Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Oct 4 - St Francis of Assisi
Summary: St Francis of Assisi, religious. Born in Assisi (Italy) in 1181 or 1182; died nearby on 3 October 1226. The carefree son of a wealthy merchant who gave up his inheritance to embrace utter poverty. Under a simple gospel rule, he and his Friars Minor were authorised to be mendicant preachers. Pope John Paul II declared him patron saint of the environment.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Young Man About Town
Francis was one of seven children of cloth merchant Pietro di Bernardone and his French wife Pica Bourlemount. While his father was on a business trip in France, Pica gave birth to a boy whom she called John - a good religious name - but Pietro on returning called him Francesco - in his appreciation of all things French - and it stuck. Francis grew up to an easy life. He was a young man about town, popular and attractive, loved singing, partying and fine garments. When he was twenty, he joined the men of Assisi in a military expedition against Perugia, was captured and spent a year as a prisoner of war.
Spiritual Crisis: a leper
Returning to Assisi and his care-free life, a serious illness in 1204 sparked a spiritual crisis. On recovery, Francis dreamed of becoming a knight in the Crusades and left to join the papal forces as a soldier. But on his way he had a strange vision where a voice told him to "follow the master, not the man". He returned to Assisi and for a time tried to work in his father's clothing business. But he spent a lot of time on his own. One day he met a leper and although terrified at first, he went up to him, offered him money and gave him the kiss of peace. This was an incident he cherished all his life.
"Repair My House"
Soon after this, while praying in the ruined church of San Damiano just outside Assisi, Francis saw the icon of Christ crucified come alive and say to him three times: "Francis, Francis, go and repair my house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." So he sold his horse together with some cloth from his father's store, and went to help the priest repair the church.
Renouncing his Inheritance
His father Pietro was furious and took Francis to Bishop Guido of Assisi. The bishop said Francis should repay the money. But Francis's response was to strip himself naked and hand back all his fine garments to his father. "From now on I will call God my father," he said, renouncing his inheritance. From then on he lived as a beggar in Assisi, working manually at restoring three churches.
Life of Poverty
In one of these churches, the Portiuncula he heard the reading about Jesus sending out the disciples without money, or two tunics, or sandals or staff and saw this as his vocation. So keeping only a rough shepherd's tunic, he devoted himself to a life of poverty, preaching repentance on the streets of Assisi. People mocked him, but they were also fascinated by what he was doing.
The Portiuncula
Portiuncula means "a small portion" and refers to a little piece of land outside the town given to Francis by the Benedictines. Here he repaired the chapel and it became his favourite place. A huge basilica – St Mary of the Angels – has since been built over it.
"Lesser Brothers"
Companions soon joined Francis. Within a year he had eleven. He chose not to be ordained a priest, and the community lived as fratres minores (or "lesser brothers"). They lived a simple life together in poverty, but also went preaching through Umbria, singing cheerful songs, but making a deep impression on their hearers.
Papal Approval
In 1209 Francis brought his companions to Rome to seek permission from Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) to found a new religious order. Innocent refused at first, but that night had a dream of a crumbling church being held up by a poor man. So next day he called Francis and gave his verbal approval to the "lesser brothers". From then on great numbers joined.
Francis, Clare and the second order
Around this time a wealthy young woman heard Francis preaching in the church of San Rufino in Assisi. Clare of Assisi was deeply touched by his message and wanted to follow the same vocation. Francis cut the golden tresses of her hair at the Portiuncula and then some of the brothers escorted Clare to a nearby female Benedictine monastery. Her sister Caterina joined her and there followed an intense confrontation with their family. Clare won out and soon set up her own community of Poor Ladies in the Church of San Damiano in Assisi. This second order eventually came to be called the Poor Clares.
Travels and Universal dialogue
Francis's dreams of going of a crusade had now changed to wanting a universal peaceful dialogue, even with heretics and especially with the Saracens. He left for Jerusalem, but, shipwrecked by a storm on the Dalmatian coast, he had to return to Italy. A few years later he sailed for Morocco, but this time only got as far as Spain. Illness forced him back again to Assisi.
Meets the Sultan in Egypt and goes to the Holy Land
Eventually in 1219 Francis sailed with a few companions to Damietta in Egypt, where he addressed the Sultan. The Sultan allowed him to preach and then go on to the Holy Land, where he visited all the holy places. There has been a Franciscan presence in the Holy Land ever since.
Organisation
As the order expanded, it needed organisation. At a Chapter held in 1217 it was divided into provinces and after this friars left for Germany, France, Hungary, Spain and Morocco. On Francis's return from the Holy Land in 1220, he resigned the leadership. Brother Pietro succeeded him at first but soon died, then Brother Elia took over.
The First Christmas Crib at Greccio
Francis is the originator of the Christmas crib. It was in the town of Greccio near Assisi that he used real animals to create a live Nativity scene. Worshippers could contemplate the birth of the child Jesus in a direct way, making use of their senses, especially sight.
Stigmata
Francis had acquired land and set up a hermitage on Mount Verna. While praying there during a forty day fast in preparation for Michaelmas, he had a vision on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross 1224, where he received the stigmata or the five wounds of Christ.
Death
Suffering from the wounds as well as from an eye disease, for which he received treatment but to no avail, he returned to the Portiuncula where he spent the last days of his life and died on the evening of 3 October 1226, singing Psalm 141. One legend says that on his death bed Francis thanked his donkey for carrying and helping him throughout his life, and that his donkey wept. ( The image above right is of St Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy - by Caravaggio_
Canonisation
In 1228 Francis was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX, who as Cardinal Ugolino di Conti had been his friend and protector of the order.
First Italian Poet
Francis is considered the first Italian poet by literary critics. He believed ordinary people should be able to pray in their own language, and so he wrote not in Latin, but in the dialect of Umbria and his are the first poems in the Italian language. His genuine poetic gift as well as his love of the natural world is expressed in his poem Canticle of the Sun (1224) where he addresses Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Mother Earth, Brother Fire, and all God's creations.
His "Canticle of the Sun" captures his lyrical spirit and sense of oneness with all creatures.
Patron of Animals and the Environment
Francis's love of animals and the environment is well-known. He would often stop and preach to the birds, who drawn by the power of his voice would stay to listen and not fly away .
The Wolf at Gubbio
At Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, there was a wild wolf, notorious for devouring men as well as animals. Francis went up into the hills to find the wolf and although fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at Francis's feet. “Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil…” said Francis. “All these people accuse you and curse you… But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people.” Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens he made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger”, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. So Gubbio was freed from the menace.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Young Man About Town
Francis was one of seven children of cloth merchant Pietro di Bernardone and his French wife Pica Bourlemount. While his father was on a business trip in France, Pica gave birth to a boy whom she called John - a good religious name - but Pietro on returning called him Francesco - in his appreciation of all things French - and it stuck. Francis grew up to an easy life. He was a young man about town, popular and attractive, loved singing, partying and fine garments. When he was twenty, he joined the men of Assisi in a military expedition against Perugia, was captured and spent a year as a prisoner of war.
Spiritual Crisis: a leper
Returning to Assisi and his care-free life, a serious illness in 1204 sparked a spiritual crisis. On recovery, Francis dreamed of becoming a knight in the Crusades and left to join the papal forces as a soldier. But on his way he had a strange vision where a voice told him to "follow the master, not the man". He returned to Assisi and for a time tried to work in his father's clothing business. But he spent a lot of time on his own. One day he met a leper and although terrified at first, he went up to him, offered him money and gave him the kiss of peace. This was an incident he cherished all his life.
"Repair My House"
Soon after this, while praying in the ruined church of San Damiano just outside Assisi, Francis saw the icon of Christ crucified come alive and say to him three times: "Francis, Francis, go and repair my house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." So he sold his horse together with some cloth from his father's store, and went to help the priest repair the church.
Renouncing his Inheritance
His father Pietro was furious and took Francis to Bishop Guido of Assisi. The bishop said Francis should repay the money. But Francis's response was to strip himself naked and hand back all his fine garments to his father. "From now on I will call God my father," he said, renouncing his inheritance. From then on he lived as a beggar in Assisi, working manually at restoring three churches.
Life of Poverty
In one of these churches, the Portiuncula he heard the reading about Jesus sending out the disciples without money, or two tunics, or sandals or staff and saw this as his vocation. So keeping only a rough shepherd's tunic, he devoted himself to a life of poverty, preaching repentance on the streets of Assisi. People mocked him, but they were also fascinated by what he was doing.
The Portiuncula
Portiuncula means "a small portion" and refers to a little piece of land outside the town given to Francis by the Benedictines. Here he repaired the chapel and it became his favourite place. A huge basilica – St Mary of the Angels – has since been built over it.
"Lesser Brothers"
Companions soon joined Francis. Within a year he had eleven. He chose not to be ordained a priest, and the community lived as fratres minores (or "lesser brothers"). They lived a simple life together in poverty, but also went preaching through Umbria, singing cheerful songs, but making a deep impression on their hearers.
Papal Approval
In 1209 Francis brought his companions to Rome to seek permission from Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) to found a new religious order. Innocent refused at first, but that night had a dream of a crumbling church being held up by a poor man. So next day he called Francis and gave his verbal approval to the "lesser brothers". From then on great numbers joined.
Francis, Clare and the second orderAround this time a wealthy young woman heard Francis preaching in the church of San Rufino in Assisi. Clare of Assisi was deeply touched by his message and wanted to follow the same vocation. Francis cut the golden tresses of her hair at the Portiuncula and then some of the brothers escorted Clare to a nearby female Benedictine monastery. Her sister Caterina joined her and there followed an intense confrontation with their family. Clare won out and soon set up her own community of Poor Ladies in the Church of San Damiano in Assisi. This second order eventually came to be called the Poor Clares.
Travels and Universal dialogue
Francis's dreams of going of a crusade had now changed to wanting a universal peaceful dialogue, even with heretics and especially with the Saracens. He left for Jerusalem, but, shipwrecked by a storm on the Dalmatian coast, he had to return to Italy. A few years later he sailed for Morocco, but this time only got as far as Spain. Illness forced him back again to Assisi.
Meets the Sultan in Egypt and goes to the Holy Land
Eventually in 1219 Francis sailed with a few companions to Damietta in Egypt, where he addressed the Sultan. The Sultan allowed him to preach and then go on to the Holy Land, where he visited all the holy places. There has been a Franciscan presence in the Holy Land ever since.
Organisation
As the order expanded, it needed organisation. At a Chapter held in 1217 it was divided into provinces and after this friars left for Germany, France, Hungary, Spain and Morocco. On Francis's return from the Holy Land in 1220, he resigned the leadership. Brother Pietro succeeded him at first but soon died, then Brother Elia took over.
The First Christmas Crib at GreccioFrancis is the originator of the Christmas crib. It was in the town of Greccio near Assisi that he used real animals to create a live Nativity scene. Worshippers could contemplate the birth of the child Jesus in a direct way, making use of their senses, especially sight.
Stigmata
Francis had acquired land and set up a hermitage on Mount Verna. While praying there during a forty day fast in preparation for Michaelmas, he had a vision on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross 1224, where he received the stigmata or the five wounds of Christ.
Death
Suffering from the wounds as well as from an eye disease, for which he received treatment but to no avail, he returned to the Portiuncula where he spent the last days of his life and died on the evening of 3 October 1226, singing Psalm 141. One legend says that on his death bed Francis thanked his donkey for carrying and helping him throughout his life, and that his donkey wept. ( The image above right is of St Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy - by Caravaggio_
Canonisation
In 1228 Francis was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX, who as Cardinal Ugolino di Conti had been his friend and protector of the order.
First Italian Poet
Francis is considered the first Italian poet by literary critics. He believed ordinary people should be able to pray in their own language, and so he wrote not in Latin, but in the dialect of Umbria and his are the first poems in the Italian language. His genuine poetic gift as well as his love of the natural world is expressed in his poem Canticle of the Sun (1224) where he addresses Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Mother Earth, Brother Fire, and all God's creations.
His "Canticle of the Sun" captures his lyrical spirit and sense of oneness with all creatures.
Patron of Animals and the Environment
Francis's love of animals and the environment is well-known. He would often stop and preach to the birds, who drawn by the power of his voice would stay to listen and not fly away .
The Wolf at GubbioAt Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, there was a wild wolf, notorious for devouring men as well as animals. Francis went up into the hills to find the wolf and although fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at Francis's feet. “Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil…” said Francis. “All these people accuse you and curse you… But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people.” Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens he made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger”, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. So Gubbio was freed from the menace.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon
some persons will hear today.”
“Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.”
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.”
~ St Francis of Assisi ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 4th October, 2026
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
We are the New Vineyard of the Lord
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Isaiah 5:1-7
The vineyard of the Lord God of hosts is the House of Israel.
Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
He dug the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted choice vines in it. In the middle he built a tower, he dug a press there too. He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave.
And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
I ask you to judge between my vineyard and me.
What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done? I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead?
Very well, I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on, and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on.
I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug; overgrown by the briar and the thorn. I will command the clouds to rain no rain on it.
Yes, the vineyard of the Lord God of hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79: 9. 12-16. 19-20. Is 5:7
Response The vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel
1. You brought a vine out of Egypt; to plant it, you drove out the nations.
It stretched out its branches to the sea, to the Great River it stretched out its shoots. Response
2. Then why have you broken down its walls?
It is plucked by all who pass by.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
devoured by the beasts of the field. Response
3. God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted. Response
4. And we shall never forsake you again: give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 4:6-9
The God of peace will be with you.
There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand,
will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
Or Jn 15: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
I chose you from the world to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last says the Lord
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43
He will lease the vineyard to other tenants.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people : 'Listen to another parable.
There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third.
Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.
Finally he sent his son to them. "They will respect my son" he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, "This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance." So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'
They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives'.
Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see?
I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 4th October, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar Íseáia 5:1-7
Óir, fíonghort Thiarna na slua, is é teaghlach Iosrael é.
Canaim thar ceann mo chara duan a ghrá dá fhíonghort.
Bhí fíonghort ag mo chara ar chnocán torthúil.
Rinne sé a romhar agus a ghlanadh ó chlocha, agus chuir sé togha na bhfíniúnacha ann,
thóg sé túr faire ina lár, agus thochail cantaoir ann leis.
Agus bhí sé ag dréim le caora fíona uaidh, ach thug sé fiachaora dó.
Agus anois, a phobal Iarúsailéim agus a mhuintir Iúdá,
tugaigí breithiúnas idir mé féin agus an fíonghort seo liom.
Cad a d’fhéadfainn a dhéanamh ar son m’fhíonghoirt nach bhfuil déanta agam?
Bhí mé ag dréim le caora fíona. Cén fáth na fiachaora amháin?
Tá, cuirfidh mé in iúl daoibh anois cad tá mé chun a dhéanamh le m’fhíonghort:
an claí a bhaint as chun go mbeidh sé ina fhéarach, an balla a leagan chun go satlófar air.
Déanfar slad air, agus beidh sé gan bearradh gan saothrú, agus sceacha agus driseacha ag fás air. Crosfaidh mé ar na néalta an fhearthainn a fhearadh air.
Óir, fíonghort Thiarna na slua, is é teaghlach Iosrael é,
agus is iad muintir Iúdá an planda is rogha leis ann.
Bhí sé ag dréim le riar ceart agus seo fuilbheart, le fíréantacht agus seo caoi léanmhar.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 79: 9. 12-16. 19-20. Is 5:7
Freagra Fíonghort an Tiarna, is é teaglach Isráél é.
1. Thug tú fíniúin amach as an Éigipt; dhíbir tú na ciníocha agus chuir tú í.
Shín sí a craobhacha go dtí an mhuir agus a bachlóga go dtí an Abhainn. Freagra
2. Cad chuige ar mhill tú a ballaí chun go stoitheadh gach duine a ghabhann thar bráid í ?
Creachann torc fiáin na coille í alpann beithígh an machaire í. Freagra
3. Cas ar ais, a Dhia na Slua. Breathnaigh anuas ó neamh agus féach.
Tabhair cuairt ár an bhfíniúin a chuir tú féin.
Caomhnaigh an stoc a phlandaigh do dheaslámh féin. Freagra
4. Ní thréigfimid thú go brách ansin: tabhair dúinn an bheatha agus mórfaimid d'ainm.
A Thiarna, a Dhia na Slua, cuir ar ais sinn. Taispeáin do ghnúis ghrianmhar dúinn dár saoradh. Freagra
AN DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh 4:6-9
Beidh Dia na síochána faraibh.
A bhráithre, ná bígí imníoch faoi rud ar bith ach cibé ní atá in easnamh oraibh cuirigí in iúl do Dhia é le hurnaí agus guí agus buíochas buan. Agus sa tslí sin beidh síocháin Dé atá os cionn ár dtuisceana ag gardáil bhur gcroí agus bhur smaointe in Íosa Críost. Mar fhocal scoir, a bhráithre, bíodh bhur n-aire ar an rud fíor, ar an rud uasal, ar an rud cóir, ar an rud naofa, ar an rud measúil, ar an rud creidiúnach, ar an rud atá suáilceach inmholta. Má chuireann sibh i bhfeidhm an teagasc a mhúin mé daoibh agus a ghlac sibh uaim agus na nithe a chuala sibh nó a chonaic sibh mé a dhéanamh, beidh Dia na síochána faraibh.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sibhse mo chairde, a deir an Tiarna, ach thug mé cairde oraibh, óir gach a gcuala ó m’Athair.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 21:33-43 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
mBainfear ríocht Dé díbhse agus go dtabharfar do phobal í a thabharfaidh uathu a toradh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa le huachtaráin ne sagart agus le seanóir an phobail:
“Éistigí le parabal eile: Bhí an fear tí seo ann a rinne fíonghort a phlandáil, fál a chur ina thimpeall, cantaoir a thochailt ann, agus túr a thógáil; chuir ar cíos ansin chun curadóirí é agus chuaigh ar an gcoigríoch. Nuair a bhí séasúr na dtorthaí ann, chuir sé a chuid seirbhíseach uaidh go dtí na curadóirí chun toradh an fhíonghoirt a fháil. Ach rug na curadóirí ar na seirbhísigh, thug siad bualadh do dhuine acu, mharaigh duine eile, chloch duine eile.
Ansin chuir sé seirbhísigh eile uaidh ba líonmhaire ná iad siúd, ach ba é an cor céanna a thug siad dóibh sin.
Sa deireadh, chuir sé chucu a mhac, mar dúirt sé leis féin:
‘Tabharfaidh siad ómós do mo mhac.’Ach nuair a chonaic na curadóirí an mac, dúirt siad le chéile:
‘Is é seo an t-oidhre; seo, maraímis é, agus bíodh a oidhreacht againn féin,’ agus rug siad air, thiomáin siad amach as an bhfíonghort é agus mharaigh é. Dá bhrí sin, nuair a thiocfaidh máistir an fhíonghoirt, cad a dhéanfaidh sé leis na curadóirí úd?”
Dúirt siad leis:
“Tabharfaidh sé drochíde do na daoine mallaithe sin agus cuirfidh an fíonghort ar cíos chun curadóirí eile a thabharfaidh na torthaí dó ina séasúr féin.”
Dúirt Íosa leo: “Nár léigh sibh riamh sna scrioptúir:
‘An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinneadh di ceann an chúinne; obair an Tiarna é seo agus is iontach inár súile é’?
“Sin an fáth a ndeirim libh go mbainfear ríocht Dé díbhse agus go dtabharfar do phobal í a thabharfaidh uathu a toradh."
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 11th October, 2026
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
We are the New Vineyard of the Lord
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Isaiah 5:1-7
The vineyard of the Lord God of hosts is the House of Israel.
Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
He dug the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted choice vines in it. In the middle he built a tower, he dug a press there too. He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave.
And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
I ask you to judge between my vineyard and me.
What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done? I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead?
Very well, I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on, and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on.
I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug; overgrown by the briar and the thorn. I will command the clouds to rain no rain on it.
Yes, the vineyard of the Lord God of hosts is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79: 9. 12-16. 19-20. Is 5:7
Response The vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel
1. You brought a vine out of Egypt; to plant it, you drove out the nations.
It stretched out its branches to the sea, to the Great River it stretched out its shoots. Response
2. Then why have you broken down its walls?
It is plucked by all who pass by.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
devoured by the beasts of the field. Response
3. God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted. Response
4. And we shall never forsake you again: give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 4:6-9
The God of peace will be with you.
There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand,
will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
Or Jn 15: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
I chose you from the world to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last says the Lord
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43
He will lease the vineyard to other tenants.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people : 'Listen to another parable.
There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third.
Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.
Finally he sent his son to them. "They will respect my son" he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, "This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance." So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'
They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives'.
Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see?
I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 11th October, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar Íseáia 5:1-7
Óir, fíonghort Thiarna na slua, is é teaghlach Iosrael é.
Canaim thar ceann mo chara duan a ghrá dá fhíonghort.
Bhí fíonghort ag mo chara ar chnocán torthúil.
Rinne sé a romhar agus a ghlanadh ó chlocha, agus chuir sé togha na bhfíniúnacha ann,
thóg sé túr faire ina lár, agus thochail cantaoir ann leis.
Agus bhí sé ag dréim le caora fíona uaidh, ach thug sé fiachaora dó.
Agus anois, a phobal Iarúsailéim agus a mhuintir Iúdá,
tugaigí breithiúnas idir mé féin agus an fíonghort seo liom.
Cad a d’fhéadfainn a dhéanamh ar son m’fhíonghoirt nach bhfuil déanta agam?
Bhí mé ag dréim le caora fíona. Cén fáth na fiachaora amháin?
Tá, cuirfidh mé in iúl daoibh anois cad tá mé chun a dhéanamh le m’fhíonghort:
an claí a bhaint as chun go mbeidh sé ina fhéarach, an balla a leagan chun go satlófar air.
Déanfar slad air, agus beidh sé gan bearradh gan saothrú, agus sceacha agus driseacha ag fás air. Crosfaidh mé ar na néalta an fhearthainn a fhearadh air.
Óir, fíonghort Thiarna na slua, is é teaghlach Iosrael é,
agus is iad muintir Iúdá an planda is rogha leis ann.
Bhí sé ag dréim le riar ceart agus seo fuilbheart, le fíréantacht agus seo caoi léanmhar.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 79: 9. 12-16. 19-20. Is 5:7
Freagra Fíonghort an Tiarna, is é teaglach Isráél é.
1. Thug tú fíniúin amach as an Éigipt; dhíbir tú na ciníocha agus chuir tú í.
Shín sí a craobhacha go dtí an mhuir agus a bachlóga go dtí an Abhainn. Freagra
2. Cad chuige ar mhill tú a ballaí chun go stoitheadh gach duine a ghabhann thar bráid í ?
Creachann torc fiáin na coille í alpann beithígh an machaire í. Freagra
3. Cas ar ais, a Dhia na Slua. Breathnaigh anuas ó neamh agus féach.
Tabhair cuairt ár an bhfíniúin a chuir tú féin.
Caomhnaigh an stoc a phlandaigh do dheaslámh féin. Freagra
4. Ní thréigfimid thú go brách ansin: tabhair dúinn an bheatha agus mórfaimid d'ainm.
A Thiarna, a Dhia na Slua, cuir ar ais sinn. Taispeáin do ghnúis ghrianmhar dúinn dár saoradh. Freagra
AN DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh 4:6-9
Beidh Dia na síochána faraibh.
A bhráithre, ná bígí imníoch faoi rud ar bith ach cibé ní atá in easnamh oraibh cuirigí in iúl do Dhia é le hurnaí agus guí agus buíochas buan. Agus sa tslí sin beidh síocháin Dé atá os cionn ár dtuisceana ag gardáil bhur gcroí agus bhur smaointe in Íosa Críost. Mar fhocal scoir, a bhráithre, bíodh bhur n-aire ar an rud fíor, ar an rud uasal, ar an rud cóir, ar an rud naofa, ar an rud measúil, ar an rud creidiúnach, ar an rud atá suáilceach inmholta. Má chuireann sibh i bhfeidhm an teagasc a mhúin mé daoibh agus a ghlac sibh uaim agus na nithe a chuala sibh nó a chonaic sibh mé a dhéanamh, beidh Dia na síochána faraibh.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sibhse mo chairde, a deir an Tiarna, ach thug mé cairde oraibh, óir gach a gcuala ó m’Athair.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 21:33-43 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
mBainfear ríocht Dé díbhse agus go dtabharfar do phobal í a thabharfaidh uathu a toradh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa le huachtaráin ne sagart agus le seanóir an phobail:
“Éistigí le parabal eile: Bhí an fear tí seo ann a rinne fíonghort a phlandáil, fál a chur ina thimpeall, cantaoir a thochailt ann, agus túr a thógáil; chuir ar cíos ansin chun curadóirí é agus chuaigh ar an gcoigríoch. Nuair a bhí séasúr na dtorthaí ann, chuir sé a chuid seirbhíseach uaidh go dtí na curadóirí chun toradh an fhíonghoirt a fháil. Ach rug na curadóirí ar na seirbhísigh, thug siad bualadh do dhuine acu, mharaigh duine eile, chloch duine eile.
Ansin chuir sé seirbhísigh eile uaidh ba líonmhaire ná iad siúd, ach ba é an cor céanna a thug siad dóibh sin.
Sa deireadh, chuir sé chucu a mhac, mar dúirt sé leis féin:
‘Tabharfaidh siad ómós do mo mhac.’Ach nuair a chonaic na curadóirí an mac, dúirt siad le chéile:
‘Is é seo an t-oidhre; seo, maraímis é, agus bíodh a oidhreacht againn féin,’ agus rug siad air, thiomáin siad amach as an bhfíonghort é agus mharaigh é. Dá bhrí sin, nuair a thiocfaidh máistir an fhíonghoirt, cad a dhéanfaidh sé leis na curadóirí úd?”
Dúirt siad leis:
“Tabharfaidh sé drochíde do na daoine mallaithe sin agus cuirfidh an fíonghort ar cíos chun curadóirí eile a thabharfaidh na torthaí dó ina séasúr féin.”
Dúirt Íosa leo: “Nár léigh sibh riamh sna scrioptúir:
‘An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinneadh di ceann an chúinne; obair an Tiarna é seo agus is iontach inár súile é’?
“Sin an fáth a ndeirim libh go mbainfear ríocht Dé díbhse agus go dtabharfar do phobal í a thabharfaidh uathu a toradh."
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
