felt drawn to serve God in a radical way. Through her uncle she was attracted to the Servites, first as a tertiary and later became the Superior of the "Mantellate" Servite Sisters.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Early life
Juliana was born into the noble Florentine family of Falconieri in 1270. Her parents had paid for the construction of the Church of L'Annunziata in Florence. Her father died when she was quite young and her uncle Alexis, who shared her upbringing with her mother, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order, the only one of the founders who did not become a priest.
The Servites
The Servite order was begun by seven merchants, wealthy young men of Florence, who were disenchanted with the worldly life of the city. They wanted to live a more radical Christian life and at first were first known as Laudesi, "Praisers", and later as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. See 17th February. (Feast of the Seven Founders)
Servite tertiary
At 15 Juliana refused her family's plans for her to marry and soon after became a Servite tertiary. She continued to live with her mother and followed the rule given her by the prior general of the Servites, St. Philip Benizi, practising charity, chastity, mortification, penance, and prayer. Her mother was so impressed with her conduct that she eventually also placed herself under her daughter's direction and spent the last 20 years of her life living a quiet, austere life of prayer and good works. Other young women of Florence had become tertiaries and formed a community. Juliana found a place for them at the Grifoni Palace in Florence.
Mother's death
After her mother's death in 1305 Juliana herself asked to be admitted to the tertiaries' community. They elected her as their superior. She continued in this position for the next thirty five years until the end of her life .
Mantellate
For their habit they adopted a black gown or cloak secured by a leather girdle with a white veil. The gown had short sleeves to facilitate work and so people called them Mantellate, because it looked like a cloak (mantello). Their main devotion was to Our Lady of Sorrows and their main activity was caring for the sick.
Miracle on her death-bed
As Juliana lay on her death bed she was sick much of the time and couldn't receive Holy Communion. She asked the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the host on it. Shortly afterwards the host disappeared and Juliana died. When her community came to wash her body, they found the imprint of the cross on her heart just as it had been on the host. She is buried below the altar in L'Annunziata church in Florence.
Canonisation and influence
Immediately after her death Juliana was honoured as a saint and was canonised in 1737. She is usually represented in the habit of her order with a host upon her breast. The order of Mantellate Sisters has houses in mainland Europe and England, the USA and Canada. The sisters are involved in education, parish ministry, hospital and prison chaplaincies, the care of cancer patients and AIDS sufferers. Her feast is usually celebrated on 19th June.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Early life
Juliana was born into the noble Florentine family of Falconieri in 1270. Her parents had paid for the construction of the Church of L'Annunziata in Florence. Her father died when she was quite young and her uncle Alexis, who shared her upbringing with her mother, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order, the only one of the founders who did not become a priest.The Servites
The Servite order was begun by seven merchants, wealthy young men of Florence, who were disenchanted with the worldly life of the city. They wanted to live a more radical Christian life and at first were first known as Laudesi, "Praisers", and later as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. See 17th February. (Feast of the Seven Founders)
Servite tertiary
At 15 Juliana refused her family's plans for her to marry and soon after became a Servite tertiary. She continued to live with her mother and followed the rule given her by the prior general of the Servites, St. Philip Benizi, practising charity, chastity, mortification, penance, and prayer. Her mother was so impressed with her conduct that she eventually also placed herself under her daughter's direction and spent the last 20 years of her life living a quiet, austere life of prayer and good works. Other young women of Florence had become tertiaries and formed a community. Juliana found a place for them at the Grifoni Palace in Florence.
Mother's death
After her mother's death in 1305 Juliana herself asked to be admitted to the tertiaries' community. They elected her as their superior. She continued in this position for the next thirty five years until the end of her life .
Mantellate
For their habit they adopted a black gown or cloak secured by a leather girdle with a white veil. The gown had short sleeves to facilitate work and so people called them Mantellate, because it looked like a cloak (mantello). Their main devotion was to Our Lady of Sorrows and their main activity was caring for the sick.
Miracle on her death-bedAs Juliana lay on her death bed she was sick much of the time and couldn't receive Holy Communion. She asked the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the host on it. Shortly afterwards the host disappeared and Juliana died. When her community came to wash her body, they found the imprint of the cross on her heart just as it had been on the host. She is buried below the altar in L'Annunziata church in Florence.
Canonisation and influence
Immediately after her death Juliana was honoured as a saint and was canonised in 1737. She is usually represented in the habit of her order with a host upon her breast. The order of Mantellate Sisters has houses in mainland Europe and England, the USA and Canada. The sisters are involved in education, parish ministry, hospital and prison chaplaincies, the care of cancer patients and AIDS sufferers. Her feast is usually celebrated on 19th June.
Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 18th June, 2021
Friday of 11th week of Ordinary Time, Year 1
FIRST READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 11:18. 21-30
To leave out much more, there is my daily preoccupation: my anxiety for all the churches.
So many others have been boasting of their worldly achievements, that I will boast myself. But if anyone wants some brazen speaking - I am still talking as a fool - then I can be as brazen as any of them, and about the same things. Hebrews, are they? So am I. Israelites? So am I. Descendants of Abraham? So am I. The servants of Christ? I must be mad to say this, but so am I, and more than they: more, because I have worked harder, I have been sent to prison more often, and whipped many times more, often almost to death. Five times I had the thirty-nine lashes from the Jews; three times I have been beaten with sticks; once I was stoned; three times I have been shipwrecked and once adrift in the open sea for a night and a day. Constantly travelling, I have been in danger from rivers and in danger from brigands, in danger from my own people and in danger from pagans; in danger in the towns, in danger in the open country, danger at sea and danger from so-called brothers. I have worked and laboured, often without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty and often starving; I have been in the cold without clothes. And, to leave out much more, there is my daily preoccupation: my anxiety for all the churches. When any man has had scruples, I have had scruples with him; when any man is made to fall, I am tortured.If I am to boast, then let me boast of my own feebleness.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33
Response The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
1. I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. Response
2. Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. Response
3. Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress. Response
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!
Or Mt 5: 3
Alleluia, alleluia!
How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 6:19-23
Glory to you, O Lord.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be all darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkness, what darkness that will be!'
Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Friday, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 6:19–23
I have often been struck by that saying of Paul that comes towards the conclusion of today’s first reading. He speaks of his daily preoccupation, which he identifies as ‘my anxiety for all the churches’. He had a daily concern for the members of the various churches he had founded. He goes so far as to say, ‘when any person is made to fall, I am tortured’. He had a great concern for the community of faith, the life of the church. In the gospel reading Jesus says, ‘where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’. The members of the church were Paul’s treasure and, so, that is where his heart was. An even more fundamental treasure for Paul was the Lord himself, the Lord’s gospel, which he felt impelled to preach. His heart was above all with the Lord and his gospel. When people responded to his preaching of the Lord, when they believed in the gospel, they became his treasure, because they became the Lord’s body on earth. Today’s invite us to ask, ‘Where is my treasure? Where is my heart?’ Paul encourages us to take the Lord and his gospel as our primary treasure, our pearl of great price. If the Lord and his gospel becomes our treasure, we too, like Paul, will feel a great concern for the life of the church. We will rejoice to see the church alive in the Lord and be distressed to see the church decline and weaken. Earlier in this same letter to the Corinthians Paul had said that we have this treasure, the treasure of the Lord and his gospel, in earthen vessels. As members of the church, the Lord’s body, we can be frail and vulnerable, prone to brokenness, like clay jars. Yet, the treasure of the Lord and his gospel remains and our frailties and weaknesses do not make it any less of a treasure.
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The scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2020-2021: You have the Words of Eternal life: by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 18th June, 2021
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as dara Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 11:18. 21-30
Gan na nithe eile a bhac, bíonn cúram na n-eaglaisí uile ina mhuirín laethúil orm.
A bhráithre, ós rud é go bhfuil mórán eile ag maíomh as a gcumas nádúrtha, déanfaidh mise maíomh chomh maith leo, Is náir liom a admháil go bhfuilimidne rólag chun a leithéid a dhéanamh, ach aon ní a leomhfadh duine ar bith acu sin maíomh as – caint bhuile í seo – tá an maíomh céanna le déanamh agamsa. An Eabhraigh iad? Is ea mise freisin. An Iosraelaigh iad? Is ea mise chomh maith. An sliocht Abrahám iad? Is ea mise chomh maith céanna. An searbhóntaí do Chríost iad? Tá saochan céille anois orm ní foláir – ach is mó ná sin mise, mar is mó go mór a shaothraigh mé ná iad; ba mhinice i gcarcair mé: fuaireas léasadh gan áireamh agus ba mhinic mé i mbaol an bháis. Cúig uair fuair mé na naoi mbuillí is tríocha ó na Giúdaigh. Gabhadh de shlata orm faoi thrí agus gabhadh de chlocha orm aon uair amháin; longbhriseadh mé faoi thrí agus thug mé lá agus oíche san uisce. Ba mhinic i mo shiúlta mé agus gur bhaol dom aibhneacha agus gur bhaol dom robálaithe; ba bhaol dom mo chine féin agus ba bhaol dom na gintlithe. Ba bhaol dom sa chathair agus ba bhaol dom faoin bhfásach; ba bhaol dom ar muir agus ba bhaol dom na bráithre bréige. Ba mhinic ag saothar agus ag tiaráil mé agus ar easpa codlata; ba mhinic ocras agus tart orm agus mé gan bhia, gan teas, gan éadach. Agus gan na nithe eile a bhac, bíonn cúram na n-eaglaisí uile ina mhuirín laethúil orm. Cé bhaintear dá threoir nach mbímse scólta mar gheall air?Más éigean dom maíomh a dhéanamh, is as mo laigí féin a mhaífidh mé.
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 33
Freagra Fuasclaíonn an Tiarna na fíréin óna gcúngaigh go léir.
1. Beannóidh mé an Tiarna i dtólamh
beidh a mholadh i mo bhéal i gcónaí.
Bíonn m’anam ag déanamh mórtais as an Tiarna:
éistfidh daoine ísle agus beidh áthas orthu. Freagra
2. Móraigí an Tiarna mar aon liom:
tugaimis adhradh dá ainm in éineacht.
Bhí mé ag lorg an Tiarna agus d’éist sé liom
agus d’fhuascail sé ó m’eagla go léir mé. Freagra
3. Féachaigí chuige agus loinnir oraibh
’s na bíodh luisne na náire in bhur leicne.
Nuair a scairt an t-ainniseoir seo d’éist an Tiarna,
agus shaor sé óna chúngaigh go léir é. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 6:19-23
Óir san áit a mbíonn do stór, is ann a bheidh do chroí freisin.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail “Ná cuirigí stór i dtaisce daoibh féin ar an talamh mar a mbíonn an leamhan agus an mheirg á mhilleadh agus na bithiúnaigh ag briseadh isteach á ghoid. Cuirigí stór idtaisce daoibh féin ar neamh mar nach mbíonn leamhan ná meirg ann chun a mhillte, ná bithiúnaigh ann chun briseadh isteach á ghoid. Óir san áit a mbíonn do stór, is ann a bheidh do chroí freisin.
“Is í an tsúil lampa an choirp. Má bhíonn do shúil slán, beidh do chorp ar fad
solasmhar. Ach má bhíonn do shúil tinn, beidh do chorp ar fad sa dorchadas. Mar sin, má bhíonn an solas atá ionat ina dhorchadas, nach mór é an dorchadas é sin!
Soiscéal Dé
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 20th June, 2021
Scripture ThemesIn the midst of the questions that life gives rise to, when God seems to be sleeping, do we have the faith and trust that Jesus asks for? The love of the Lord is everlasting and God will see justice done in his own good time. If a believer is disappointed it is because of lack of trust in God.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Job 3:1.8-11
Here your proud waves shall break.
From the heart of tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:
Who pent up the sea behind closed doors
when it leapt tumultuous out of the womb,
when I wrapped it in a robe of mist
and made black clouds its swaddling bands;
when I marked the bounds it was not to cross
and made it fast with a bolted gate?
Come thus far, I said, and no farther:
here your proud waves shall break.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 106
Response O give thanks to the Lord,for his love endures for ever.
or Alleluia
1. Some sailed to the sea in ships
to trade on the mighty waters.
These men have seen the Lord's deeds,
the wonders he does in the deep. Response
2. For he spoke; he summoned the gale.
tossing the waves of the sea
up to heaven and back into the deep;
their soul melted away in their distress. Response
3. Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress
He stilled the storm to a whisper:
all the waves of the sea were hushed. Response
4. They rejoiced because of the calm
and he led them to the haven they desired.
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
the wonders he does for men. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 5:14-17
Now the new creation is here.
Now the new creation is here. The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all men should be dead; and the reason he died for all was so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.From now onwards, therefore, we do not' judge anyone by. the standards of the flesh. Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh, that is not how we know him now. And for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1:17. 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christenlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 7:16
Alleluia, alleluia!
A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 4:35-41
Glory to you, O Lord.
'Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.'
With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, 'Master, do you not care? We are going down!'And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Quiet now! Be calm!' And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, 'Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?' They were filled with awe and said to one another, 'Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.' Christ calms the Storm by Giorgio de Chirico, 1914
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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, 20th June, 2021
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Leabhar Iób, Fáidh. 38:1. 8-11
Anseo a theilgfear do thonnta uaibhreacha droim ar ais.
D’fhreagair an Tiarna Iób ansin as an anfa gaoithe agus dúirt:
Cé a d’iaigh an mhuir isteach le comhlaí,
Nuair a bhrúcht sí amach as an mbroinn?
Nuair a chuir mé an néal mar éide uirthi,
Agus an scamall dubh mar bhindealán uimpi.
Chuir mé teorainn léi,
Agus shocraigh mé barraí agus doirse di.
Agus dúirt mé: “An fad seo a thiocfaidh tú, ach gan teacht thairis seo;
Anseo a theilgfear do thonnta uaibhreacha droim ar ais.”
Briathar Dé
Salm le Freagra Sm 106
Freagra Ceiliúraigí an Tiarna óir maireann a ghrá go síorai.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. An mhuintir a sheol an mhuir i longa
a dhéanamh tráchtála ar an aigéan ollmhór,
chonaic siad oibreacha an Tiarna
agus a iontais san fharraige. Freagra
2. Labhair seisean agus mhúscail gaoth na doininne,
thóg tonnta na mara suas go hard.
D'éirigh siad chun na spéartha is thit chun an duibheagáin;
bhí a n-anam á shnoí sa ghátar. Freagra
3. Agus scread siad ar an Tiarna ina n-anacair,
agus sheol sé as a dtrioblóidí amach iad.
Chiúnaigh sé an t-anfa go raibh ina leoithne,
agus thit tonnta na mara ina dtost. Freagra
4. Bhí lúcháir orthu toisc iad a bheith ciúin;
agus threoraigh sé iad chun cuain a méine.
Gabhaidís buíochas leis .an Tiarna as ucht a ghrá
agus as ucht a iontas do chlann na ndaoine. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh 5:14-17
Tá gach rud cruthaithe as an nua.
A bhráithre, tá grá do Chríost dár dtiomáint ón uair a d’aithníomar go bhfuair aon duine amháin bás ar son cách uile agus dá réir sin go bhfuil an uile dhuine tar éis bháis. Agus fuair sé bás ar son cách d’fhonn is nach ar mhaithe leo féin a mhairfeadh na beo feasta ach ar mhaithe leis an té sin a fuair bás ar a son agus a d’aiséirigh ó mhairbh. As seo amach dá bhrí sin ní dhéanaimid neach ar bith a mheas do réir caighdeáin shaolta. Más ea féin go ndearnamar Críost a mheas de réir an chaighdeáin sin tráth, ní dhéanaimid amhlaidh a thuilleadh. Mar, aon duine atá i gCríost, is duine é atá cruthaithe as an nua; tá an sean i léig, féach, agus tá an nua tagtha.Briathar Dé.
Alleluia Véarsa Lc 7: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
Tá fáidh mór éirithe inar measc”;
Rinne Dia a phobal a fhiosrú.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal de réir Naomh Mhatha 4:35-41
Cé hé an duine seo a rá go ndéanann gaoth agus farraigí rud air?
Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann an lá sin, dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail :
“Téimis trasna anonn.” Agus ag fágáil an tslua ina ndiaidh, thug siad leo é sa bhád mar a bhí sé, agus bhí báid eile á thionlacan. D’éirigh cuaifeach mór gaoithe, agus bhí na farraigí ag bualadh an bháid sa chaoi go raibh sí ag líonadh cheana féin. Bhí sé féin i ndeireadh an bháid ina chodladh agus a cheann ar an bpillín, agus mhúscail siad é agus dúirt leis: “A Mháistir, an ea nach cás leat go bhfuil an bás againn?”Agus ar dhúiseacht dó, bhagair sé ar an ngaoth agus dúirt leis an bhfarraige: “Éist, bí socair!” Agus thit an ghaoth, agus bhí sé ina théigle mhór. Dúirt sé leo: “Cén fáth a bhfuil an eagla seo oraibh? An ea nach bhfuil creideamh agaibh?” Bhí uamhan agus eagla orthu agus bhí siad á rá eatarthu féin: “Cé hé an duine seo, más ea, a rá go ndéanann gaoth agus farraige rud air?”
Soiscéal Dé
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
