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Refugee shelters and prison cells at Ploughing Championships

Last year was the deadliest year on record for human rights defenders across the world: 207 activists were killed for attempting to protect their communities, their land and the environment

Our faith, our culture – churches take active role in Culture Night 2018

Churches of almost every denomination hosted activities on Culture Night 2018.

China and Vatican sign provisional agreement on bishops

The Vatican will have a say in the naming of bishops in China, and the Pope will have the power to veto candidates.

Concerns that guidelines on abortion will disregard unborn

Senator accuses activists of working to “radicalise the abortion legislation and diminish even further any possible protection for unborn children”.

Stop the lights: Bunny Carr funeral today

The popular RTE television presenter, charity worker and director of the Catholic Communications Centre died on 19 September, aged 91.

Go2Mass for those who can't – ACN organises international solidarity campaign

ACN is running a Go2Mass campaign where Catholics go to an extra Mass to pray for one of the 200 million Christians who are facing the threat of persecution or even death for their faith.

Thought for today Saint of the day Today's Readings Sunday's Readings

Thought for today

Savouring goodness.

The Book of Ecclesiastes has been called the most sceptical book of the Bible – life is monotonous, everything is transitory, and all our efforts only end in death. We have no way to understand the point of it all, and we must simply surrender to God’s care in what we can comprehend. The author believes that the one thing we can do to make it all bearable is to concentrate on ordinary joys that God sometimes gives us, “eating and drinking and mirth.

Gratefully savouring goodness can be the most helpful skill for not going under in avalanches of “vanities” (what some have called “one darn thing after another!”). By focusing on goodness, we can temper our scepticism with trust.

Let us pray: Dear God, as nature turns again toward the cold and dark, please strengthen my ability to let experiences of goodness deepen my trust.

Compiled by Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net

Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).

Saint of the day

Sep 24 - St Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury (602-690)

Theodore of Canterbury began religious life as a Greek monk living in Rome who was sent by Pope Vitalian (657-672) to be the archbishop of Canterbury. Through making visitations, holding synods and through prudent administration, he brought order and peace to the Church in England. Patrick Duffy tells his story.

A Greek monk
Theodore was a 66 year-old monk of proven integrity, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, who had been educated at Antioch and Constantinople. He was staying in Rome when Pope Vitalian, on the advice of the abbot Adrian, ordained him and appointed him to be archbishop of Canterbury.

St Theodore, monk, missionary, Archbishop of Canterbury

St Theodore, monk, missionary, Archbishop of Canterbury

His journey
Accompanied by the abbot Adrian, who had made the journey before, he set out in May 668 and, after passing to Marseilles, travelled overland through France, he arrived in Canterbury a year later.

An able administrator
Theodore made a visitation of the English Churches to see the situation for himself and appointed bishops to the various sees that had been vacant for some time.

Settled disputes
He had to mediate in a dispute between the hot-tempered Wilfrid, whom he appointed archbishop of York, and the rather milder and meek Chad, whom he had previously appointed to York, and now persuaded instead to become bishop of Lichfield.

Organising synods
In 672 Theodore held the first synod of the Anglo-Saxon Church at Hertford and again at Hatfield in 675.

Founded school at Canterbury
He also founded an important school at Canterbury, where not only Latin and Greek, but also Roman Law and biblical exegesis were taught. He encouraged the use of plainchant and the Roman way of calculating the date for Easter.

Death and influence
When he died, he was buried beside St Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury (597-604). Bede said of him: "The Churches of England made greater progress during his pontificate than they had ever done before."

Today's Readings

English
Gaelige

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Proverbs 3:27-34
The wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord.

My son,
Do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it,
if it is in your power to perform it.
Do not say to your neighbour, 'Go away! Come another time!
I will give it you tomorrow', if you can do it now.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour
as he lives unsuspecting next door.
Do not pick a groundless quarrel with a man
who has done you no harm.
Do not emulate the man of violence,
never model your conduct on his;
for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord,
who confides only in honest men.
The Lord’s curse lies on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the virtuous.
He mocks those who mock,
but accords his favour to the humble.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 14
Response      The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

1. Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue. Response

2. He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honours those who fear the Lord. Response

3. He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm for ever. Response

Gospel Acclamation         Jm 1: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
By his own choice the Father made us his children by the message of the truth,
so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he created.
Alleluia !

or    Mt 5: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your light must shine in the sight of men,
so that, seeing your good works,
they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.
Alleluia !

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 8:16-18
A lamp is put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.

light1

Jesus said to his disciples: 'No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed.
No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.
For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear,
nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light.
So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more;from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.'

The Gospel of the Lord.

********************
Gospel Reflection Monday, Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 8:16-18

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us that a lamp is meant to be put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in; a lamp is not intended to be covered with a bowl. Jesus is suggesting that if the lamp of faith is lit in a human life, it is not meant to be hidden but to keep on shining and spread light. That lamp of faith was lit in our own lives at baptism. When we come of age we have the responsibility of keeping the light of faith, the light of the Lord, burning brightly so that it shines through a life that is shaped by our faith. On another occasion Jesus said, ‘let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’. The light that shone upon us at baptism is to shape how we live, our works. Today’s gospel reading reminds me of a reflection by Marianne Williamson, ‘We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It‘s not just in some of us: it’s in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others’. The conclusion of today’s gospel reading reminds us that the more we give in terms of letting the light of our faith shine before others, the more we will receive from the Lord and the brighter the light of our faith will become, ‘for anyone who has will be given more’

________________________________

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 for the Liturgical Year 2017/2018; ‘LET THE WORD OF GOD DWELL IN YOU' by Martin Hogan, published by The Messenger c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
________________

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an leabhar Seanfhocal 3:27-34
Óir is fuath leis an Tiarna an duine urchóideach.

A mhic,
ná coinnigh an mhaith ón té dar dual í
nuair is féidir leat í a chur i ngníomh.
Ná habair le do chomharsa: “Imigh leat agus fill arís;
tabharfaidh mé duit amarach é” nuair atá sé faoi do láimh.
Ná beartaigh olc in aghaidh do chomharsan,
agus é ag maireachtáil go sochma i mbéal do dhorais.
Na déan achrann gan ábhar
le duine nach ndearna aon dochar duit.
Ná bí ag éad le lucht ansmachta
agus ná déan aithris orthu.
Óir is fuath leis an Tiarna an duine urchóideach;
is leis na fíréin amháin a ligeann sé a rún.
Tá mallacht an Tiarna ar theach an drochdhuine,
ach cuireann sé a bheannacht ar áitreabh na bhfíréan.
Tugann sé tarcaisne do tharcaisneoirí,
ach bronnann sé a ghrásta ar lucht na huirísle.

Briathar Dé.
Salm le freagra   Sm 14
Freagra                           Lonnóidh an fíréin ar do shliabh naofa, a Thiarna.
1. A Thiarna, cé lonnóidh ar do shliabh naofa?
An té a shiúlann gan cháim;
an té a dhéanann fíréantacht
agus a labhraíonn go díreach óna chroí;
an té nach ndéanann tromaíocht lena theanga.    Freagra

2. An té nach ndéanann olc dá chomharsa
is nach dtugann masla don duine thall;
an té ar beag aige an drochdhuine
agus ar mór aige lucht eagla an Tiarna.                  Freagra

3. An té nach ngabhann siar ar a bhriathar
bíodh gur mhionnaigh chun a dhochair féin;
nach gcuireann a chuid airgid ar úsaireacht,
’s nach nglacann le breab in aghaidh an neamhchiontaigh.
An té a dhéanfaidh amhlaidh
ní bhainfear dá threoir é go brách.                          Freagra
SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 8:16-18
Cuirtear ar chrann solais é, chun go bhfeicfeadh na daoine a thagann isteach an solas.

San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ní lasann aon duine lampa agus é a chur i bhfolach in áras; ná ní faoi leaba a chuirtear é,
ach cuirtear ar chrann solais é, chun go bhfeicfeadh na daoine a thagann isteach an solas.
Óir níl aon ní faoi cheilt nach mbeidh soiléir; ná níl aon ní ina rún nach mbeidh fios air agus nach dtiocfaidh chun solais.
Bígí aireach, dá bhrí sin, conas a chluineann sibh; óir an té a mbíonn aige,
tabharfar dó, agus an té nach mbíonn aige,
bainfear de fiú an ní a shíleann sé a bheith aige.”

Soiscéal Dé

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

Sunday's Readings

English
Gaelige

Scripture theme
The community is always in danger from the corruption of pride and avarice. We must be prepared to listen to all prophetic voices in the Church that keep calling us back to purity of religion. Each baptised member is in some sense prophetic

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Numbers 11:25-29
Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets.

Moses and elders

The Lord came down in the Cloud. He spoke with Moses, but took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on these seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied, but not again.

Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp. The young man ran to tell this to Moses, 'Look,' he said 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.' Then said Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses from his youth, 'My Lord Moses, stop them!' Moses answered him, 'Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!'

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Ps 18:8. 10. 12-14.
Response The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.

1. The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple. Response

2. The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just. Response

3. So in them your servant finds instruction;
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect all his errors?
From hidden faults acquit me. Response

4. From presumption restrain your servant
and let it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter of St James 5:1-6
Your wealth is all rotting.

An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your church damage

clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them - listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart's content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation Jn 17: 17

Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is truth, O Lord,
consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48
Anyone who is not against us is for us. If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off.

John said to Jesus, 'Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.' But Jesus said, 'You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.
'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ,
then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
'But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.'

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.

CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Uimreacha 11:25-29
An amhlaidh atá formad ort ar mo shonsa? Uch nach fáithe iad pobal an Tiarna ar fad.

Moses and elders

Tháinig an Tiarna anuas sa Néal agus labhair le Maois agus thóg de cuid den spiorad a bhí air agus chuir ar an seachtó seanóir é. Nuair a luigh an spiorad orthu rinneadar fáidheoireacht. ach ní dhearnadar sin arís.

D’fhan beirt fhear sa champa – Ealdad a ba ainm do dhuine díobh agus Méadad a ba ainm don duine eile. Luigh an spiorad orthu; cé nach ndeachadar go dtí an Bhoth cláraíodh a n-ainmneacha leis an gcuid eile. Chromadar ar fháidheoireacht sa champa. Rith an fear óg leis an scéala go Maois: “Féach! seo Ealdad agus Méadad ag fáidheoireacht sa champa!” Ansin dúirt Iósua mac Nún, duine tofa dá chuid a bhíodh ag fónamh do Mhaois: “A Mhaois, a thiarna, cuir cosc leo!” Ach dúirt Maois leis: “An amhlaidh atá formad ort ar mo shonsa? Uch nach fáithe iad pobal an Tiarna ar fad, agus nár chuir an Tiarna a spiorad orthu go léir!”

Briathar Dé.

Salm le Freagra Sm 18
Freagra Cuireann proiceapta an Tiarna áthas ar an gcroí.

I. Tá dlí an Tiarna go foirfe,
tugann sé fortacht don anam,
tá foráil an Tiarna go daingean,
tugann sí teagasc do na haineolaigh. Freagra

2.Tá eagla an Tiarna go híon
ag maireachtáil de shíor;
tá breitheanna an Tiarna go fíor,
is tá siad uile go cóir. Freagra

3. Múineann siad eolas do do ghiolla;
cúis luaíochta a gcomhlíonadh.
Cé a fheadann a chIonta a chomhaireamh?
Glan mé ó pheacaí folaigh. Freagra

4. Caomhnaigh do ghiolla ar an uabhar
sula bhfaighe sé mo bhua.
Ansin is ea a bheidh mé gan smál,
saor ar thrompheaca. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as an céad Litir Naomh Séamus 5:1-6
Tá meirg tagtha ar bhur gcuid óir agus airgid.

church damage

Anois a lucht an tsaibhris, déanaigí gol agus olagón de bharr na dtubaistí atá le teacht sa mhullach oraibh. Chuaigh lobhadh ar bhur saibhreas agus d’ith na leamhain bhur gcuid éadaigh. Tá meirg tagtha ar bhur gcuid óir agus airgid, agus beidh an mheirg orthu ina fianaise in bhur n-aghaidh agus alpfaidh sí bhur gcuid feola mar a dhéanfadh tine. Tá stór curtha i dtaisce agaibh le haghaidh na laethanta deireanacha! Féach, tuarastal na n-oibrithe a bhain fómhar bhur gcuid gort, agus a choinnigh sibh uathu go calaoiseach, tá sé ag éamh os ard; agus tá cluasa Thiarna na Slua sroichte ag éamh na mbuanaithe. Chaith sibh bhur saol ar talamh le só agus le sáile; chuir sibh saill ar bhur gcroí lá an áir. Dhaor sibh an neamhurchóideach agus mharaigh sibh é; ní chuireann sé in bhur gcoinne.

Briathar Dé.

Alleluia Véarsa Eo 17: 17

Alleluia, alleluia!
Is fírinne do bhriathar A Thiarna,
déan sinn a naomhú san fhírinne.
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 9:38-43. 45.47-48
An té nach bhfuil inár n-aghaidh, tá sé ar ár son.

San am sin dúirt Eoin le h Íosa: “A mháistir, chonaiceamar duine nach leanann sinn ag caitheamh deamhan amach i d’ainmse, agus chuireamar cosc leis mar níor lean sé inár mbuíon.” Dúirt Íosa: “Ná cuirigí aon chosc leis; níl aon duine a dhéanfaidh míorúilt i m’ainmse agus a fhéadfaidh, go luath, an drochfhocal a bheith aige orm;
óir an té nach bhfuil inár n-aghaidh, tá sé ar ár son.
“Má thugann duine ar bith cupán d’fhíoruisce daoibh as ucht gur le Críost sibh,
deirim libh go fírinneach nach mbeidh sé gan a thuarastal a fháil. “
Ach má thugann aon duine scannal do dhuine ar bith de na rudaí beaga seo a chreideann ionamsa, b’fhearr dó go gcuirfí bró mhuilinn faoina mhuineál agus é a chaitheamh san fharraige. Más siocair pheaca duit do lámh, gearr anuas í; is fearr duit dul isteach sa bheatha i do mhairtíneach ná an dá láimh a bheith agat agus tú a dhul go hifreann, an tine nach féidir a mhúchadh (an áit nach n-éagann an phiast acu agus nach múchtar an tine). Agus más siocair pheaca duit do chos, gearr anuas í; is fearr duit dul isteach sa bheatha bacach ná an dá chois a bheith agat agus tú a chaitheamh in ifreann Agus más siocair pheaca duit do shúil, caith uait í; is fearr duit a bheith ar leathshúil ag dul isteach i ríocht Dé ná an dá shúil a bheith agat agus tú a chaitheamh in ifreann, an áit nach n-éagann an phiast acu agus nach múchtar an tine.

Soiscéal Dé

************************************
Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh

Ná bheith ina chloch a dhéanann titim ar daoine

Ar bhuail tú riamh do chos i gcoinne constaicí, cosúil le cloch ardaithe ar an gcosán? Is féidir le cloí cloiche a bheith ina gcló maolú má bhíonn sé ar ailíniú leis na rudaí a chuireann timpeall orthu. Tugtar rabhadh dúinn gan a bheith cosúil le cloch súgartha do dhaoine eile. Ní mór dúinn an sampla agus daoine eile a spreagadh má táimid ag siúl ar bhealach an Tiarna. Bhí an ról sin ag na naoimh i stair na heaglaise. Bímid ag féachaint orthu a léiriú cad é a chiallaíonn sé a bheith ina ndiocail an Tiarna agus; leanann siad ag plé le linn dúinn inniu fiú. D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh daoine níos gaire dúinn in am agus in áit mar an gcéanna dúinn. Taispeánann siad dúinn an bealach ceart tríd an mbealach sin a chothú iad féin. Ach ar a mhalairt, tá roinnt daoine i gceannas ar dhaoine eile, ag tabhairt cuireadh dóibh nó iad a chur ar shlí nach bhfuil ag teacht le dínit an duine. Glaonna focal an Tiarna inniu dúinn a bheith ina bloic thógála seachas clocha fánaíochta.

Ar bhuail tú riamh do chos i gcoinne constaicí, cosúil le cloch ardaithe ar an gcosán? Is féidir le cloí cloiche a bheith ina gcló maolú má bhíonn sé ar ailíniú leis na rudaí a chuireann timpeall orthu. Tugtar rabhadh dúinn gan a bheith cosúil le cloch súgartha do dhaoine eile. Ní mór dúinn an sampla agus daoine eile a spreagadh má táimid ag siúl ar bhealach an Tiarna. Bhí an ról sin ag na naoimh i stair na heaglaise. Bímid ag féachaint orthu a léiriú cad é a chiallaíonn sé a bheith ina ndiocail an Tiarna agus; leanann siad ag plé le linn dúinn inniu fiú. D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh daoine níos gaire dúinn in am agus in áit mar an gcéanna dúinn. Taispeánann siad dúinn an bealach ceart tríd an mbealach sin a chothú iad féin. Ach ar a mhalairt, tá roinnt daoine i gceannas ar dhaoine eile, ag tabhairt cuireadh dóibh nó iad a chur ar shlí nach bhfuil ag teacht le dínit an duine. Glaonna focal an Tiarna inniu dúinn a bheith ina bloic thógála seachas clocha fánaíochta.

Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp, Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart