Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jul 12 - St Veronica's Towel
Summary: The sixth station of the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) is entitled:"Veronica wipes the face of Jesus".
A meditation accompanying this station reads: "As Jesus proceeds on his way covered with the sweat of death, a woman moved with compassion makes her way through the crowd and wipes his face with a towel. As a reward of her piety, the impression of his countenance is miraculously imprinted on the towel".
Patrick Duffy looks at the devotion to St Veronica and its history.
History or Legend?
This devotion, popularised in the nineteenth century, has made Veronica into a well known saint. She even has a statue in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. But it seems certain that she is a total legend coming from the very understandable desire to know what Jesus actually looked like, a desire to see the face of Jesus. No reference is made to Veronica or the towel in the canonical Gospels.
A Relic of Jesus (a true image?)
From the 8th century there existed at Rome a relic said to be a sudarium (or "sweat towel") used to wipe Jesus' face. By the 12th century claims were being made for a number of these that were said to have the image of the face of Jesus imprinted on them. Disputes arose as to which of these was the vera icon (or "true image"). Giraldus Cambrensis (1146-1223), a clergyman from Wales who visited Rome three times, gives evidence of this in his work Speculum Ecclesiae.
Veronica
Ordinary language turned this vera icon into veronica (or "the veronica") and this lady is often identified with the woman with the haemorrhage cured by touching the hem of Jesus's cloak (Mk 5:21-43), whom the apocryphal Acts of Pilate call Berenike. It was a short step from that to Veronica's veil becoming an object of veneration in St Peter's in the late Middle Ages. This is mentioned by both Petrarch and Dante. Pope Innocent III had it publicly displayed and granted indulgences for those praying before it.
Devotion to the Holy Face
Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus then became so popular that the same Pope Innocent III authorised a Mass and Office of the feast of the Holy Face in 1216. In 1297 Pope Boniface VIII had Veronica's veil transferred to St. Peter's and displayed as one of the mirabilia urbis ("wonders of the city") for the pilgrims who visited Rome for the Holy Year in 1300 AD to see.
Statue in St Peter's
In the 17th century the veil was found hidden in a relic chamber built by Bernini into one of the piers supporting the dome of St Peter's. By this time a more critical historical approach to relics had set in and St Charles Borromeo had the Mass and Office of the Holy Face suppressed in Milan. But the shrine and a statue of St Veronica remain in the Basilica of St Peter's in the Vatican till this day.
A Conclusion
That a compassionate woman could have wiped the face of Jesus is not to be discounted. Christians are free to ponder such an action and its motivation. But St Veronica was not mentioned in any canonical gospel nor in any of the earliest martyrologies, nor is she named in the Roman Martyrology today. Neither does she currently have any liturgical celebration in the Catholic Calendar of the Universal Church.
Another such image The Mandylion of King Agbar of Edessa and the Acheiropoietos icon
Another claimant to be the true image of Jesus from the East was the mandylion ("towel" or "handkerchief") from Edessa in Syria, which was said to have been given by Jesus to his contemporary King Agbar of Edessa. This was at first reported to be a picture painted by the messenger who came requesting Jesus to come and heal him. But it later
developed into "an image not made by hands" (acheiropoietos) and in the 8th century became the justification of Eastern Orthodox iconography. John of Damascus, the leading proponent of the teaching favouring icons as opposed to the Iconoclasts, says that Jesus "is said to have taken a piece of cloth and pressed it to his face, impressing on it the image of his face, which it keeps to this day" (On the Divine Images I).
____________________________
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it,
but because by it I see everything else.”
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that
we were made for another world.”
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good
because He loves us.”
A meditation accompanying this station reads: "As Jesus proceeds on his way covered with the sweat of death, a woman moved with compassion makes her way through the crowd and wipes his face with a towel. As a reward of her piety, the impression of his countenance is miraculously imprinted on the towel".
Patrick Duffy looks at the devotion to St Veronica and its history.
History or Legend?
This devotion, popularised in the nineteenth century, has made Veronica into a well known saint. She even has a statue in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. But it seems certain that she is a total legend coming from the very understandable desire to know what Jesus actually looked like, a desire to see the face of Jesus. No reference is made to Veronica or the towel in the canonical Gospels.A Relic of Jesus (a true image?)
From the 8th century there existed at Rome a relic said to be a sudarium (or "sweat towel") used to wipe Jesus' face. By the 12th century claims were being made for a number of these that were said to have the image of the face of Jesus imprinted on them. Disputes arose as to which of these was the vera icon (or "true image"). Giraldus Cambrensis (1146-1223), a clergyman from Wales who visited Rome three times, gives evidence of this in his work Speculum Ecclesiae.
Veronica
Ordinary language turned this vera icon into veronica (or "the veronica") and this lady is often identified with the woman with the haemorrhage cured by touching the hem of Jesus's cloak (Mk 5:21-43), whom the apocryphal Acts of Pilate call Berenike. It was a short step from that to Veronica's veil becoming an object of veneration in St Peter's in the late Middle Ages. This is mentioned by both Petrarch and Dante. Pope Innocent III had it publicly displayed and granted indulgences for those praying before it.
Devotion to the Holy Face
Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus then became so popular that the same Pope Innocent III authorised a Mass and Office of the feast of the Holy Face in 1216. In 1297 Pope Boniface VIII had Veronica's veil transferred to St. Peter's and displayed as one of the mirabilia urbis ("wonders of the city") for the pilgrims who visited Rome for the Holy Year in 1300 AD to see.
Statue in St Peter's
In the 17th century the veil was found hidden in a relic chamber built by Bernini into one of the piers supporting the dome of St Peter's. By this time a more critical historical approach to relics had set in and St Charles Borromeo had the Mass and Office of the Holy Face suppressed in Milan. But the shrine and a statue of St Veronica remain in the Basilica of St Peter's in the Vatican till this day.
A Conclusion
That a compassionate woman could have wiped the face of Jesus is not to be discounted. Christians are free to ponder such an action and its motivation. But St Veronica was not mentioned in any canonical gospel nor in any of the earliest martyrologies, nor is she named in the Roman Martyrology today. Neither does she currently have any liturgical celebration in the Catholic Calendar of the Universal Church.
Another such image The Mandylion of King Agbar of Edessa and the Acheiropoietos icon
Another claimant to be the true image of Jesus from the East was the mandylion ("towel" or "handkerchief") from Edessa in Syria, which was said to have been given by Jesus to his contemporary King Agbar of Edessa. This was at first reported to be a picture painted by the messenger who came requesting Jesus to come and heal him. But it later
developed into "an image not made by hands" (acheiropoietos) and in the 8th century became the justification of Eastern Orthodox iconography. John of Damascus, the leading proponent of the teaching favouring icons as opposed to the Iconoclasts, says that Jesus "is said to have taken a piece of cloth and pressed it to his face, impressing on it the image of his face, which it keeps to this day" (On the Divine Images I).____________________________
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Memorable Sayings for Today
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it,
but because by it I see everything else.”
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that
we were made for another world.”
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good
because He loves us.”
~ C.S. Lewis ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11
The rain makes the earth give growth.
Thus says the Lord:
As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 64: 10-14 R/v Luke 8:8
Response Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.
1. You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. Response
2. And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows,
you level it, soften it with showers, you bless its growth. Response
3. You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps,
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. Response
4. The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes, they sing. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:18-23
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.
I t
hink that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God.From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3: 9,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
or Mt 11: 25
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-23
A sower went out to sow.
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said,'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'
Then the disciples went up to him and asked, |
'Why do you talk to them in parables?'
'Because' he replied 'the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:
You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and
be healed by me.
'But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.
'You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'
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/
_______________________________
Shorter form
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-9
A sower went out to sow.
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said,'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh 55:10-11
Cuireann an bháisteach eascar sa talamh.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Mar a thagann báisteach agus sneachta anuas ó na spéartha
agus nach bhfilleann suas ar ais gan an talamh a fhliuchadh, gan fás agus eascar a chur ann, chun go dtuga sé síol don síoladóir agus arán le hithe, is amhlaidh don bhriathar a théann as mo bhéal, ní fhilleann orm gan toradh, gan an rud a b’áil liom a dhéanamh agus mo bheart a chur I gcrích.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 64: 10-14
Freagra Thit an síol ar an talamh maith agus thug toradh uaidh.
1. Tugann tú cuairt ar an talamh, á uisciú. Méadaíonn tú a mhaoin.
Sceitheann abhainn Dé thar bruacha d'fhonn arbhar a sholáthar dó. Freagra
2. Is mar sin a ullmhaíonn tú an talamh ag tabhairt uisce dá chlaiseanna.
Déanann tú é a bhogadh Ie ceathanna. Beannaíonn tú a gheamhar. Freagra
3. Cuireann tú barr ar an mbliain le d'fhéile go mbíonn do chéimeanna ag sileadh le méathras
agus féarach an fhásaigh ar sileadh. Freagra
4. Tá na cnoic arna gcrioslú Ie gairdeas, tá na móinéir líonta de thréada.
Tá na gleannta faoi bhrat arbhair: tógann siad gártha agus canann Ie háthas. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:18-23
Tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé.
A bhráithre, measaim nach fiú le háireamh pianta na huaire seo le hais na glóire atá le foilsiú dúinn. Mar tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé. Cuireadh an dúlra freisin ó rath, ní dá dheoin féin ach mar gheall ar an té úd a chuir ó rath é, ach i ndóchas; mar fuasclófar an dúlra féin ó dhaoirse na truaillitheachta, chun saoirse ghlórmhar chlann Dé. Is eol dúinn go ráibh an chruthaíocht go léir le chéile go dtí anois ag cneadach le tinneas mar a bheadh sí ar a leaba luí seoil.Agus ní hé an dúlra amháin atá amhlaidh ach sinne féin chomh maith; cé go bhfuil céadtorthaí an Spioraid againn cheana féin, táimidne ag cneadach freisin inár gcroí istigh agus sinn ag feitheamh le go ndéanfar clann dínn,agus go mbeidh ár gcorp fuascailte.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa 1Sam 3:9 Eo 6: 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Labhair, a Thiarna, tá do sheirbhíseach ag éisteacht. Is agatsa atá briathra na beatha síoraí
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-23 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...
Tháinig Íosa amach as an teach an lá sin agus chuaigh ina shuí cois na farraige, agus tháinig sluaite chomh mór sin le chéile ag triall air go ndeachaigh sé isteach i mbád agus gur shuigh inti, agus an slua go léir ina seasamh ar an gcladach. Agus rinne sé mórán cainte leo i bparabail.Dúirt: “Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl. Agus sa síolchur dó, thit cuid den ghrán le hais an bhóthair, agus tháinig an éanlaith á ithe suas. Thit cuid eile de ar na creaga, áit nach raibh mórán ithreach ann dó, agus nuair nach raibh an ithir dhomhain aige, d’eascair sé gan mhoill. Ar éirí don ghrian, áfach, loisceadh é, agus d’fheoigh sé de cheal fréimhe. Cuid eile fós de, thit sé i measc an deilgnigh, agus d’fhás an deilgneach aníos agus phlúch é. Ach bhí cuid eile de a thit ar an talamh maith agus thug sé toradh uaidh, toradh faoi chéad in áit, faoi sheasca in áit eile, faoi thríocha in áit eile. A té a bhfuil cluasa air, éisteadh sé!”
Tháinig na deisceabail chuige á rá: “Cén fáth ar i bparabail atá tú ag caint leo?”
Dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:
“Is é fáth é, mar tá sé tugtha daoibhse eolas a bheith agaibh ar rúndiamhra ríocht na bhflaitheas, ach níl sé tugtha dóibh siúd. Óir, duine ar bith a mbíonn ní aige, tabharfar dó agus beidh fuílleach aige; ach duine ar bith a bhíonn gan ní, fiú amháin a mbíonn aige bainfear de é. Agus sin é an fáth a bhfuilim ag caint i bparabail leo, mar feiceann siad gan feiceáil agus cluineann siad gan cloisteáil agus gan tuiscint. Agus sin mar atá á comhlíonadh iontu an tairngreacht a rinne Íseáia:
‘Beidh sibh ag cloisteáil go deimhin ach ní thuigfidh sibh, beidh sibh ag breathnú go deimhin, ach ní fheicfidh sibh,
óir chuaigh croí an phobail seo chun raimhre, d’éist siad le cluasa bodhránta, d’iaigh siad a súile,
d’eagla go mbeadh radharc na súl acu, ná clos na gcluas, ná tuiscint an chroí,
agus go n-iompóidís agus go leigheasfainn iad.’ “
Ach is méanar do bhur súilese mar go bhfeiceann said agus do bhur gcluasa mar go n-éisteann siad. Deirim libh go fírinneach, b’é ba mhian le mórán fáithe agus fíréan na nithe a fheiceáil a fheiceann sibhse agus ní fhaca siad iad, agus na nithe a chloisteáil a chluineann sibhse agus níor chuala siad iad.”
“Sibhse mar sin, éistigí le parabal an tsíoladóra. Duine ar bith a chluineann briathar na ríochta agus nach dtuigeann é, tagann Fear an Oilc agus sciobann sé leis an ní a cuireadh ina chroí: agus sin é an duine a ghlac an síol le hais an bhóthair. An duine a ghlac an síol ar na creaga, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a ghabhann chuige le háthas é láithreach, ach ní bhíonn fréamh aige ann féin, ach é neamhbhuan; an túisce is a thagann trioblóid nó géarleanúint mar gheall ar an mbriathar, cliseann air. An duine a ghlac an síol sa deilgneach, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar, ach go mbíonn cúram an tsaoil agus mealladh an tsaibhris ag plúchadh an bhriathair agus fágtar gan toradh a thabhairt é. Ach an duine a ghlac an síol ar an talamh maith, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a thuigeann é; agus tugann sé sin toradh uaidh gan teip, faoi chéad nó faoi sheasca, nó faoi thríocha de réir mar a bhíonn.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Soiscéal gearr
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-9
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...
Tháinig Íosa amach as an teach an lá sin agus chuaigh ina shuí cois na farraige, agus tháinig sluaite chomh mór sin le chéile ag triall air go ndeachaigh sé isteach i mbád agus gur shuigh inti, agus an slua go léir ina seasamh ar an gcladach.Agus rinne sé mórán cainte leo i bparabail.
Dúirt: “Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl. Agus sa síolchur dó, thit cuid den ghrán le hais an bhóthair, agus tháinig an éanlaith á ithe suas. Thit cuid eile de ar na creaga, áit nach raibh mórán ithreach ann dó, agus nuair nach raibh an ithir dhomhain aige, d’eascair sé gan mhoill. Ar éirí don ghrian, áfach, loisceadh é, agus d’fheoigh sé de cheal fréimhe. Cuid eile fós de, thit sé i measc an deilgnigh, agus d’fhás an deilgneach aníos agus phlúch é. Ach bhí cuid eile de a thit ar an talamh maith agus thug sé toradh uaidh, toradh faoi chéad in áit, faoi sheasca in áit eile, faoi thríocha in áit eile. A té a bhfuil cluasa air, éisteadh sé!”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 19th July, 2026
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11
The rain makes the earth give growth.
Thus says the Lord:
As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 64: 10-14 R/v Luke 8:8
Response Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.
1. You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. Response
2. And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows,
you level it, soften it with showers, you bless its growth. Response
3. You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps,
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. Response
4. The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes, they sing. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:18-23
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.
I t
hink that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God.From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3: 9,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
or Mt 11: 25
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-23
A sower went out to sow.
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said,'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'
Then the disciples went up to him and asked, |
'Why do you talk to them in parables?'
'Because' he replied 'the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:
You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and
be healed by me.
'But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.
'You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'
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/
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Shorter form
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-9
A sower went out to sow.
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said,'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 19th July, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh 55:10-11
Cuireann an bháisteach eascar sa talamh.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Mar a thagann báisteach agus sneachta anuas ó na spéartha
agus nach bhfilleann suas ar ais gan an talamh a fhliuchadh, gan fás agus eascar a chur ann, chun go dtuga sé síol don síoladóir agus arán le hithe, is amhlaidh don bhriathar a théann as mo bhéal, ní fhilleann orm gan toradh, gan an rud a b’áil liom a dhéanamh agus mo bheart a chur I gcrích.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 64: 10-14
Freagra Thit an síol ar an talamh maith agus thug toradh uaidh.
1. Tugann tú cuairt ar an talamh, á uisciú. Méadaíonn tú a mhaoin.
Sceitheann abhainn Dé thar bruacha d'fhonn arbhar a sholáthar dó. Freagra
2. Is mar sin a ullmhaíonn tú an talamh ag tabhairt uisce dá chlaiseanna.
Déanann tú é a bhogadh Ie ceathanna. Beannaíonn tú a gheamhar. Freagra
3. Cuireann tú barr ar an mbliain le d'fhéile go mbíonn do chéimeanna ag sileadh le méathras
agus féarach an fhásaigh ar sileadh. Freagra
4. Tá na cnoic arna gcrioslú Ie gairdeas, tá na móinéir líonta de thréada.
Tá na gleannta faoi bhrat arbhair: tógann siad gártha agus canann Ie háthas. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:18-23
Tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé.
A bhráithre, measaim nach fiú le háireamh pianta na huaire seo le hais na glóire atá le foilsiú dúinn. Mar tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé. Cuireadh an dúlra freisin ó rath, ní dá dheoin féin ach mar gheall ar an té úd a chuir ó rath é, ach i ndóchas; mar fuasclófar an dúlra féin ó dhaoirse na truaillitheachta, chun saoirse ghlórmhar chlann Dé. Is eol dúinn go ráibh an chruthaíocht go léir le chéile go dtí anois ag cneadach le tinneas mar a bheadh sí ar a leaba luí seoil.Agus ní hé an dúlra amháin atá amhlaidh ach sinne féin chomh maith; cé go bhfuil céadtorthaí an Spioraid againn cheana féin, táimidne ag cneadach freisin inár gcroí istigh agus sinn ag feitheamh le go ndéanfar clann dínn,agus go mbeidh ár gcorp fuascailte.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa 1Sam 3:9 Eo 6: 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Labhair, a Thiarna, tá do sheirbhíseach ag éisteacht. Is agatsa atá briathra na beatha síoraí
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-23 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...
Tháinig Íosa amach as an teach an lá sin agus chuaigh ina shuí cois na farraige, agus tháinig sluaite chomh mór sin le chéile ag triall air go ndeachaigh sé isteach i mbád agus gur shuigh inti, agus an slua go léir ina seasamh ar an gcladach. Agus rinne sé mórán cainte leo i bparabail.Dúirt: “Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl. Agus sa síolchur dó, thit cuid den ghrán le hais an bhóthair, agus tháinig an éanlaith á ithe suas. Thit cuid eile de ar na creaga, áit nach raibh mórán ithreach ann dó, agus nuair nach raibh an ithir dhomhain aige, d’eascair sé gan mhoill. Ar éirí don ghrian, áfach, loisceadh é, agus d’fheoigh sé de cheal fréimhe. Cuid eile fós de, thit sé i measc an deilgnigh, agus d’fhás an deilgneach aníos agus phlúch é. Ach bhí cuid eile de a thit ar an talamh maith agus thug sé toradh uaidh, toradh faoi chéad in áit, faoi sheasca in áit eile, faoi thríocha in áit eile. A té a bhfuil cluasa air, éisteadh sé!”
Tháinig na deisceabail chuige á rá: “Cén fáth ar i bparabail atá tú ag caint leo?”
Dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:
“Is é fáth é, mar tá sé tugtha daoibhse eolas a bheith agaibh ar rúndiamhra ríocht na bhflaitheas, ach níl sé tugtha dóibh siúd. Óir, duine ar bith a mbíonn ní aige, tabharfar dó agus beidh fuílleach aige; ach duine ar bith a bhíonn gan ní, fiú amháin a mbíonn aige bainfear de é. Agus sin é an fáth a bhfuilim ag caint i bparabail leo, mar feiceann siad gan feiceáil agus cluineann siad gan cloisteáil agus gan tuiscint. Agus sin mar atá á comhlíonadh iontu an tairngreacht a rinne Íseáia:
‘Beidh sibh ag cloisteáil go deimhin ach ní thuigfidh sibh, beidh sibh ag breathnú go deimhin, ach ní fheicfidh sibh,
óir chuaigh croí an phobail seo chun raimhre, d’éist siad le cluasa bodhránta, d’iaigh siad a súile,
d’eagla go mbeadh radharc na súl acu, ná clos na gcluas, ná tuiscint an chroí,
agus go n-iompóidís agus go leigheasfainn iad.’ “
Ach is méanar do bhur súilese mar go bhfeiceann said agus do bhur gcluasa mar go n-éisteann siad. Deirim libh go fírinneach, b’é ba mhian le mórán fáithe agus fíréan na nithe a fheiceáil a fheiceann sibhse agus ní fhaca siad iad, agus na nithe a chloisteáil a chluineann sibhse agus níor chuala siad iad.”
“Sibhse mar sin, éistigí le parabal an tsíoladóra. Duine ar bith a chluineann briathar na ríochta agus nach dtuigeann é, tagann Fear an Oilc agus sciobann sé leis an ní a cuireadh ina chroí: agus sin é an duine a ghlac an síol le hais an bhóthair. An duine a ghlac an síol ar na creaga, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a ghabhann chuige le háthas é láithreach, ach ní bhíonn fréamh aige ann féin, ach é neamhbhuan; an túisce is a thagann trioblóid nó géarleanúint mar gheall ar an mbriathar, cliseann air. An duine a ghlac an síol sa deilgneach, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar, ach go mbíonn cúram an tsaoil agus mealladh an tsaibhris ag plúchadh an bhriathair agus fágtar gan toradh a thabhairt é. Ach an duine a ghlac an síol ar an talamh maith, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a thuigeann é; agus tugann sé sin toradh uaidh gan teip, faoi chéad nó faoi sheasca, nó faoi thríocha de réir mar a bhíonn.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Soiscéal gearr
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-9
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...
Tháinig Íosa amach as an teach an lá sin agus chuaigh ina shuí cois na farraige, agus tháinig sluaite chomh mór sin le chéile ag triall air go ndeachaigh sé isteach i mbád agus gur shuigh inti, agus an slua go léir ina seasamh ar an gcladach.Agus rinne sé mórán cainte leo i bparabail.
Dúirt: “Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl. Agus sa síolchur dó, thit cuid den ghrán le hais an bhóthair, agus tháinig an éanlaith á ithe suas. Thit cuid eile de ar na creaga, áit nach raibh mórán ithreach ann dó, agus nuair nach raibh an ithir dhomhain aige, d’eascair sé gan mhoill. Ar éirí don ghrian, áfach, loisceadh é, agus d’fheoigh sé de cheal fréimhe. Cuid eile fós de, thit sé i measc an deilgnigh, agus d’fhás an deilgneach aníos agus phlúch é. Ach bhí cuid eile de a thit ar an talamh maith agus thug sé toradh uaidh, toradh faoi chéad in áit, faoi sheasca in áit eile, faoi thríocha in áit eile. A té a bhfuil cluasa air, éisteadh sé!”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
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