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Do Lough Derg from wherever you are
Date: Saturday 27th – Monday 29th June 2020Location: Wherever you are
Do Lough Derg from wherever you are
Date: Saturday 27th – Monday 29th June 2020
Location: Wherever you are
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Homeless figures had passed 10,000 in January 2020 but in June they were down to 8,699, which is 177 less than in May. Of the 8,699 people accessing emergency accommodation in June, 6,046 were adults and 2,653 dependents. There were 1,159 families in emergency accommodation. read more »
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God gives to us in truckloads.
A priest reveals that, when asked to take on some Church ministry, we take stock of our available time and energy and think of the commitment and the sacrifices the ministry will involve. We may wonder if we can do it, and these constitute important considerations.
But when the ministry is completed, perhaps the most common thing the priest says he hears from people is how blessed they feel for having done it. They typically say things like, “God gave me a lot more back in return than I gave.” Indeed, we give to God in thimblefuls, and he gives back to us amply, or you might say “in truckloads.”
The priest says that when he looks back on his years of ministry as a priest, he begins to see how little he really gave and how richly God blessed him in return. Profound gratitude can only be the proper response to such generosity.
How has God richly blessed you? Today, let us spend the day in profound gratitude.
Compiled by Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net
Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).
Aug 7 - St Cajetan of Vicensa, founder
Summary: This Cajetan is the founder of an institute for the reform of the clergy who worked in Rome, Vicenza and Naples in the 16th Century. It is important to distinguish this saint from his contemporary Thomas Cardinal Cajetan (Giacomo de Vio 1469-1534), a Dominican neo-scholastic theologian and examiner of Martin Luther at the Diet of Augsburg in 1517.
Patrick Duffy profiles him.
Native of Vicenza
Cajetan dei Conti di Tiene was born in Vicenza in the republic of the Veneto. He was of noble family, the youngest of three brothers. His mother played a strong part in developing his piety. After attending college at Vicenza he studied law at Padua where he attained a doctorate in both civil and canon law. He then went to Rome where became a diplomat in the service of Pope Julius II and won over the Venetian Republic.Ordination as priest and reform of the clergy
Ordained a priest in 1516, Cajetan worked hard for the poor and the sick and founded a hospital for incurables. He had the idea of forming a community that would combine monastic spirituality with active ministry. The emphasis would be on the three functions of preaching, administering the sacraments and celebrating the liturgy. What he wanted was to restore true apostolic life among the clergy at a time of great corruption.
The Theatines
Along with John Peter Carafa, who later became Pope Paul IV, and two others, he formed an institute of clerks regular. They got the name the specific Theatines from the Latin name for Chieti (Theate), where Carafa had been bishop; he resigned and became the first superior general. The name helped to distinguish them from other reforming orders of the time, like the Jesuits, the Barnabites and the Somaschi.
From Venice to Naples
After the sack of Rome in 1527 Cajetan returned to Venice and during three years he directed the religious institute he had founded. In 1533 Carafa transferred him to Naples where he lived for the next fourteen years. He encouraged the growth of what were called monti di pietà (were they the first credit unions?) offering financial loans at a moderate interest to those in need to keep them out of the hands of usurers. His congregation also cared for incurable syphilitics. Worn out by his apostolic labours, Cajetan died in Naples at the age of sixty-seven.
Subsequent Theatine influence
Many illustrious names of the Italian aristocracy later joined the Theatine order - among them was liturgical scholar St Joseph Mary Tomasi (1649-1713) who was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 1986. The Theatines also founded many beautiful churches, including that of Sant'Andrea della Valle on the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele in Rome. They were also the first to found papal missions in foreign lands - India, Burma, Persia and Peru. At present the order has 33 houses and 189 members, of whom 133 are priests, mostly in Italy, Spain, Latin America and the USA.
Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 7th August, 2020
Friday of 18th week of Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Nahum 2:1. 3. 3:1-3. 6-7
Woe to the city soaked in blood.
See, over the mountains the messenger hurries!
'Peace!' he proclaims.
Judah, celebrate your feasts,
carry out your vows,
for Belial will never pass through you again;
he is utterly annihilated.
Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob
and the vineyard of Israel.
For the plunderers had plundered them,
they had broken off their branches.
Woe to the city soaked in blood,
full of lies, stuffed with booty,
whose plunderings know no end!
The crack of the whip!
The rumble of wheels!
Galloping horse,
jolting chariot,
charging cavalry,
flash of swords,
gleam of spears...
a mass of wounded,
hosts of dead,
countless corpses;
they stumble over the dead.
I am going to pelt you with filth,
shame you, make you a public show.
And all who look on you
will turn their backs on you and say,
'Nineveh is a ruin.'
Could anyone pity her?
Where can I find anyone to comfort her?
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Deut 32
Response It is the Lord who deals death and life.
1. It is close, the day of their ruin;
their doom comes at speed.
For the Lord will see his people righted,
he will take pity on his servants. Response
2. See now that I, I am He,
and beside me there is no other god.
It is I who deal death and life:
when I have struck it is I who heal. Response
3. When I have whetted my flashing sword
I will take up the cause of Right,
I will give my foes as good again,
I will repay those who hate me. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3: 9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia !
Or Mt: 5: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 16: 24-28
What has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? '
'For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.'
The Gospel of the Lord
*****************
Gospel Reflection Friday, 18th Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 16:24-28
Jesus often speaks in ways that strike us as strange, such as in today’s gospel reading when he declares, ‘anyone who wants to save his life will lose it’. We might find ourselves wondering, ‘How could this be true?’ ‘What does Jesus mean by this?’ It is one of those sayings that requires a certain amount of teasing out. When Jesus speaks about the ‘one who wants to save his life’, he is probably referring to the person who selfishly seeks self-fulfilment, who grasps at life in a very self-centred and self-regarding way. Jesus is declaring that such a person will not live a truly fulfilled life; at the end of the day, they will lose their life. In contrast, those who lose their life for the sake of Jesus will find it; those who are prepared to give their lives away in love, because this is what Jesus did for us and asks of us, will receive the fullness of life as a gift of God. They will receive this fullness of life in eternity, but they will begin to experience it already here and now in this earthly life. Jesus is saying that we don’t find ourselves, our true selves, by focusing on ourselves. Rather, we find ourselves by focusing beyond ourselves, by focusing on others in love, by focusing on the Lord present in others and calling out to us through others. Jesus declares that it is possible to gain the whole world and to lose our very self, our true self, the self that is made in God’s image. The reverse is also true. We can lose everything, out of love for God and others, and, yet, find life to the full. It is above all the life and death of Jesus that reveals this to be so.
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 comes from WEEKDAY REFLECTIONS 2019-20: The Word of God is Living and Active by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 7th August, 2020
FIRST READING Sliocht as an Leabhar Nahum , Fáidh. 2:1. 3. 3:1-3. 6-7
“Tá Nínivé léirscriosta!” Cad as a bhfaighidh mé sólásaithe di?
Féach, tá teachtaire ag brostú thar dhroim na sléibhte
agus é ag fógairt na síochána.
Céiliúir do chuid féilte, a Iúdá;
comhlíon do mhóideanna.
Óir ní ghluaisfidh an bithiúnach tríot arís
mar tá sé scriosta go hiomlán.
Tá an Tiarna ag athbheochan niamhracht Iacóib
agus niamhracht Iosrael chomh maith
d’ainneoin gur scrios na scriostóirí iad
agus gur mhill siad a gcraobhacha.
atá lomlán de chamastaíl agus líonta le creach
agus nach bhfuil teorainn leis an slad
a dhéanann sí,
Bloscadh fuipeanna, tormáil rothaí,
capaill ar cosa in airde, carbaid ar léim lúith!
Eachra ag ionsaí, claimhte ag bladhmadh,
sleánna ag drithliú …
sluaite gonta, na mílte marbh,
coirp gan áireamh
a bhaineann tuisle as cách!
Caithfidh mé cac ort,
náireoidh mé thú
agus déanfaidh mé seó bóthair díot.
Agus gach uile dhuine a bhreathnóidh ort,
teithfidh sé uait, á rá:
“Tá Nínivé léirscriosta!”
Cé a chaoinfidh í?
Cad as a bhfaighidh mé sólásaithe di?
Salm le Freagra Deut 32
Freagra Is mé údar an bháis agus údar na beatha.
1. Óir tá lá a scriosta in achmaireacht
agus tá a dtubaiste ar sodar faoina ndéin.
Óir tabharfaidh an Tiarna breith i bhfabhar a phobail,
agus beidh trua aige dá shearbhóntaí. Freagra
2. Féach anois, gur mise É, mise féin
agus níl aon dia eile ann ach mé.
Is mé údar an bháis agus údar na beatha
Nuair a bhuailim, is mé a leigheasann Freagra
3. Nuair a bheidh faobhar ar mo chlaíomh lonrach,
agus go dtéim i mbun cúis na córa,
déanfaidh mé díoltas a imirt ar mo naimhde,
agus díolfaidh mé an comhar le lucht m’fhuatha. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 16:24-28
Nó cad a d’fhéadfadh duine a thabhairt mar mhalairt ar a anam?
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail: “Más áil le haon duine bheith ar mo bhuíon, séanadh sé é féin, tógadh suas a chros agus leanadh mé. Óir cibé arb áil leis a anam a shaoradh, caillfidh sé é; ach cibé a chaillfidh a anam mar gheall ormsa, gheobhaidh sé é. Óir cá fearrde duine go ngnóthódh sé an domhan go léir dá ligfeadh sé a anam féin ar ceal?Nó cad a d’fhéadfadh duine a thabhairt mar mhalairt ar a anam?
Óir tá Mac an Duine le teacht faoi ghlóir a Athar lena chuid aingeal, agus ansin cúiteoidh sé le gach duine de réir mar a rinne. Deirim libh go fírinneach, tá daoine anseo i láthair nach mblaisfidh an bás nó go mbeidh Mac an Duine feicthe acu ag teacht ina ríocht.”
Soiscéal Dé
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 9th August, 2020
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time
FIRST READING
A reading from the first Book of Kings 19:9. 11-13
Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.
When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' Then he was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 84
Response Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
1. I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land. Response
2. Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven. Response
3. The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps. Response
4. Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Romans 9:1-5
I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers.
What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ - it is the truth - my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation Lk 19: 38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heave and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!
Or Ps 129: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
My Soul is waiting on the Lord, I count on his word
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 14:22-33
Tell me to come to you across the water.
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. 'It is a ghost' they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.' lt was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.' 'Come' said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord! Save me!' he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'Man of little faith,' he said 'why did you doubt?' And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God'.The Gospel of the Lord.
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, 9th August, 2020
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Céad Leabhar na Rithe 19:9. 11-13
Gabh amach agus seas ar an sliabh os comhair an Tiarna.
Nuair shroich Éilias Horaeb, sliabh Dé.chuaigh Agus chuaigh sé isteach san uaimh ansiúd agus chaith an oíche ann. Ansin fuair sé an focal: “Gabh amach agus seas ar an sliabh os comhair an Tiarna.” Chuaigh an Tiarna féin thar bráid ansin. Tháinig gaoth láidir, chomh tréan sin gur réab sí na sléibhte agus go ndearna smionagar de na carraigeacha roimh an Tiarna. Ach ní raibh an Tiarna sa ghaoth. I ndiaidh na gaoithe tháinig crith talún. Ach ní raibh an Tiarna sa chrith talún. I ndiaidh an chrith talún, tháinig tine. Ach ní raibh an Tiarna sa tine. I ndiaidh na tine, tháinig fuaim chogair bhig. Nuair a chuala Éilias é sin, chlúdaigh sé a aghaidh lena chlóca; chuaigh sé amach agus sheas sé i mbéal na huaimhe.
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 84
Freagra Taispeáin dúinn, a Thiarna, do thrócaire, agus tabhair dúinn do shlánú.
I. Éistfidh mé leis an ní a déarfaidh an Tiarna Dia;
déarfaidh sé go deimhin lena phobal: 'Síocháin daoibh.'
Tá a shlánú i ngar do lucht a eaglaithe
chun go gcónóidh an ghlóir inár dtír. Freagra
2. Casadh ar a chéile an trócaire is an dílseacht,
phóg an fhíréantácht is an tsíocháin a chéile.
Eascróidh an dílseacht as an tálamh
agus breathnóidh an fhíréantacht anuas ó neamh. Freagra
3. Tábharíaidh an Tiarna fós an mhaith,
agus tabharfaidh an tálamh a thoradh uaidh.
Rachaidh an fhíréantacht roimhe amach
agus an tsíocáin i lorg a choiscéiméanna. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 9:1-5
Níor mhiste liom bheith faoi mhallacht agus dealaithe ó Chríost ar son bhráithre.
A bhráithre, táim ag insint na fírinne i gCríost, agus tá mo choinsias á dhearbhú dom sa Spiorad Naomh, nach aon bhréag dom a rá 2 go bhfuil dólás mór orm agus arraing gan staonadh i mo chroí. Níor mhiste liom bheith faoi mhallacht agus dealaithe ó Chríost ar son bhráithre mo chine féin, de réir na colainne. Iosraelaigh is ea iad; is leosan bheith ina gclann Dé; is leo an ghlóir, na conarthaí, an reacht, an liotúirge agus na gealltanais; is leo na patrarcaí, agus is díobh an Críost de réir na colainne – an té atá ina Dhia ar an uile ní, moladh go deo leis. Amen.
Briathar Dé.
Alleluia Véarsa Lc 19: 38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht ina rí, in ainm an Tiarna!
Síocháin sna flaithis, agus glóire in uachtar neimhe.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 14:22-33
Ordaigh mé a theacht chugat ar bharr an uisce.
San am sin chuir Íosa d’fhiacha ar na deisceabail dul ar bord agus imeacht roimhe go dtí an taobh thall fad a bheadh sé féin ag scaoileadh na sluaite uaidh. Agus tar éis a scaoilte dó, chuaigh sé an sliabh suas ar leithligh chun guí, agus nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann bhí sé ansiúd ina aonar. Bhí an bád faoin am sin mórán staideanna amach ón talamh, á bocadh ag na farraigí, mar bhí an ghaoth contrártha. Sa cheathrú faire den oíche, tháinig sé chucu ag siúl ar an bhfarraige. Nuair a chonaic na deisceabail é, agus é ag siúl ar an bhfarraige, bhí siad buartha: “Taibhse atá ann!” ar siad, agus scread siad amach le barr eagla. Ach labhair Íosa leo láithreach: “Bíodh misneach agaibh!” ar seisean, “mise atá ann, ná bíodh eagla oraibh.” D’fhreagair Peadar é: “A Thiarna,” ar seisean, “más tú atá ann, ordaigh mé a theacht chugat ar bharr an uisce.” Dúirt Íosa: “Tar!” Agus tháinig Peadar amach as an mbád agus shiúil ar bharr an uisce ag déanamh ar Íosa. Ach nuair a d’airigh sé chomh borb agus a bhí an ghaoth, rug an eagla air; thosaigh ag dul faoi uisce agus scread sé amach: “A Thiarna, saor mé!” ar seisean. Shín Íosa amach a lámh láithreach, agus ag breith greama air dúirt: “A fhir an bheagán creidimh, cén fáth ar tháinig amhras ort?” Ar dhul isteach sa bhád dóibh, thit an ghaoth. Agus iad seo a bhí sa bhád, d’umhlaigh siad síos ina láthair ag rá: “Go dearfa, is tú Mac Dé.”Soiscéal Dé.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
