Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today

Feb 17 - St Fintan of Clonenagh (6th century) monk
Fintan was born in Leinster, received his religious formation in Terryglass, Co. Tipperary under the abbot Colum, and was deeply influenced by his penitential practices and the severity of the Rule. Fintan made his own foundation in Clonenagh, Co. Laois. He died in 603.
St Fintan's monastery at Clonenagh had a reputation for austerity,

Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
Two Fintans
There are at least two Fintans among the Irish saints - St Fintan of Clonenagh, Co Laois, and St Fintan of Taghmon, Co Wexford. A third is associated with Doon in Co Limerick.
Formation at Terryglass
Our Fintan was educated by St Colum of Terryglass, Co Tipperary, the severity of whose Rule and penitential practices so influenced Fintan that his own foundation in Clonenagh, Co. Laois, also acquired a reputation for austerity.
Bread of woody barley
According to Oengus, Fintan himself lived on "bread of woody barley and clayey water of clay". The community did not have even one cow and so they had neither milk nor butter. The monks complained they couldn't do hard work on such a meagre diet. A deputation of local clergy headed by Canice of Aghaboe came to urge him to improve it. He agreed for his monks, but he elected to keep to the strict diet himself.
Another version says that, warned by an angel, he prepared a great feast for the deputation with plenty available as long as they stayed, but when they went away, all reverted to as it was before. In spite of the hardships, or maybe even because of them, the monastery was crowded with young monks from all over Ireland.
Followers

Among those trained by Fintan at Clonenagh was St Comgall, who founded his own monastery at Bangor, where he trained Columbanus and a host of others who brought monasticism to Europe. Oengus, an associate of St Maelruain of Tallaght as leaders the Céilí Dé reform movement, was born, educated by Fintan, lived and died at Clonenagh.
The pact of the two Fintans
The Martyrology of Oengus tells that Fintan of Taghmon, who was also called Munnu, and Fintan of Clonenagh formed an oentas (or pact) that the name of each of them would be given to the other, in commemorationem societatis. Munnu was the baptismal name of the man from Taghmon. He took on the name Fintan, while Fintan of Clonenagh took Munnu or Munda as a second name. Not surprisingly this led to some confusion.
The Book of Clonenagh
The Book of Clonenagh is one of the lost sources cited by Geoffrey Keating in his Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (The History of Ireland) for information about the setting up of the dioceses of Ireland at the Synod of Rath Breasail in the year 1111.
For St Munna / Fintan of Taghmon, and another perspective see
http://homepage.eircom.net/~taghmon/histsoc/vol2/8munnac/8munnac.htm
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Memorable Proverbs for today
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
~Proverbs 28:13 ~
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Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle1
Envy and jealousy lead to murder c/f Cain and Abel. Self control is the gift of the Holy Spirit to all redeemed in Christ.
Memorials of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, they worked together to build up their mutual faith,
early in the thirteenth century. They followed the Rule of St Augustine.
and St Fintan, monk, abbot , deeply influenced by the severe Celtic monastic penitential practises. d.603
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Genesis 4:1-15, 25
Cain set on his brother Abel and killed him.
Adam had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. 'I have acquired a man with the help of the Lord. she said. She gave birth to a second child, Abel, the brother of Cain. Now Abel became a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil.
Time passed and Cain brought some of the produce of the soil as an offering for the Lord, while Abel for his part brought the first-born of his flock and some of their fat as well. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering. But he did not look with favour on Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry and downcast.
The Lord asked Cain,
'Why are you angry and downcast? If you are well disposed, ought you not to lift up your head?
But if you are ill disposed, is not sin at the door like a crouching beast hungering for you, which you must master?'
Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out';

and while they were in the open country, Cain set on his brother Abel and killed him.
The Lord asked Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?'
'I do not know' he replied. 'Am I my brother's guardian?'
'What have you done?' The Lord asked.
'Listen to the sound of your brother's blood, crying out to me from the ground. Now be accursed and driven from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands. When you till the ground it shall no longer yield you any of its produce. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth.'
Then Cain said to the Lord,
'My punishment is greater than I can bear. See! Today you drive me from this ground. I must hide from you, and be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!'
'Very well, then,' the Lord replied 'if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for him.'
So the Lord put a mark on Cain, to prevent whoever might come across him from striking him down.
Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, '
because God has granted me other offspring' she said 'in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 49
Response Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.
1. The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting. 'I find no fault with your sacrifices,
your offerings are always before me.' Response
2. 'But how can you recite my commandments and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise my law and throw my words to the winds. Response
3. 'You who sit and malign your brother and slander your own mother's son.
You do this, and should I keep silence? Do you think that I am like you?' 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 4: 23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 8:11-13 Glory to you, O Lord
Why does this generation demand a sign?

The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with Jesus;
they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him.
And with a sigh that came straight from the heart he said,
'Why does this generation demand a sign?
I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.'
And leaving them again and re-embarking he went away to the opposite shore.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Monday. Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Mark 8:11–13
Today’s gospel reading reveals a very human side to Jesus. He shows exasperation before the Pharisees who ask him for a sign from heaven. The evangelist comments ‘with a sigh that came straight from the heart he said “Why does this generation demand a sign?”’ Up to this point in Mark’s gospel Jesus had been healing the sick and the broken, welcoming sinners home, feeding multitudes in the wilderness. There had been no shortage of signs from heaven for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. This was the time to recognize God powerfully at work in Jesus and to believe in him as God’s unique messenger. It was not the time to be demanding that Jesus perform more signs from heaven. What God had already given through Jesus should have been enough.
Because some people, like the Pharisees, were not appreciating all the Lord was doing in their midst, more signs from heaven would serve no purpose. The gospel reading calls on us to have eyes that see and ears that hear all that the Lord is doing among us, rather than looking for more spectacular expressions of the Lord’s presence and working. In every present moment, the Lord provides us with enough to be getting on with. There is much to see and much to hear each day because the Lord is always at work deep within each of us and among us in striking ways. In our relationship with the Lord, our role is not to demand signs from him but to be open to recognize and receive the signs that are already there.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Sliocht as Leabhar Genesis 4:1-15. 25
D’iompaigh Cáin ar Áibil a dheartháir agus mharaigh sé é.
Luigh Ádhamh lena bhean Éabha agus ghabh sí gin agus rug mac, Cáin. “Fuaireas mac,” ar sí, “le cúnamh an Tiarna.”
Agus rug sí an dara mac Áibil, deartháir Cháin. Aoire i bhfeighil caorach a ba ea Áibil, ach ag saothrú na talún a bhíodh Cáin.
Faoi chionn tamaill thug Cáin cuid de thorthaí na talún mar íobairt don Tiarna, agus thug Áibil mar an gcéanna cuid de chéadghinte a thréada agus dá saill. D’fhéach an Tiarna le fabhar ar Áibil agus ar a íobairt ach níor fhéach sé le fabhar ar Cháin ná ar a íobairtsean. Líon Cáin le fearg agus chuir púic air féin.
Chuir an Tiarna ceist ar Cháin:
“Cén fáth,” ar sé, “a bhfuil fearg ort agus púic? Má dhéanann tú an mhaith, nach nglacfar leat? Mura ndéana tú an mhaith, nach shin é an peaca ar an tairseach agat agus craos air chugat ach go gcaithfir é a cheansú?”
“Téanam amach,” arsa Cáin le hÁibil a dheartháir. Fad bhí siad amuigh, d’iompaigh Cáin ar Áibil a dheartháir agus mharaigh sé é.

“Cá bhfuil Áibil do dheartháir?”
“Níl a fhios agam,” ar sé. “An mise coimeádaí mo dhearthár?”
“Cad tá déanta agat?” arsa an Tiarna. “Tá guth fhuil do dhearthár ag glaoch orm as an talamh.
Beidh mallacht ort feasta agus tú ar díbirt ón talamh seo a d’oscail a bhéal agus a ghlac fuil do dhearthár ó do láimh. Nuair a shaothróidh tú an talamh ní thabharfaidh sé feasta dá dhícheall duit. Beidh tú i do theifeach agus i d’fhánaí ar talamh.”
Dúirt Cáin leis an Tiarna:
“Tá mo phionós thar mo chumas iompair. Seo thú inniu do mo dhíbirt ón talamh seo; rachaidh mé i bhfolach ó do ghnúis; beidh mé i mo theifeach agus i m’fhánaí ar talamh agus an té thiocfaidh orm maróidh sé mé.”
“Cibé más ea,” arsa an Tiarna leis, “a mharóidh Cáin, déanfar é a dhíolt air faoi sheacht.”
Agus chuir an Tiarna marc ar Cháin ionas nach maródh aon duine a thiocfadh air é.
Luigh Ádhamh lena bhean arís, agus rug sí mac ar ar thug sé Séat, mar, a dúirt sí,
“Bhronn Dia leanbh eile orm in áit Áibil mar gur mharaigh Cáin é.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 49
Freagra Toirbhir íobairt an bhuíochais do Dhia.
1. Labhair an Tiarna – is é Dia na ndéithe é – agus ghair sé chuige an chruinne.
Ó éirí go luí na gréine Ní de bharr d’íobairtí a cháinim thú:
bíonn do loiscíobairtí i mo láthair de shíor. Freagra
2. Ach is é a deir Dia leis an bpeacach: “Cén ceart atá agatsa mo dhlí a fhógairt
agus lán béil a dhéanamh de mo chonradh?
Ó tharla gur fuath leat mo dhlí agus go ndéanann tú neamhní de mo bhriathra? Freagra
3. Tugann tú míchlú do bhráthar i do shuí duit, tromaíonn tú ar mhac do mháthar féin.
Déanann tú amhlaidh, agus an mbeidh mise i mo thost?
An dóigh leat gurb é do dhálasa agamsa é? Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 8:11-13 Glóir duit a Thiarna.duit.
Cén fáth a bhfuil an ghlúin seo ag lorg comhartha?

San am sin tháinig na Fairisínigh agus thosaigh siad ag argóint le h Íosa, ag lorg comhartha ó na flaithis uaidh, ag baint trialach as. Rinne sé osna dhomhain ina spiorad agus dúirt:
“Cén fáth a bhfuil an ghlúin seo ag lorg comhartha?
Deirim libh go fírinneach, ní thabharfar comhartha don ghlúin seo.”
D’fhág sé iad agus ar dhul ar bord dó arís chuaigh sé go dtí an taobh eile.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
The followers of Jesus are to strive to be as merciful as God is merciful
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of the Prophet Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
God has put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed.
Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Soon o in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him.
Then Abishai said to David,
Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear.
One stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.'

David answered Abishai,
'Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord's' anointed and be without guilt?
David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul's head, and they made off.
No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off;
there was a wide space between them. David then called out,
'Here is the king's spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it.
The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty.
Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 102
Response The Lord is compassion and love.
1. My soul, give thanks to the Lord, all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings. Response
2. It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals everyone of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion. Response
3. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. Response
4. As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins.
As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 15: 45-49
We who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.
The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul;

That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit.
The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven.
As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven.
And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Acts 16: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 6: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, says the Lord
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6: 27-38
Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'But I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.
To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too;
to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you.

Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
'Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves;
grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.'
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.
Sliocht as céad Leabhar Sameuil, Fáidh. 26:2, 7-9; 12-13; 22-23
Thug an Tiarna do namhaid i do láimh duit inniu! Ach ní shínfinn mo lámh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna.
D’imigh Sól dá bhrí sin agus síos leis go fásach Zíf agus trí mhíle fear tofa as Iosrael aige chun Dáiví a chuardach i bhfásach Zíf. D'imigh Dáiví agus Aibísí leo sa dorchadas dá bhrí sin chun an airm agus fuaireadar Sól ansiúd ina chodladh sa champa, a shleá sáite sa talamh ag a cheann agus Aibneár agus an t-arm ina luí timpeall air.

Ansin dúirt Aibísí le Dáiví:
“Thug an Tiarna do namhaid i do láimh duit inniu!
Déanfaidh mé é a shá go talamh le hiarracht dá shleá féin!
Aon iarracht amháin air, ní bhuailfidh mé an dara ceann.”
Ach d’fhreagair Dáiví Aibísí:
“Ná maraigh é! Óir cé d’fhéadfadh a lámh a shíneadh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna, agus ciontacht a sheachaint?
Thóg Dáiví an tsleá agus an crúsca uisce a bhí taobh le ceann Shóil agus d’imigh leis. Ní bhfuair aon duine radharc súl ná clos cluas ar ar tharla, ná níor dhúisigh aon duine; bhíodar go léir ina gcodladh mar thit codladh trom ón Tiarna orthu.
Ghabh Dáiví anonn go dtí an taobh eile agus stad sé ar bharr an chnoic i bhfad ó bhaile; bhí spás mór eatarthu.
Agus d’fhreagair Dáiví:
“Seo sleá an rí anseo. Tagadh duine de na saighdiúirí anall agus beireadh sé leis í. Cúitíonn an Tiarna a fhíréantacht agus a dhílse le gach duine. Thug an Tiarna thú i mo láimh dom inniu ach ní shínfinn mo lámh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 102
Freagra Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna.
I. Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, beannaíodh a bhfuil istigh ionam a ainm naofa.
Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, agus ná déan dearmad dá thíolaicí go léir. Freagra
2. Eisean a mhaitheann do chionta go léir, a shlánaíonn d'easláintí go léir,
a fhuasclaíonn do bheatha ón mbás, a chorónaíonn thú le grá is le trua. Freagra
3. Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna, foighneach agus lán de cheansacht.
Ní de réir ár bpeacaí a roinneann sé linn: ní de réir ár gcionta a chuitíonn sé sinn. Freagra
4. Ní faide an t-oirthear ón iarthar ná an fad a chuireann sé ár gcionta uainn.
Amhail is trua leis an athair a chlann is trua leis an Tiarna lucht a eaglaithe. Freagra
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 15:45-49
Mar atá scríofa:

“Rinneadh anam beo den chéad duine, Ádhamh.”
Sea, agus rinne spiorad a bheonn den dara hÁdhamh. Ach ní hé an rud osnádúrtha is túisce a bhí ann ach an rud nádúrtha agus an rud osnádúrtha ina dhiaidh.
Is ó chré na talún a tháinig an chéad duine agus é talmhaí ach is ó neamh an dara duine. Bíonn na daoine talmhaí ar aon dul leis an duine úd a tháinig ón talamh, agus bíonn na daoine neamhaí ar aon dul leis an duine úd ó neamh. Agus faoi mar a ghlacamar cló an duine thalmhaí orainn, [glacaimis] cló an duine neamhaí orainn chomh maith.
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, seo a dúirt and Tiarna
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúc. 6:27-38 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bígí sibhse atruach amhail mar atá bhur nAthair atruach.
Dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“Ach deirim libhse atá ag éisteacht liom: bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde, déanaigí an mhaith dóibh seo a thugann fuath daoibh, beannaígí iad seo a thugann mallacht daoibh, guígí orthu seo a dhéanann olc oraibh. An té a bhuaileann ar an leiceann tú, tabhair an leiceann eile leis chomh maith; agus an té a thógann uait do bhrat, ná coinnigh uaidh do chóta.
Gach aon duine a iarrann aisce ort, tabhair dó í, agus an té a bhaineann díot do chuid, ná hiarr ar ais uaidh é. Dé réir mar ab áil libh daoine a dhéanamh daoibh, déanaigí dóibh sin mar an gcéanna.

Má thugann sibh grá dóibh seo a thugann grá daoibh, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Óir tugann na peacaigh féin grá dóibh seo a thugann grá dóibh. Agus má dhéanann sibh an mhaith dóibh seo a dhéanann an mhaith daoibh, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Déanann na peacaigh féin an rud céanna. Agus má thugann sibh iasacht dóibh seo gur dóigh mhaith agaibh iad, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Fiú amháin peacaigh, tugann siad iasacht do pheacaigh chun go bhfaighidís an oiread céanna ar ais. Ach bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde, déanaigí an mhaith agus tugaigí iasacht gan súil le cúiteamh ar bith, agus is mór é bhur dtuarastal, agus beidh sibh in bhur gclann don Té is Airde, óir bíonn seisean lách le daoine díomaíocha agus le drochdhaoine.
Bígí sibhse atruach amhail mar atá bhur nAthair atruach. Ná tugaigí breith agus ní thabharfar breith oraibh. Ná daoraigí agus ní dhaorfar sibh. Maithigí agus maithfear daoibh. Tugaigí agus tabharfar daoibh: tomhas maith, fuinte, craite, cruachta a chuirfear chugaibh in bhur n-ucht; óir is leis an tomhas lena dtomhaiseann sibh a thomhaisfear chugaibh ar ais.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
