Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Mar 7 - Saints Perpetua and Felicity (3rd cent.)
Summary: Ss Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs. Perpetua and Felicity (were believed to have died in 203 AD) were Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an infant she was nursing. Felicity, a slave imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, was martyred with her. They were put to death along with others at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa, during the reign of Septimius Severus.
Patrick Duffy summarises what is known of them.
Perpetua and Felicity are two women who were martyred in the city of Carthage in North Africa (present-day Tunisia) and received great veneration from the 4th century onwards. The image shows them exchanging the kiss of peace in the arena as they are about to be martyred by wild beasts. Their names are included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon).
The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity is a journal by the 22-year old Perpetua, who had given birth to a son a few months before. It tells of her trial and imprisonment and was continued by a contemporary who described Perpetua's martyrdom in the arena. It was read almost like the Scriptures in the liturgies of north African churches. It is a rare surviving document written by a woman in the ancient Church. Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies.
Background
Perpetua was a young married woman of twenty-two and Felicity a slave-girl, far advanced in pregnancy. They were still catechumens when they were arrested at Carthage (near Tunis in present-day Tunisia) with four male catechumens under an edict of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) that forbade fresh conversions to Christianity. They were all baptised while they were kept under guard in a private house awaiting execution.
No fudge, no compromise
Perpetua's father urged her to renounce her faith and save her life and that of her baby. "Father," she answered, "do you see this vessel - waterpot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?" "No," he replied. "So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am - a Christian." She was arrested by Emperor Septimus in the third century
Asked to offer a sacrifice for the prosperity of the emperors, she refused. When asked, "Are you a Christian?" she replied, "Yes, I am," and so condemned herself to death.
Perpetua's dreams of encouragement
A few days before the festival games, at which the martyrs would face wild beasts in the colliseum, Perpetua had a dream in which she was transformed into a man, and engaged in unarmed combat with an Egyptian (signifying the devil). "I was lifted up into the air and began to strike him as one who no longer trod the earth... I caught hold of his head and he fell upon his face; and I trod on his head," she dreamt. The other captives also had visions, which fortified their courage.
Felicity gives birth in prison
Meanwhile, Felicity, fearing she would not have a martyr's death with the rest, because Roman law forbade the execution of pregnant women, prayed her child would be born while she was still in prison. It was. A Christian couple promptly adopted it.
Agape before execution
Perpetua had managed to convert their jailer to Christianity, and so the captives were treated well in their final days. The prisoners turned their last meal into an agape, a love feast, and spoke of the joy of their own sufferings thereby astonishing most witnesses.
In the arena
As they went cheerfully into the arena, a wild heifer came and tossed Perpetua. She got up, straightened her hair, and helped Felicity to her feet. Absorbed in ecstasy, Perpetua was unaware that she had been thrown, and did not believe it until Felicity showed her the marks on her body.
Having survived the animals, the women were to be executed. They exchanged a final kiss of peace (see image). A nervous gladiator tried to kill Perpetua, but failed to finish the job until she guided the knife to her throat. "Perhaps so great a woman...could not have been slain unless she willed it," the Passion observes.
Although the execution was intended as entertainment for the jeering crowd, some spectators, inspired by the martyrs' fearlessness, became converts to Christianity. They died in 203 AD in Carthage.
Their veneration and memory
A magnificent basilica was erected over their tomb, the Basilica Majorum; that the tomb was indeed in this basilica has been proved by Père Delattre, who in 1907 discovered there an ancient inscription bearing the names of the martyrs.
Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies on 7th March. It is mentioned in the earliest Christian calendar, the Roman Chronograph of Philocalus, written between 336 and 354 and is listed also in the so-called Martyrology of Jerome. Their names are also included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon) and in the Litany of the Saints.
Patrick Duffy summarises what is known of them.Perpetua and Felicity are two women who were martyred in the city of Carthage in North Africa (present-day Tunisia) and received great veneration from the 4th century onwards. The image shows them exchanging the kiss of peace in the arena as they are about to be martyred by wild beasts. Their names are included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon).
The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity is a journal by the 22-year old Perpetua, who had given birth to a son a few months before. It tells of her trial and imprisonment and was continued by a contemporary who described Perpetua's martyrdom in the arena. It was read almost like the Scriptures in the liturgies of north African churches. It is a rare surviving document written by a woman in the ancient Church. Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies.
Background
Perpetua was a young married woman of twenty-two and Felicity a slave-girl, far advanced in pregnancy. They were still catechumens when they were arrested at Carthage (near Tunis in present-day Tunisia) with four male catechumens under an edict of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) that forbade fresh conversions to Christianity. They were all baptised while they were kept under guard in a private house awaiting execution.
No fudge, no compromise
Perpetua's father urged her to renounce her faith and save her life and that of her baby. "Father," she answered, "do you see this vessel - waterpot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?" "No," he replied. "So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am - a Christian." She was arrested by Emperor Septimus in the third centuryAsked to offer a sacrifice for the prosperity of the emperors, she refused. When asked, "Are you a Christian?" she replied, "Yes, I am," and so condemned herself to death.
Perpetua's dreams of encouragement
A few days before the festival games, at which the martyrs would face wild beasts in the colliseum, Perpetua had a dream in which she was transformed into a man, and engaged in unarmed combat with an Egyptian (signifying the devil). "I was lifted up into the air and began to strike him as one who no longer trod the earth... I caught hold of his head and he fell upon his face; and I trod on his head," she dreamt. The other captives also had visions, which fortified their courage.
Felicity gives birth in prison
Meanwhile, Felicity, fearing she would not have a martyr's death with the rest, because Roman law forbade the execution of pregnant women, prayed her child would be born while she was still in prison. It was. A Christian couple promptly adopted it.
Agape before execution
Perpetua had managed to convert their jailer to Christianity, and so the captives were treated well in their final days. The prisoners turned their last meal into an agape, a love feast, and spoke of the joy of their own sufferings thereby astonishing most witnesses.
In the arenaAs they went cheerfully into the arena, a wild heifer came and tossed Perpetua. She got up, straightened her hair, and helped Felicity to her feet. Absorbed in ecstasy, Perpetua was unaware that she had been thrown, and did not believe it until Felicity showed her the marks on her body.
Having survived the animals, the women were to be executed. They exchanged a final kiss of peace (see image). A nervous gladiator tried to kill Perpetua, but failed to finish the job until she guided the knife to her throat. "Perhaps so great a woman...could not have been slain unless she willed it," the Passion observes.
Although the execution was intended as entertainment for the jeering crowd, some spectators, inspired by the martyrs' fearlessness, became converts to Christianity. They died in 203 AD in Carthage.
Their veneration and memory
A magnificent basilica was erected over their tomb, the Basilica Majorum; that the tomb was indeed in this basilica has been proved by Père Delattre, who in 1907 discovered there an ancient inscription bearing the names of the martyrs.
Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies on 7th March. It is mentioned in the earliest Christian calendar, the Roman Chronograph of Philocalus, written between 336 and 354 and is listed also in the so-called Martyrology of Jerome. Their names are also included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon) and in the Litany of the Saints.
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Memorable Saying for Today
God never said that the journey would be easy,
but he did say the arrival would be worthwhile.
~ Max Lucado ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 7th March, 2026
Saturday of the Second Week in Lent
In the story of the gracious father welcoming back the wayward son,
Jesus shows us the way forward for us on our wavering journey to God.
Saints of the Day: March 7th: Ss Perpetua and Felicity , martyrs
C/f A short life of be these sainst can found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Micah 7:14-15. 18-20
Tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea.
With shepherd's crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,
the flock that is your heritage, living confined in a forest with meadow land all around. Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders. What God can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy?
Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins. Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 102: 1-2,3-4, 9-10, 11-12 R/v 8
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 every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion. Response
3. His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. Response
4. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins. Response
Gospel Acclamation Lk 15:18
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
I will leave this place and go to my father and say:
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 15: 1-3. 11-32 Glory to you, O Lord
Your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.
The tax collectors and the sinners, meanwhile, were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. 'This man' they said 'welcomes sinners and eats with them.'
So he spoke this parable to them: 'A man had two sons. The younger said to his father,
"Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me."
So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.
'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said,
"How many of my father's paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants."
So he left the place and went back to his father.
'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said,"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son."
But the father said to his servants,
"Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found."
And they began to celebrate.
'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.
"Your brother has come" replied the servant "and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound." He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father,
"Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property - he and his women - you kill the calf we had been fattening."
'The father said,
My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found."'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Saturday Second Week of Lent Luke 15:1-5, 11-32
In about four weeks’ time we will be celebrating the great feast of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We celebrate the good news that Jesus who was crucified, who was dead, was brought back to life by God. That language of death followed by new life is to be found in today’s parable. To the servants the father said, ‘this son of mine was dead and has come back to life’; to his elder son he says, ‘your brother was dead and has come back to life’. There is more than one form of resurrection. The resurrection to new life that we long and hope for beyond this earthly life can be anticipated in various ways in the course of our earthly lives. In the parable, resurrection for the younger son took the form of a journey from a self-imposed isolation to an experience of community, and from a sense of guilt to an experience of loving acceptance. It was the father’s unconditional love which allowed his younger son to make his journey, to rise from the dead. The father’s emotional response to his son was one of compassion.
The father in the parable is an image of God. The parable suggests that God’s compassionate love is always at work bringing people from some form of death to a new life. In contrast to the father, the elder son considered his brother (‘this son of yours’) dead and was happy to see him remain in his self-imposed tomb. Whereas the father’s response to his son was one of compassion, the elder brother’s response to him was one of anger. The parable challenges us to embody in our own ways of relating to others the life-giving presence of the father’s compassion rather than the deadening presence of the elder son’s anger.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saints of the Day: March 7th: Ss Perpetua and Felicity , martyrs
Perpetua and Felicity (believed to have died in 203 AD) were Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an infant she was nursing. Felicity, a slave imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, was martyred with her. They were put to death along with others at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa, during the reign of Septimius Severus.
Patrick Duffy summarises what is known of them.Perpetua and Felicity are two women who were martyred in the city of Carthage in North Africa (present-day Tunisia) received great veneration from the 4th century onwards. The image shows them exchanging the kiss of peace in the arena as they are about to be martyred by wild beasts. Their names are included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon).
The Passion of Ss Perpetua and Felicity is a journal by the 22 year old Perpetua, who had given birth to a son a few months before. It tells of her trial and imprisonment and was continued by a contemporary who described Perpetua's martyrdom in the arena. It was read almost like the Scriptures in the liturgies of north African churches. It is a rare surviving document written by a woman in the ancient Church. Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies.
Background
Perpetua was a young married woman of twenty-two and Felicity a slave-girl, far advanced in pregnancy. They were still catechumens when they were arrested at Carthage (near Tunis in present-day Tunisia) with four male catechumens under an edict of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) that forbade fresh conversions to Christianity. They were all baptised while they were kept under guard in a private house awaiting execution.
No fudge, no compromise
Perpetua's father urged her to renounce her faith and save her life and that of her baby. "Father," she answered, "do you see this vessel - waterpot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?" "No," he replied. "So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am - a Christian." She was arrested by Emperor Septimus in the third centuryAsked to offer a sacrifice for the prosperity of the emperors, she refused. When asked, "Are you a Christian?" she replied, "Yes, I am," and so condemned herself to death.
Perpetua's dreams of encouragement
A few days before the festival games, at which the martyrs would face wild beasts in the colliseum, Perpetua had a dream in which she was transformed into a man, and engaged in unarmed combat with an Egyptian (signifying the devil). "I was lifted up into the air and began to strike him as one who no longer trod the earth... I caught hold of his head and he fell upon his face; and I trod on his head," she dreamt. The other captives also had visions, which fortified their courage.
Felicity gives birth in prison
Meanwhile, Felicity, fearing she would not have a martyr's death with the rest, because Roman law forbade the execution of pregnant women, prayed her child would be born while she was still in prison. It was. A Christian couple promptly adopted it.
Agape before execution
Perpetua had managed to convert their jailer to Christianity, and so the captives were treated well in their final days. The prisoners turned their last meal into an 'agape', a love feast, and spoke of the joy of their own sufferings thereby astonishing most witnesses.
In the arenaAs they went cheerfully into the arena, a wild heifer came and tossed Perpetua. She got up, straightened her hair, and helped Felicity to her feet. Absorbed in ecstasy, Perpetua was unaware that she had been thrown, and did not believe it until Felicity showed her the marks on her body.
Having survived the animals, the women were to be executed. They exchanged a final kiss of peace (see image above left). A nervous gladiator tried to kill Perpetua, but failed to finish the job until she guided the knife to her throat. "Perhaps so great a woman...could not have been slain unless she willed it," the Passion observes.
Although the execution was intended as entertainment for the jeering crowd, some spectators, inspired by the martyrs' fearlessness, became converts to Christianity. They died in 203 AD in Carthage.
Their veneration and memory
A magnificent basilica was erected over their tomb, the Basilica Majorum; that the tomb was indeed in this basilica has been proved by Père Delattre, who in 1907 discovered there an ancient inscription bearing the names of the martyrs.
Basilica Majorem of Ss Perpetua & Felicity
Their feast was commemorated in all early calendars and martyrologies on 7th March. It is mentioned in the earliest Christian calendar, the Roman Chronograph of Philocalus, written between 336 and 354 and is listed also in the so-called Martyrology of Jerome. Their names are also included in the First Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon) and in the Litany of the Saints.
____________________________________
******************************
Memorable Saying for Today
God never said that the journey would be easy,
but he did say the arrival would be worthwhile.
~ Max Lucado ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 7th March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Leabhar Míocá, Fáidh. 7:14-15. 18-20
Caithfidh tú ár gcionta go léir isteach i nduibheagán na farraige.
A Thiarna, seol do phobal chun féaraigh le do bhata,an tréad atá ina oidhreacht agat, a lonnaíonn ina aonar sa choill i lár na mbánta.Cuir ar féarach iad i mBáiseán agus i nGileád mar a mbídís san am fadó. Taispeáin dúinn] éachtaí mar a rinne tú agus tú ag imeacht as an Éigipt. Cén Dia atá cosúil leatsa? Óir tógann tú peacaí chun siúil
agus maitheann tú a gcionta d’fhuílleach d’oidhreachta;
ní buan í do chuid feirge agus is áil leat an buanghrá.
Déanfaidh tú trócaire orainn arís; gabhfaidh tú de chosa inár bpeacaí agus caithfidh tú ár gcionta go léir isteach i nduibheagán na farraige. Léirigh do dhílseacht do Iacób agus do bhuanghrá d’Abrahám faoi mar a mhionnaigh tú dár sinsir riamh anall.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 102: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12. R/v 8
Freagra Is grámhar é an Tiarna, foighneach agus lán dé cheansacht.
1. Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, beannaíodh a bhfuil istigh ionam a ainm naofa.
Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a an am liom, is ná déan dearmad da thíolací go léir. Freagra
2. Eisean a mhaitheann do chionta go léir, a shlánaíonn d'easláintí go léir,
a fhuasclaíonn do bheatha on mbás, a chorónaíonn thú le grá is le trua. Freagra
3. Ní bheidh sé go míchéata i gcónaí, ní bheidh sé i bhfeirg de shíor.
Ní de réir ár bpeacaí a roinneann sé linn: ní de réir ár gcionta a chúitíonn sé sinn. Freagra
4. Óir ní airdé neamh os cionn talún ná méid a bhuanghrá do lucht a eaglaithe;
ní faide an t-oirthear ón iarthar ná an fad a chuireann sé ár gcionta uainn[. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 15:1-3. 11-32 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bhí an deartháir seo agat marbh agus tá sé beo arís, bhí sé caillte agus fuarthas é.
San am sin na poibleacánaigh agus na peacaigh, bhí siad uile ag teacht ina ghar chun bheith ag éisteacht leis.Agus bhí na Fairisínigh agus na scríobhaithe ag monabhar:
“Glacann an duine seo peacaigh chuige,” deiridís, “agus itheann sé ina gcuibhreann.”
Agus labhair sé an parabal seo leo: “Bhí fear ann a raibh beirt mhac aige. Agus dúirt an duine ab óige acu lena athair: ‘A athair, tabhair dom an chuid den sealúchas atá ag titim chugam.’
Agus roinn sé a mhaoin shaolta eatarthu. Agus i gcionn beagán laethanta, tar éis don mhac ab óige gach ní a bhailiú le chéile,
d’imigh sé ar an gcoigrích go tír i gcéin, agus scaip a shealúchas ansiúd, ag tabhairt a shaoil go drabhlásach.
Nuair a bhí gach aon ní caite aige, tháinig gorta millteach sa tír sin, agus thosaigh sé féin bheith in uireasa.
D’imigh sé agus rinne fostú le duine de mhuintir na tíre sin, agus chuir seisean faoina chuid talún é ag aoireacht mhuc
Agus ba é ba mhian leis a bholg a líonadh de na féithleoga a d’itheadh na muca, agus ní thugadh aon duine dó iad.
Ach tháinig sé chuige féin agus dúirt:
‘Cá liacht de lucht tuarastail ag m’athair a bhfuil fuílleach aráin acu, agus mise anseo ag fáil bháis den ghorta!
Cuirfidh mé chun bóthair agus rachaidh mé chun m’athar agus déarfaidh mé leis:
A athair, pheacaigh mé in aghaidh na bhflaitheas agus i do láthairse; ní fiú mé feasta go dtabharfaí mac duit orm;
déan díom mar a bheadh duine de do lucht tuarastail.’
Chuir sé chun bóthair ag triall ar a athair.
Ach le linn dó fós bheith i bhfad uaidh, chonaic a athair é agus ghabh trua é, agus rith sé chuige, á chaitheamh féin ar a bhráid agus á mhúchadh le póga. Dúirt an mac leis:‘A athair, pheacaigh mé in aghaidh na bhflaitheas agus i do láthairse; ní fiú mé feasta go dtabharfaí mac duit orm.’
Ach dúirt an t-athair lena sheirbhísigh:
‘Beirigí amach gan mhoill an éide is uaisle agus cuirigí air í, agus cuirigí fáinne ar a mhéar agus cuaráin ar a chosa, agus tugaigí libh an lao biata agus maraígí é, agus bímis ag ithe agus ag aoibhneas; óir bhí an mac seo agam marbh agus tá sé beo arís, bhí sé caillte agus fuarthas é.’ Agus thosaigh siad ag déanamh aoibhnis.
“Bhí an mac ba shine aige ar fud na talún, agus nuair a tháinig sé i ngar don teach, chuala an ceol agus an rince. Ghlaoigh sé chuige duine de na giollaí agus d’fhiafraigh de cad é an rud é seo a bhí ar bun. Dúirt seisean leis:
‘Do dheartháir a bheith tagtha, agus mharaigh d’athair an lao biata de chionn go bhfuair sé ar ais slán é.’ Ach bhí fearg air agus níorbh áil leis dul isteach. Tháinig a athair amach ag achainí air.
Ach dúirt sé lena athair á fhreagairt:
‘Féach féin a bhfuilim de bhlianta ag seirbhís duit agus ní dheachaigh
mé riamh thar do réir, agus riamh níor thug tú dom mionnán gabhair chun go ndéanfainn
aoibhneas le mo chairde. Ach an mac seo agat nuair a tháinig sé, tar éis do mhaoin
shaolta a ídiú le striapacha, mharaigh tú an lao biata dó.’
Ach dúirt sé leis:
‘A mhic, bíonn tusa liom i gcónaí, agus gach a bhfuil agam is leat; ach bhí sé ceart aoibhneas a dhéanamh agus áthas, óir bhí an deartháir seo agat marbh agus tá sé beo arís, bhí sé caillte agus fuarthas é.’”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th March, 2026
Third Sunday of Lent, Year A
Through the Spirit of God the gift of love is poured into our hearts, a gift bought by the blood of Christ.
This is true for all Christians, new and old. But it needs to be constantly prayed for.
First Scrutiny of Catechumens is celebrated today
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Exodus 17:3-7
Give us water to drink.
Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt?' they said. 'Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?' Moses appealed to the Lord. 'How am I to deal with this people? he said. 'A little more and they will stone me!'The Lord said to Moses,
'Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.'
This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah because of the grumbling of the sons of Israel and because they put the Lord to the test by saying, 'Is the Lord with us, or not?'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorual Psalm Ps 94:1-2, 6-9, R/v8
Response O that today you would listen to his voice,
harden not your hearts.
1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Response
2. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. Response
3. O that today you would listen to his voice! 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:1-2. 5-8
The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 4: 42.15
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
Lord, you are really the saviour of the world;
give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 4:5-42 Glory to you, O Lord
A spring inside him, welling up to eternal life'
Jesus came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour When a Samaritan woman came to draw water,
Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink'.
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him,
'What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?' - Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus replied:
If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water'.'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered 'and the well is deep: how could you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?'
Jesus replied 'Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again;
but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life'.
'Sir,' said the woman 'give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.'
'Go and call your husband' said Jesus to her 'and come back here.'
The woman answered, 'I have no husband'.
He said to her, You are right to say, "I have no husband"; for although you have had five, the one you have now is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.'
'I see you are a prophet, sir' said the woman.
'Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, while you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.'
Jesus said: 'Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know: for salvation comes from the Jews.
But the hour will come - in fact it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.'
The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah - that is, Christ - is coming; and when he comes he will tell us everything'.
'I who am speaking to you,' said Jesus 'I am he.'
At this point his disciples returned, and were surprised to find him speaking to a woman, though none of them asked, 'What do you want from her?' or, 'Why are you talking to her?'
The woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people.
'Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did; I wonder if he is the Christ?' This brought people out of the town and they started walking towards him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, 'Rabbi, do have something to eat; but he said,
'I have food to eat that you do not know about'.
So the disciples asked one another, 'Has someone been bringing him food?'
But Jesus said: 'My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work.
Have you not got a saying: 'Four months and then the harvest?'
Well, I tell you: Look around you, look at the fields; already they are white, ready for harvest!
Already the reaper is being paid his wages, already he is bringing in the grain for eternal life,
and thus sower and reaper rejoice together.
For here the proverb holds good: one sows, another reaps; I sent you to reap a harvest you had not worked for. Others worked for it; and you have come into the rewards of their trouble.'
Many Samaritans of that town had believed in him on the strength of the woman's testimony when she said, 'He told me all I have ever done', so, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and when he spoke to them many more came to believe; and they said to the woman, 'Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world'.
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/
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published in 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Exodus 17:3-7
Tabhair dúinn uisce le hól.
Bhí íota tarta ar an bpobal agus rinneadar monabhar in aghaidh Mhaois.“Cad chuige ar thug tú amach as an Éigipt sinn?” ar siad.
“An d’fhonn go gcuirfeá sinn féin agus ár gclann agus ár stoc chun báis le tart?”
Ghlaoigh Maois ar an Tiarna: “Cad a dhéanfaidh mé leis an bpobal seo? Is beag nach bhfuil siad ag gabháil de chlocha ionam.”
Agus dúirt an Tiarna le Maois:
“Tabhair leat cuid de sheanóirí Iosrael agus téigh ar thosach an phobail. Beir i do láimh ar an tslat lenar bhuail tú an abhainn, agus seo leat. Féach! beidh mé i mo sheasamh ansiúd ar an gcarraig romhat (i Horaeb). Buail an charraig agus snífidh uisce aisti le hól ag an bpobal.”
Agus rinne Maois amhlaidh i láthair sheanóirí Iosrael. Thug sé Masá agus Miríbeá ar an áit de bharr chasaoid chlann Iosrael agus go ndearnadar promhadh ar an Tiarna á rá: “An bhfuil an Tiarna farainn nó nach bhfuil?”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 94:1-2, 6-9, R/v8
Freagra Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Ná calcaigí bhur gcroí.'
1. Tagaigí, déanaimis gairdeas don Tiarna, tógaimis gártha áthais do Charraig ár slánaithe.
Tagaimis ina láthair le moltaí, déanaimis gairdeas dó le laoithe. Freagra
2. Tagaigí, adhraimis agus sléachtaimis, feacaimis ár nglúine don Tiarna a rinne sinn.
Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne pobal a aoireachta agus caoirigh a lámh. Freagra
3. Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Na calcaigí bhur gcroí mar a tharla i Meríba,
mar a tharla an lá úd ag Masá san fhásach mar ar chuir bhur n-aithreacha cath orm,
mar ar thriail siad mé cé go bhfaca siad m'obair.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 5:1-2. 5-8
Tá ár gcroí líonta de ghrá Dé tríd an Spiorad Naomh a tugadh dúinn
Dá bhrí sin, ó táimid fíréanaithe ag an gcreideamh, tá síocháin againn le Dia trínár dTiarna Íosa Críost, mar is trídsean atá teacht againn le creideamh ar an ngrásta seo ina mairimid. Agus ábhar mórála dúinn is ea an dóchas go bhfuil glóir Dé i ndán dúinn. Agus ní amháin sin ach is ábhar mórála dúinn ár dtrioblóidí agus a fhios againn go dtagann foighne ón trioblóid, agus diongbháilteacht ón bhfoighne agus dóchas ón diongbháilteacht. Ní chliseann an dóchas seo orainn mar tá ár gcroí líonta de ghrá Dé tríd an Spiorad Naomh a tugadh dúinn. Nuair a bhíomar fós lag, fuair Críost bás i dtráth ar son drochdhaoine. Is ar éigean a gheobhadh fear bás ar son duine chóir féin – is ea, b’fhéidir go mbeadh sé de chroí aige bás a fháil ar son dea-dhuine. Ach cruthaíonn Dia an grá atá aige dúinn trí Chríost a fháil bháis ar ár son agus sinn fós inár bpeacaigh.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Comhghair an tSoisceil Eo 4:42, 15
A Thiarna, is tú dáiríre Slánaitheoir an tsaoil;
tabhair dom on t-uisce beo i dtreo nach mbeidh tart orm choíche.
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 4:5-42
Tobar uisce ag brúchtail chun na beatha síoraí.
San am sin tháinig Íosa mar sin go cathair sa tSamáir darbh ainm Suchar, láimh leis an bhfearann a thug Iacób dá mhac Iósaef. Ansiúd a bhí tobar Iacóib. Mar go raibh Íosa traochta ón aistear, shuigh sé ag an tobar. Timpeall an séú huair a ba ea é. Tháinig bean ón tSamáir ag tarraingt uisce.
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Tabhair dom deoch.” Bhí a dheisceabail imithe isteach don chathair ag ceannach bia. Dúirt an Samárach mná leis ansin: “Conas go n-iarrann tusa, agus gur Giúdach thú, deoch ormsa agus gur Samárach mná mé?” Ní bhíonn aon chaidreamh ag Giúdaigh ar Shamáraigh.
D’fhreagair Íosa: “Dá mba eol duit tabhartas Dé,” ar sé léi,“agus cé hé a deir leat:
‘ Tabhair dom deoch,’ is tusa a bheadh ag iarraidh airsean, agus thabharfadh sé duit uisce beo.”
“Níl aon bhuicéad agat, a dhuine uasail,” arsa an bhean leis, “agus tá an tobar domhain. Cad as mar sin a gheobhfá an t-uisce beo seo? An amhlaidh gur mó thú ná ár n-athair Iacób a thug dúinn an tobar agus gur ól sé féin as agus a chlann agus a thréada?”
D’fhreagair Íosa:
“Gach duine a ólann an t-uisce seo,” ar sé léi, “beidh tart arís air. Ach má olann aon duine an t-uisce a thabharfaidh mise dó, ní bheidh tart air go brách na breithe. Ach an t-uisce a thabharfaidh mise dó, déanfaidh tobar uisce de istigh ann, ag brúchtaíl chun na beathn síoraí.”
Dúirt an bhean leis:
“A dhuine uasail, tabhair dom an t-uisce sin i dtreo nach mbeidh tart orm choíche, agus nach gcaithfidh mé teacht anseo ag tarraingt uisce.”
Dúirt sé léi: “Imigh agus glaoigh ar d’fhear agus fill anseo.”
D’fhreagair an bhean: “Níl fear agam,”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Is maith a dúirt tú: ‘Níl fear agam’; óir bhí cúigear fear agat agus an té atá anois agat ní hé d’fhear é. D’inis tú an fhírinne sa mhéid sin.”
Dúirt an bhean leis: “A dhuine uasail, feicim gur fáidh thú. Ar an gcnoc seo a rinne ár n-aithreacha Dia a adhradh, ach deir sibhse gur in Iarúsailéim atá an áit in ar cóir adhradh a dhéanamh.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Creid uaimse é, a bhean go bhfuil an uain ag teacht nuair nach ar an gcnoc seo ná in Iarúsailéim a dhéanfaidh sibh an tAthair a adhradh. Adhrann sibhse an ní nach eol daoibh; adhraimidne an ní is eol dúinn; mar is ó na Giúdaigh an slánú.
Ach tá an uain ag teacht, agus is anois féin é, ina ndéanfaidh lucht an fhíoradhartha an tAthair a adhradh sa Spiorad agus san fhírinne; óir sin iad an sórt is mian leis an Athair á adhradh. Spiorad é Dia, agus lucht a adhartha is i spiorad agus i bhfírinne a chaithfidh siad adhradh.”
Dúirt an bhean leis: “Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Meisias ag teacht” – is é sin le rá an Críost – “agus nuair a thiocfaidh seisean inseoidh sé gach aon ní dúinn.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Mise é atá ag caint leat.”
Lena linn sin tháinig a dheisceabail agus rinne siad ionadh de go raibh sé ag caint le bean. Ní dúirt aon duine acu, áfach: “Cad tá uait?” ná “Cén fáth tú a bheith ag caint léi?”
Lig an bhean a crúsca uaithi ansin agus d’imigh léi isteach don chathair agus dúirt leis na daoine:
“Tagaigí go bhfeicfidh sibh fear a d’inis dom gach ní dá ndearna mé. An féidir gurb é an Criost é?”
Ghluais deoine amach as an gcathair agus bhí siad ag dul ina threo.
Lena linn sin bhí a dheisceabail ag tathant air: “A raibí,” ar siad leis, “bí ag ithe.”
Dúirt sé leo: “Tá agam bia le hithe nach eol daoibhse.”
Ansin dúirt na deisceabail lena chéile: “An féidir gur thug duine éigin rud le hithe dó?”
Dúirt Íosa leo “Is é is bia domsa toil an té a chuir uaidh mé a dhéanamh agus a obair a chur i gcrích.
Nach ndeir sibhse ‘Ceithre mhí eile agus beidh an fómhar ann’?
Seo mise á rá libh: Tógaigí bhur súile agus féachaigí ar na goirt; tá siad geal chun an fhómhair.
Tá a thuarastal á fháil ag an mbuanaí cheana féin, agus tá toradh á bhailiú aige chun na beatha síoraí, i dtreo go bhfuil lúcháir ar an síoladóir agus ar an mbuanaí in éineacht.
Óir is fíor don seanfhocal sa mhéid seo: ‘ Cuireann duine, baineann duine eile.’ Sheol mise sibhse uaim chun fómhar a bhaint nár shaothraigh sibh féin. Shaothraigh daoine eile é, agus chuaigh sibhse isteach ina saothar.”
Chreid a lán de Shamáraigh na cathrach sin ann de bharr fhocal na mná ag tabhairt na fianaise: “D’inis sé dom gach ní dá ndearna mé.”
Nuair a tháinig na Samáraigh chuige dá bhrí sin bhí siad ag tathant air fanacht faróthu, agus d’fhan sé ansiúd dhá lá. Ba mhó go mór a chreid de bharr a bhriathair agus deiridís leis an mbean:
“Ní mar gheall ar do chuid cainte a chreidimid a thuilleadh; óir chualamar féin é agus tá a fhios againn gurb é seo dáiríre Slánaitheoir an domhain.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
