Pictorial Thought for Today

Pictorial Thought for Today

Feb 19 - Bl Fra Angelico (1387-1455)

Summary: Fra Angelico is probably better known as an artist than as a holy man. He was already called "Beato" while he was still alive. Pope John Paul II gave this a new reality when he beatified him in 1982. "He did theology by painting the beauty that shows the light of the Risen Christ in creatures".

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

Early life
fra angelBorn Guido di Pietro at Vicchio, 25 kms north-east of Florence, also the birth place of Giotto, in his childhood he was known as Guido da Vicchio or Guido di Pietro. He may have been already a painter before he and his brother Benedetto joined the Dominicans at Fiesole.

At Fiesole 1418-35
A
fter his novitiate at Cortona he went to live at the Dominican convent at Fiesole. As a young friar, he worked at illuminating missals and manuscripts. He became known to his companions as Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, but later more popularly - even within his own lifetime in Italy - he was called Il Beato Angelico.

San Marco, Florence (1436-45)
I
n 1436 Fra Angelico was one of a number of the monks from Fiesole who moved into the newly-built monastery of San Marco in Florence. This not only put him in the centre of artistic activity but also engaged the patronage of the wealthy and powerful Cosimo de' Medici, who often came there himself when he wanted to retreat from the world.

annunciationAccording to his biographer Giorgio Vasari (1511-74), it was at Cosimo's urging that Fra Angelico undertook the task of decorating the monastery, including the magnificent Chapter House fresco, the often-reproduced Annunciation, the Maesta with Saints Cosmas and Damian, Saint Mark and Saint John, Saint Lawrence and three Dominicans, Saint Dominic, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Peter Martyr.

The Vatican and Orvieto, 1445–1449
bl Sacrament and fra angIn 1445 Pope Eugenius IV (1431-47), who knew the artist's work in Florence, summoned Angelico to Rome to paint the frescoes of the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament at St Peter's, but this was destroyed a century later when Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese 1534-49) wanted to make room for the great staircase of the Vatican Palace. Vasari says that at this time Eugenius offered Fra Angelico the archbishopric of Florence, but that he refused it, recommending another friar for the position.

In 1447 when the papal court moved to the comparative cool of Orvieto Fra Angelico worked with his pupil, Benozzo Gozzoli, on the vault of the chapel of the Madonna of St Brizio in the cathedral.

In 1449 back at the Vatican, he designed the famous fresco scenes from the lives of St. Laurence and St. Stephen for the walls of the Chapel of Nicholas V. From 1449 until 1452, Fra Angelico was back at San Marco in Florence, where he was prior for three years.

Death and influence
Tomb of fra AngelicoI
n 1455 Fra Angelico died while staying at a Dominican Convent in Rome, perhaps working on Pope Nicholas' Chapel. His tomb can be seen in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in the centre of Rome. And this is his epitaph:
When singing my praise, do not say I was another Apelles.
But say that, in the name of Christ, I gave all I had to the poor.
Part of my work remains on earth and part is in heaven.
The city that bore me, Giovanni, is the flower of Tuscany.
                                                       ....Tomb of fra Angelico O.P.
Beatified and patron of artists
P
ope John Paul II beatified Fra Angelico on 3rd October 1982 and declared him patron saint of artists on 18th February 1984. Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar said Angelico's art embodies the motto of the Dominican Order contemplata aliis tradere, that is, "communicating to others the contemplated mysteries". Another writer expressed a similar judgment: fece teologia dipingendo la bellezza, che mostrò la luce del Risorto nelle creature da lui redente: "he did theology by painting the beauty that shows the light of the Risen Christ in creatures".

                ____________________

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Memorable Proverbs for today


The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things,
but their inward significance.
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.


                                                 ~ Aristotle ~

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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 19th February, 2025

Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1


Noah offered a thanksgiving sacrifice at the end of that devastating Flood.
God promised that nature will keep it's course for ever.
We never thought how much, in time, we would change our environment by our selfish actions.


FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Genesis        8:6-13. 20-22
Noah looked out; the surface of the ground was dry!

At the end of forty days Noah opened the porthole he had made in the ark and he sent out the raven. This went off, and flew back and forth until the waters dried up from the earth.
Then he sent out the dove, to see whether the waters were receding from the surface of the earth. The dove, finding nowhere to perch, returned to him in the ark, for there was water over the whole surface of the earth; putting out his hand he took hold of it and brought it back into the ark with him.
After waiting seven more days, again he sent out the dove from the ark. In the evening, the dove came back to him and there it was with a new olive-branch in its beak. So Noah realised that the waters were receding from the earth.
After waiting seven more days he sent out the dove, and now it returned to him no more.

It was in the six hundred and first year of Noah's life, in the first month and on the first of the month, that the water dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the hatch of the ark and looked out. The surface of the ground was dry!

Noah built an altar for the Lord, and choosing from all the clean animals and all the clean birds he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
The Lord smelt the appeasing fragrance and said to himself,
'Never again will I curse the earth because of man, because his heart contrives evil from his infancy.
Never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done.
As long as earth lasts, sowing and reaping, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall cease no more.'

The Word of the Lord                 Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm               Ps 115
Response                                     A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
Or                                                  Alleluia!

1.  How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord's name.          Response

2.  My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.              Response

3.  My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.    Response

Gospel  Acclamation                   Ps 118: 29
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Your word is a lamp for my steps and alight for my path.
Alleluia!


Or                                                      Eph 1: 17. 18
Alleluia, Alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!


GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.                           And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark     8:22-26      Glory to you, O Lord
He was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly.

Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked,
'Can you see anything?' The man, who was beginning to see, replied,
'I can see people; they look like trees to me, but they are walking about'.
Then he laid his hands on the man's eyes again and he saw clearly;
he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly.
And Jesus sent him home, saying, 'Do not even go into the village'.

The Gospel of the Lord      Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel Reflection            Wed. 15th Jan       Sixth Week in Ordinary Time        Mark 8:22–26

There is a gradual progression in both of today’s readings. When Noah first sent out a dove it returned to him because the earth was still covered with water and there was nowhere to perch. When Noah send out a dove a second time, it returned again, but this time with a fresh olive branch in its beak. The waters were beginning to recede. When Noah sent out a dove the third time, the dove never returned. The earth had become home again for the dove, as the waters had receded. Gradually the earth had emerged from the watery depths into the light of day.

The gospel story is unusual in that it is only gradually that Jesus heals the blind man. After Jesus put spittle on the man’s eyes and laid his hands on him, he began to see; he saw people but they looked like trees to him. When Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, he saw clearly. He gradually emerged from darkness into the light. There is a sense in which our emergence into the light is always gradual. We will not see clearly on this side of eternity. The most we can hope for is that we will gradually emerge into the light, allowing the Lord to keep opening our eyes so that we can see more clearly, with the eyes of a maturing faith. Such seeing allows us to see ourselves, others, and the whole of created reality in the light of God, with the eyes of Jesus. This journey towards greater light is one we will all be travelling until our dying day, until that eternal moment when we will finally see as the Lord sees.

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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 available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications  c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 19th February, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as  Leabhar Geinesis         8:6-13. 20-22
d’Oscail Naoi comhla na háirce agus d’fhéach amach. Bhí clár na talún tirim!

Faoi chionn daichead lá d’oscail Naoi an fhuinneog a bhí déanta aige san áirc agus scaoil uaidh amach an fiach dubh. D’imigh seisean leis agus bhí ag guardal thart go dtí gur thriomaigh na huiscí den talamh. Ansin scaoil sé colm uaidh amach féachaint ar thráigh na tuilte de dhroim na talún. Ach ní bhfuair an colm aon áit ar a leagfadh sé a chos agus d’fhill sé ar ais air san áirc, mar bhí na huiscí ar uachtar na talún ar fad fós. Chuir [Naoi] a lámh amach, rug greim air agus thug ar ais isteach san áirc é. Tar éis moill seacht lá eile ansin, scaoil sé an colm amach as an áirc arís. Agus d’fhill an colm ar ais air tráthnóna, agus féach! bhí craobh úr olóige ina ghob. Thuig Naoi ansin go raibh na huiscí tráite ón talamh. D’fhan sé seacht lá eile, mar sin, agus scaoil an colm uaidh arís; agus níor fhill sé air a thuilleadh.

Sa bhliain sé chéad agus a haon d’aois Naoi, ar an gcead mhí, ar an gcéad lá den mhí is ea a triomaíodh na huiscí den talamh, agus d’oscail Naoi comhla na háirce agus d’fhéach amach. Bhí clár na talún tirim!

Agus rinne Naoi altóir don Tiarna, agus thoirbhir sé mar íobairt dhóite ar an altóir a rogha féin de na hainmhithe glana agus den éanlaith ghlan. Fuair an Tiarna an boladh cumhra agus dúirt sé leis féin:
Ní baol go gcuirfidh mé mallacht ar an talamh go brách arís de bharr an duine,
óir is ar an olc atá a chroí meáite ag an duine óna óige. Ní bhuailfidh mé an uile dhúil bheo mar a rinne mé go deo arís.
"Fad a bheidh an talamh ann, ní rachaidh stad arís ar shíolchur ná ar fhómhar,
ar fhuacht ná ar theas, ar shamhradh ná ar gheimhreadh, ar lá ná ar oíche.”

Briathar Dé.         Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra        Sm 115
Freagra                        Ofrálfaidh mé íobairt an mholta a Thiarna.
1. Cén cúiteamh a dhéanfaidh mé leis an Tiarna ina ndearna sé dom?
Glacfaidh mé cupán an tslánaithe, gairfidh mé ainm an Tiarna.    Freagra

2. Díolfaidh mé mo mhóideanna leis an Tiarna i bhfianaise a phobail.
Is luachmhar i láthair an Tiarna bás a fhíréan.                               Freagra

3. Díolfaidh mé mo mhóideanna leis an Tiarna i bhfianaise a phobail,
i gcúirteanna áras an Tiarna i gceartlár Iarúsailéim.              Freagra
SOISCÉAL 

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.                Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas        8:22-26       Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Rinneadh sé slán arís é agus bhí radharc glan aige ar gach uile ní.

S
an am sin tháinig Íosa lena dheisceabail go dtí Béatsáide, agus bhí daoine a thug fear dall chuige agus rinne siad achainí air baint leis. Rug sé ar láimh ar an dall agus sheol as an mbaile é, chaith sé seile ar a shúile agus ar leagan a lámh air d’fhiafraigh de:
An bhfeiceann tú aon ní?”
D’ardaigh seisean a shúile agus dúirt:
Feicim daoine, ach samhlaím gur crainn iad ag siúl.”
Ansin leag sé a lámha ar a shúile arís agus bhreathnaigh an dall go géar agus
rinneadh slán arís é agus bhí radharc glan aige ar gach uile ní.
Agus chuir sé chun a thí féin é ag rá:
Ná téigh isteach sa bhaile, fiú amháin.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna.            Moladh duit, a Chriost



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd February, 2025

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
The followers of Jesus are to strive to be as merciful as God is merciful


FIRST READING   

A reading from the first book of the Prophet Samuel      26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
God has put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed.

Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Soon o in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him.
Then Abishai said to David,
Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear.
One stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.'
David answered Abishai,
'Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord's' anointed and be without guilt?
David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul's head, and they made off.
No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off;
there was a wide space between them. David then called out,
'Here is the king's spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it.
The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty.
Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed.

The Word of the Lord      Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm        Ps 102
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 everyone of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.  Response

3. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults.         Response

4. As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins.
As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him.     Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians      15: 45-49
We who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit.
That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit.
The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven.
As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven.
And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man. 

The Word of the Lord              Thanks be to God.

Gospel  Acclamation           Acts 16: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!

Or                                              Lk 6: 23

Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, says the Lord
Alleluia!


GOSPEL 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke       6: 27-38
Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.

Jesus said to his disciples:
'B
ut I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.
To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too;
to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you.
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

'Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves;
grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.'

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, 23rd February, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Leabhar Sameuil, Fáidh.        26:2, 7-9; 12-13; 22-23
Thug an Tiarna do namhaid i do láimh duit inniu! Ach ní shínfinn mo lámh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna.

D’imigh Sól dá bhrí sin agus síos leis go fásach Zíf agus trí mhíle fear tofa as Iosrael aige chun Dáiví a chuardach i bhfásach Zíf. D'imigh Dáiví agus Aibísí leo sa dorchadas dá bhrí sin chun an airm agus fuaireadar Sól ansiúd ina chodladh sa champa, a shleá sáite sa talamh ag a cheann agus Aibneár agus an t-arm ina luí timpeall air.

Ansin dúirt Aibísí le Dáiví:
“Thug an Tiarna do namhaid i do láimh duit inniu!
Déanfaidh mé é a shá go talamh le hiarracht dá shleá féin!
Aon iarracht amháin air, ní bhuailfidh mé an dara ceann.”
Ach d’fhreagair Dáiví Aibísí:
Ná maraigh é! Óir cé d’fhéadfadh a lámh a shíneadh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna, agus ciontacht a sheachaint?
Thóg Dáiví an tsleá agus an crúsca uisce a bhí taobh le ceann Shóil agus d’imigh leis. Ní bhfuair aon duine radharc súl ná clos cluas ar ar tharla, ná níor dhúisigh aon duine; bhíodar go léir ina gcodladh mar thit codladh trom ón Tiarna orthu.

Ghabh Dáiví anonn go dtí an taobh eile agus stad sé ar bharr an chnoic i bhfad ó bhaile; bhí spás mór eatarthu.
Agus d’fhreagair Dáiví:
Seo sleá an rí anseo. Tagadh duine de na saighdiúirí anall agus beireadh sé leis í. Cúitíonn an Tiarna a fhíréantacht agus a dhílse le gach duine. Thug an Tiarna thú i mo láimh dom inniu ach ní shínfinn mo lámh in aghaidh fhear ungtha an Tiarna.

Briathar an Tiarna                    Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra                     Sm 102
Freagra                                       Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna.

I. Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, beannaíodh a bhfuil istigh ionam a ainm naofa.
Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, agus ná déan dearmad dá thíolaicí go léir.   Freagra

2. Eisean a mhaitheann do chionta go léir, a shlánaíonn d'easláintí go léir,
a fhuasclaíonn do bheatha ón mbás, a chorónaíonn thú le grá is le trua.                             Freagra

3. Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna, foighneach agus lán de cheansacht.
Ní de réir ár bpeacaí a roinneann sé linn: ní de réir ár gcionta a chuitíonn sé sinn.          Freagra

4. Ní faide an t-oirthear ón iarthar ná an fad a chuireann sé ár gcionta uainn.
Amhail is trua leis an athair a chlann is trua leis an Tiarna lucht a eaglaithe.                   Freagra

Briathar an Tiarna                    Buíochas le Dia

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh         15:45-49

Mar atá scríofa:
“Rinneadh anam beo den chéad duine, Ádhamh.”
Sea, agus rinne spiorad a bheonn den dara hÁdhamh. Ach ní hé an rud osnádúrtha is túisce a bhí ann ach an rud nádúrtha agus an rud osnádúrtha ina dhiaidh.
Is ó chré na talún a tháinig an chéad duine agus é talmhaí ach is ó neamh an dara duine. Bíonn na daoine talmhaí ar aon dul leis an duine úd a tháinig ón talamh, agus bíonn na daoine neamhaí ar aon dul leis an duine úd ó neamh. Agus faoi mar a ghlacamar cló an duine thalmhaí orainn, [glacaimis] cló an duine neamhaí orainn chomh maith.

Briathar an Tiarna                    Buíochas le Dia

Alleluia Véarsa          Eo 13:34
Alleluia, alleluia!
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh grá dá chéile
Faoi mar a thug mise grá daoibhse, seo a dúirt and Tiarna
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.     Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh  Lúc.  6:27-38       Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bígí sibhse atruach amhail mar atá bhur nAthair atruach.


Dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“Ach deirim libhse atá ag éisteacht liom: bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde, déanaigí an mhaith dóibh seo a thugann fuath daoibh, beannaígí iad seo a thugann mallacht daoibh, guígí orthu seo a dhéanann olc oraibh. An té a bhuaileann ar an leiceann tú, tabhair an leiceann eile leis chomh maith; agus an té a thógann uait do bhrat, ná coinnigh uaidh do chóta.

Gach aon duine a iarrann aisce ort, tabhair dó í, agus an té a bhaineann díot do chuid, ná hiarr ar ais uaidh é. Dé réir mar ab áil libh daoine a dhéanamh daoibh, déanaigí dóibh sin mar an gcéanna.

Má thugann sibh grá dóibh seo a thugann grá daoibh, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Óir tugann na peacaigh féin grá dóibh seo a thugann grá dóibh. Agus má dhéanann sibh an mhaith dóibh seo a dhéanann an mhaith daoibh, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Déanann na peacaigh féin an rud céanna. Agus má thugann sibh iasacht dóibh seo gur dóigh mhaith agaibh iad, cad é an buíochas atá oraibh? Fiú amháin peacaigh, tugann siad iasacht do pheacaigh chun go bhfaighidís an oiread céanna ar ais.  Ach bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde, déanaigí an mhaith agus tugaigí iasacht gan súil le cúiteamh ar bith, agus is mór é bhur dtuarastal, agus beidh sibh in bhur gclann don Té is Airde, óir bíonn seisean lách le daoine díomaíocha agus le drochdhaoine.

Bígí sibhse atruach amhail mar atá bhur nAthair atruach. Ná tugaigí breith agus ní thabharfar breith oraibh. Ná daoraigí agus ní dhaorfar sibh. Maithigí agus maithfear daoibh. Tugaigí agus tabharfar daoibh: tomhas maith, fuinte, craite, cruachta a chuirfear chugaibh in bhur n-ucht; óir is leis an tomhas lena dtomhaiseann sibh a thomhaisfear chugaibh ar ais.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna.       Moladh duit, a Chriost



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