Pictorial Thought for Today

Pictorial Thought for Today

Apr 21 - St Anselm (1033-1109)

Summary: St Anselm: monk, holy man, bishop and doctor of the church, died at Canterbury (England) on this day in 1109. A monk at Bec (Normandy) where he taught theology and devoted himself to the spiritual life. Later, as archbishop of Canterbury, his bitter disputes with the king resulted in his being exiled twice. He is remembered for his theological learning and writings and for organising Church life in England

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

AnselmAnselm is probably best known for his motto which sets out the purpose of theology, namely, fides quaerens intellectum ( faith seeking understanding). But he was also a monk, abbot and holy man, who became archbishop of Canterbury during the difficult times of lay investiture. He stood up strongly to King William II (Rufus 1087-1100) of England.

His Early Life
A
nselm was born in Aosta, Lombardy in north-east Italy, into a land-owning family. While his father was rough and spendthrift, his mother was gentle and pious. Anselm at fifteen wanted to become a monk, but as his father would not agree, he was not accepted. Disappointed he gave up his studies. When his mother died and his father's harshness became unbearable, Anselm left home and wandered through Burgundy and France, where his mother had relatives.

Student and Monk at Bec
Moving on to Normandy, Anselm was attracted by the fame of his fellow Lombard, Lanfranc, who was then prior of the Benedictine abbey of Bec. Anselm went to study there, first as a secular student, and later as a monk. When Lanfranc was made prior at Caen (1063), Anselm at the age of thirty was elected prior at Bec. The monastery soon developed into an important seat of learning.

Philosophical Writings
D
uring his time at Bec Anselm wrote his works of philosophy, the Monologion (1076) and the Proslogion (1077–8), the latter being famous for its ontological argument for the existence of God. He also wrote four philosophical dialogues: De grammatico (which is a work on Logic), De veritate (On Truth), De libertate arbitrii (On freedom of Choice), and De casu diaboli (The Fall of the Devil)

Abbot at Bec
When Herluin, the first abbot and founder of Bec, died in 1078, Anselm was elected abbot by uninimous vote of the community. He combined the spiritual and temporal demands of leadership, being a loving father to his monks and expanding the abbey's lands to good use. He became well known for his insight into human nature, the virtues and vices, but also for his devotion and asceticism. Anselm occasionally visited England to view property the abbey had acquired there, as well as to visit Lanfranc, who had now become archbishop of Canterbury.

Anselm 2Archbishop at Canterbury and conflict with the kings
W
hen Lanfranc died in 1089, Anselm was the obvious choice to succeed him. But the king, William Rufus, prevaricated for four years. During this time the king strove to appropriate church lands, offices, and incomes. Eventually in 1093 when he became ill, Rufus did nominate Anselm, but they were constantly at loggerheads over lay investiture.

Exile and Return
I
n 1097 Anselm went into exile first in France and then to Rome, where Pope Urban II not only supported Anselm’s position, but declined his request to be relieved of his office. In the controversies with the Eastern Church which followed the split of 1054 Urban made use of Anselm's visit to help him defend the Western insertion of Filioque in the Creed and the use of unleavened bread in the West against representatives of the Greek Church at a provincial council at Bari. When King William Rufus died in 1100, Anselm returned to England, but he was again in conflict with the new king, Henry I, over lay investiture. In 1103 he once again travelled to Rome. Pope Paschal II again decided in Anselm’s favour, but the king forbade him to return to England. However, eventually there was reconciliation just before Anselm died in 1109.

Jurisdiction over Dublin
During the Norse occupation of Dublin, those who became bishops there looked more to Canterbury for their jurisdiction and their ordination than to Ireland, as until the Synod of Rath Breasail (1111) there was no real diocesan structure in Ireland and Dublin did not join that until the Synod of Kells (1152). Lanfranc ordained Giolla Patrick (1074-1084) and Donngus (1084-95), both Benedictines as bishops for Dublin. Anselm ordained Bishop Samuel Ua hAingli (1096-1121), who may also have become a Benedictine. His tomb is still to be seen in the Church of St Michan's (Church of Ireland Anglican Communion) Church today. In a charter of 1101, Anselm refers to  himself as "Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of Great Britain and Ireland and vicar of the High Pontiff Paschal".

writingsHis Theological Writings
W
hile archbishop in exile, Anselm wrote a number of theological works including his famous treatise on the Incarnation entitled Cur Deus Homo? His other theological works written during these difficult times include: De conceptu virginali et de originali peccato ("On the Virgin Conception and on Original Sin" 1099), De processione Spiritus Sancti ("On the Proceeding of the Holy Spirit"  1102), the Epistola de sacrificio azymi et fermentati (1106-7), De sacramentis ecclesiae (1106-7), and De concordia praescientiae et praedestinationis et gratiae Dei cum libero arbitrio ("On the Harmony of the Foreknowledge, the Predestination, and the Grace of God with Free Choice" 1107-8).

Cur Deus homo?
Anslem's best known work Cur Deus homo? ("Why did God become man?") puts forward what is called the satisfaction theory of redemption. Since the satisfaction due to God as a result of original sin was greater than what all created beings were capable of doing, God had to make satisfaction for himself. Yet if this satisfaction was going to avail for humans, it had to be made by a human. Therefore only a being that was both God and man could satisfy God and give him the honour that is due him.

Influence
A
nselm's biography was written by the Anglo-Saxon monk Eadmer, who had been his friend and disciple. Though Becket tried to have him canonised, Anselm was never officially made a saint, but Pope Clement XI declared him a doctor of the Roman Catholic Church in 1720, and is he considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and the churches in the Anglican Communion.

Fides quaerens intellectum
Anselm's theological motto, fides quaerens intellectum ("faith seeking understanding"), has become the basis and indeed a definition for all theological enquiry: it is inspired by the text of 1 Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". He died on Palm Sunday 1109 wile one of the monks read the Gospel to him.

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Memorable Saying for Today


Five things you will never recover in life...
1. A stone after it's thrown.
2. A word after it's said.
3. An occasion after it's ’missed.
4. Time after it's gone. 
5. Trust after it's lost. 


~ Author Unknown ~


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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025
 

risen

Easter Monday 


Jesus sends the 'women' on the mission to tell the disciples about his Rising,
making them his chosen first witnesses. Alleluia


FIRST READING                       

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles                   2:14, 22-32
God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice:
'Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say:
J
esus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always, for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad and my tongue cried out with joy; my body, too, will rest in the hope that you will not abandon my soul to Hades nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me, you will fill me with gladness through your presence.

'Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried:
his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that.
'Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.'

The Word of the Lord.                Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm             Ps 15:1-2, 5, 7-11 R/v 1
Response                                  Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.
Or                                                Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!


1. Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: 'You are my God.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.' Response

2. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.    Response

3. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay. Response

4. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.                                                                               Response

Gospel Acclamation          Ps 117: 24
Alleluia, Alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL                          

The Lord be with you.                                   And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew        28: 8-15       Glory to you, O Lord
Tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there.

Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.

And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. 'Greetings' he said.
And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet.
Then Jesus said to them,
'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there'.

While they were on their way, some of the guard went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened. These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers with these instructions,
This is what you must say,
"His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep."
And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.'

The soldiers took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.

The Gospel of the Lord.       Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel
Reflection        Easter Monday           Matthew 28:8-15

There is a strong contrast in today’s gospel reading between the actions of a group of women and the actions of a group of men. The women fall down before the risen Lord and clasp his feet; they then respond immediately to the Lord’s command to go to the disciples and announce to them that he is going to meet them all in Galilee. Matthew portrays them as worshipping the Lord and then going out as his messengers in response to his call. They model for us our own Easter calling. We gather to worship the Lord, to fall down before him like the women. We go forth from our worship to proclaim the good news that the Lord is risen and wants to meet us not just in Galilee but in all the places where we live and work.

In contrast to the women, the group of men, both soldiers and elders, conspire between them to spread a false story about Jesus’ disciples stealing his body. They are not open to the good news that Jesus is risen; they cannot take seriously anyone who says, as Mary Magdalene said, ‘I have seen the Lord’. There are versions of that false story around to this day, pouring scorn on the central core of our faith, ‘the crucified one has been raised from the dead’.

It is a counter story to the story of the gospels, the women’s story in today’s gospel reading,
the story of Peter,
the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus,
the story of Paul. It is in and through those stories that we continue to meet the risen Lord.
It is to those stories we give our minds and hearts and souls, so that we may have life and have it to the full.

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers.  http://dltbooks.com/


The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2024: 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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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025

Seachtain na Cásca, 


CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as  Gníomhartha na nAspal                 2:14. 22-32
Thóg Dia an Íosa seo ó mhairbh, rud a bhfuilimidne go léir inár bhfinnéithe air.

Lá Cincíse d’éirigh Peadar ina sheasamh i gcuideachta an Aon Duine Dhéag agus labhair leo de ghuth ard:
A fheara Iúdá,” ar seisean, “agus a mhuintir uile Iarúsailéim, bíodh a fhios agaibh é seo agus tugaigí cluas dá bhfuil á rá agamsa: “A fheara Iosrael, éistigí leis na briathra seo: Fear ab ea Íosa Nazórach ar thug Dia féin teastas daoibh air leis na míorúiltí agus na héachtaí agus na fearta a rinne Dia tríd fad a bhí sé in bhur measc, mar is eol daoibh féin. Nuair a tugadh suas daoibh é de réir chomhairle cinnte agus réamheolas Dé, chuir sibh chun báis é, á thairneáil ar an gcrois trí lámha mallaitheoirí. Ach thóg Dia ó na mairbh é agus d’fhuascail ó arraingeacha an bháis é, mar níorbh fhéidir go gcoinneodh an bás faoina smacht é.
Mar is é a deir Dáiví faoi: 

“Choinnigh mé mo shúile ar an Tiarna de shíor.
Tá sé ar mo dheasláimh, i dtreo nach suaithfear mé.
Tá gliondar ar mo chroí dá chionn
agus tá meidhir ar mo theanga.
Tá mo cholainn féin faoi shuaimhneas le dóchas,
mar ní fhágfaidh tú mé i riocht na marbh
ná ní ligfidh tú do do neach naofa an meathlú a fhulaingt.
Thaispeáin tú dom bóthar na beatha agus líonfaidh tú mé le háthas i do láthair.

“Ní miste a rá libh go neamhbhalbh, a bhráithre, go bhfuair ár n-ardathair Dáiví bás, gur adhlacadh é agus go bhfuil a thuama anseo againn go dtí an lá inniu. Ach ó tharla gurbh fháidh é agus a fhios aige gur mhionnaigh Dia dó go gcuirfeadh sé duine dá shliocht ar a ríchathaoir, is ag cur síos a bhí sé, as a réamheolas, ar aiséirí Chríost mar ‘níor fágadh i riocht na marbh é agus níor fhulaing a cholainn an meathlú’. Thóg Dia an Íosa seo ó mhairbh, rud a bhfuilimidne go léir inár bhfinnéithe air.

Agus tar éis a ardaithe ar dheis Dé, fuair sé óna Athair an Spiorad a bhí geallta agus dhoirt amach orainne é agus is é sin atá á fheiceáil agus á chloisteáil agaibhse.

Briathar an Tiarna              Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra               Sm 15
Freagra.                              Caomhnaigh mé a Thiarna, is ort a thriallaim.
Malairt freagra               Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!


1. Caomhnaigh mé a Thiarna, is ort a thriallaim. Deirim leis an Tiarna: “Is tú mo Dhia.
Is é an Tiarna is rogha liom, mo chuid de réir oidhreachta; agus cuid mo chupáin; is ort atá mo sheasamh.         Freagra

2. Tugaim buíochas don Tiarna as ucht comhairle a thabhairt dom, agus teagasc a thabhairt do mo chroí san oíche.
Coimeádaim an Tiarna de shíor i m’intinn: agus é ar mo dheasláimh ní chorrófar mé choíche.                                Freagra

3. Tá gairdeas ar mo chroí agus áthas ar m’anam; agus ligfidh mo cholainn a scíth faoi dhóchas.
Óir ní fhágfaidh tú m’anam i measc na marbh ná ní ligfidh tú do do mhuirneach truailliú a fheiceáil.                    Freagra

4. Taispeánfaidh tú slí na beatha dom; tá lúcháir go fial i do láthair agus aoibhneas ar do dheasláimh go brách. Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.              Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha          28:8-15         Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Beirigí scéala chun mo bhráithre iad a dhul go dtí an Ghailíl, agus feicfidh siad ansiúd mé.

San am sin d’fhág siad an tuama go tapa, agus uamhan agus ardáthas orthu, agus iad ag rith le fios an scéil chun a dheisceabal.
Agus seo Íosa ag teacht faoina ndéin go ndúirt: “Sé bhur mbeatha!”
Dhruid siad ina aice agus rug siad barróg ar a chosa ag umhlú dó.
Dúirt Íosa leo ansin:
“Ná bíodh eagla oraibh! Imígí, beirigí scéala chun mo bhráithre iad a dhul go dtí an Ghailíl, agus feicfidh siad ansiúd mé.”

Le linn dóibh sin bheith ag imeacht, seo isteach sa chathair cuid den gharda, agus d’inis siad an scéal go léir do na hardsagairt. Chruinnigh siadsan agus na seanóirí le chéile agus tar éis an scéal a phlé, thug siad fáltas maith airgid do na saighdiúirí ag rá:
Is é a déarfaidh sibh:
Tháinig a chuid deisceabal san oíche agus sinne inár gcodladh agus d’fhuadaigh siad é.’ Agus má thagann guth an scéil seo chun an ghobharnóra, cuirfimidne comhairle air agus saorfaimid sibhse ó imní.”

Ghlac siad an t-airgead agus rinne de réir mar a dúradh leo, agus bíonn an scéal á reic i measc na nGiúdach go dtí an lá inniu.

Soiscéal an Tiarna.       Moladh duit, a Chriost



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 27th April, 2025

Second Sunday of Easter
(Divine Mercy Sunday)


The struggle for faith by Thomas can help all of us believe


FIRST READING            

A reading from the Book of Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16
The numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily.

The faithful all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past. People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

Responsorial Psalm        Ps 117
Response                             Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
or                                            Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1. Let the sons of Israel say: His love has no end.'
Let the sons of Aaron say: 'His love has no end,'
Let those who fear the Lord say: 'His love has no end.'                              Response


2. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.                                                                                     Response


3. O Lord, grant us salvation; Lord grant us success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord Is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord; The Lord God is our light.    Response


SECOND READING

A reading from the book of the Apocalypse 1:9-13. 17-19
I was dead and now I am to live for ever and ever.

My name is John, and through our union in Jesus I am your brother and share your sufferings, your kingdom, and all you endure. I was on the island of Patmos for having preached God's word and witnessed for Jesus; it was the Lord's day and the Spirit possessed me, and I heard a voice behind me, shouting like a trumpet,
'Write down all that you see in a book, and send it to the seven churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.'
I turned round to see who had spoken to me, and when I turned I saw seven golden lamp-stands and, surrounded by them, a figure like a Son of man, dressed in a long robe tied at the waist with a golden girdle.

When I saw him, I fell in a dead faint at his feet, but he touched me with his right hand and said,
'Do not be afraid; it is I, the First and the Last; I am the Living One,
I was dead and now I am to live for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of the underworld.
Now write down all that you see of present happenings and things that are still to come.'

The Word of the Lord             Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation          Jn 20: 29

Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said to him: 'You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.'
Alleluia!


GOSPEL               

The Lord be with you.              And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John           20:19-31      Glory to you, O Lord
Eight days later, Jesus came.

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them,
'Peace be with you', and showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again,
'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
'Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
When the disciples said, 'We have seen the Lord', he answered,
'Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made,
and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.'

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them.
The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.
'Peace be with you' he said.
Then he spoke to Thomas,
'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands.
Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.'
Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'
Jesus said to him: 'You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.'

There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

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, 27th April, 2025

An Dara Domhnach den Cháisc


CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal       5:12-16
Chuaigh líon na bhfear agus na mban a chreid sa Tiarna níba mhó i méad.   

Chruinnídís de thoil a chéile i bPóirse Sholaimh ach ní leomhfadh duine ar bith eile dul ibpáirt leo. Mar sin féin bhí ardmholadh ag an ngnáthphobal orthu, agus bhí líon nabhfear agus na mban a chreid sa Tiarna ag dul i mbreis i gcónaí sa tslí go mbíodh nahothair á dtabhairt amach ar na sráideanna acu agus á síneadh ar réleapacha agus arshráideoga le súil, nuair a bheadh Peadar ag gabháil thar bráid, go luífeadh a scáil féin ardhuine éigin acu.

Thagadh na sluaite freisin ó na bailte mórthimpeall Iarúsailéim, agtabhairt othar leo agus daoine a bhíodh á gciapadh ag spioraid neamhghlana, agus leigheastaí gach duine acu.

Briathar an Tiarna                   Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra                  Sm 117
Freagra                                  Tugaigí buíochas den Tiarna teisc gur maith é:
                                                   óir maireann a ghrá de shíor.
Malairt eile                          Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,

I. Bíodh teaghlach Isráél á rá: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.'
Bíodh teaghlach Árón á rá:: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.'
Abradh an dream lerb eagal an Tiarna: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.'         Freagra


2. Teilgeadh síos mé i dtreo is go dtitfinn, ach chuidigh and Tiarna liom.
Is é an Tiarna mo neart is mo mhisneach: is é a thug slán mé
Cluintear gártha lúcháire is caithréime I bpubaill na bhfíréan                  Freagra


3. An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinne ceann an chúinne di.
Is é an Tiarna a rinne é seo, agus is éachtach linne é.
Is é seo an lá a rinne an Tiarna: bíodh áthas is gliondar orainn.              Freagra


DARA LÉACHT 

Sliocht as an Leabhar   Apacailipsis         1:9-13. 17-19
Ba mharbh dom, achanois is beo dom ar feadh na síoraíochta.

Mise Eoin bhur mbráthair atá páirteach libh in Íosa sa duainéis, sa ríocht agus san fhoighne. Bhí mé san oileán ar a dtugtar Patmos ar son briathar Dé a fhógairt agus fianaise Íosa. Ba é lá an Tiarna é agus bhí mé faoi luí an Spioraid, agus chuala mé ar mo chúla glór tréan, mar ghlór trumpa,  á rá:
Scríobh i leabhar a bhfeiceann tú agus seol é go dtí na seacht n-eaglaisí, go hEifeasas, go Smiorna, go Peargamas, go Tíaitíora, go Sairdis, go Filideilfia, agus go Láoidícéa.”
D’iompaigh mé timpeall féachaint cén glor a labhair liom, agus, ar iompú dom, chonaic mé seacht gcoinnleoirí óir, agus i measc na gcoinnleoirí neach mar mhac duine, é gléasta in éide fhada agus crios órga faoina bhrollach. Nuair a chonaic mé é, chaith mé mé féin ag a chosa i mo staic.

Ach leag seisean a lámh dheas orm á rá:
“Ná bíodh eagla ort. Mise an té atá ar tosach agus ar deireadh; an neach beo; ba mharbh dom,
ach anois is beo dom ar feadh na síoraíochta, agus tá eochracha an bháis agus ifrinn agam.
Scríobh, más ea, a bhfuil feicthe agat, agus a bhfuil ann, agus a bhfuil le teacht ina ndiaidh seo.

Alleluia Véarsa       Eo 20:29

Alleluia, Alleluia!
'De bhrí go bhfaca tú  mé, a Thomáis, chreid tú,' a deir an Tiarna.
'Is méanar dóibh seo nach bhfaca agus a chreid.'
Alleluia!


SOISCÉAL              

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.            Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin         20:19-31        Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Ocht lá ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig Íosa.

Tráthnóna an lae chéanna, an chéad lá den tseachtain, agus na doirse faoi ghlas le heagla na nGiúdach, san áit ina raibh na deisceabail, tháinig Íosa agus sheas ina measc agus dúirt leo:
“Síocháin daoibh!”
Á rá sin dó, thaispeáin sé dóibh a lámha agus a chliathán. Bhí áthas ar na deisceabail nuair a chonaic siad an Tiarna.
Dúirt Íosa leo ansin arís:
Síocháin daoibh! Amhail mar a chuir an tAthair uaidh mise, táimse do bhur gcursa uaim freisin.”

Arna rá sin dó, d’análaigh sé orthu agus dúirt leo:
“Glacaigí an Spiorad Naomh.
Na daoine a maithfidh sibh a bpeacaí dóibh, beidh siad maite dóibh;
na daoine a gcoinneoidh sibh a bpeacaí, beidh a bpeacaí coinnithe.”

Tomás, duine den dáréag ar a dtugtaí an Leathchúpla, ní raibh sé leo nuair a tháinig Íosa.
Dúirt na deisceabail eile leis: “Chonaiceamar an Tiarna.”
Ach dúirt seisean leo:
“Mura bhfeicfidh mé rian na dtairní ar a dhearnana, agus mo mhéar a chur i bpoll na dtairní, agus mo lámh ina chliathán, ní chreidfidh mé.”

Ocht lá ina dhiaidh sin, bhí a dheisceabail istigh arís, agus Tomás in éineacht leo.
Tháinig Íosa agus na doirse faoi ghlas, sheas sé ina measc agus dúirt:
“Síocháin daoibh!”
Ansin dúirt sé le Tomás:
“Tabhair i leith do mhéar agus féach mo dhearnana, sín amach do lámh agus cuir i mo chliathán í, agus ná bí díchreidmheach ach creidmheach.”
D’fhreagair Tomás: “Mo Thiarna agus mo Dhia!”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“De bhrí go bhfaca tú mé, a Thomáis, chreid tú.
Is méanar dóibh seo nach bhfaca agus a chreid.”

Bhí go leor fearta eile fós a rinne Íosa os comhair a dheisceabal, agus níl aon chur síos orthu sa leabhar seo.   Ach cuireadh an méid sin i scríbhinn chun go gcreidfeadh sibh gurb é Íosa an Criost, Mac Dé,
agus á chreidiúint go mbeadh an bheatha agaibh ina ainm.

Soiscéal an Tiarna.        Moladh duit, a Chriost



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
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