Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Sept 11 - St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) wife and mystic
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Her Marriage
Catherine's was a noble family, the Fieschi. As they had two popes in the family, they were Guelphs (supporters of the papacy). Her father died when she was young and despite wanting to be a nun at 13, her brother arranged a political marriage for her at 16 with a Ghibelline (supporters of the emperor), Giuliano Adorno, to end a feud between two families. It wasn't a happy marriage: Catherine was intense by nature, Giuliano was hot-tempered, wayward and had several affairs. They had no children. One day in 1473 Catherine was so depressed she prayed God to keep her sick in bed for three months.
Turn Around
Two days after her prayer, Catherine was filled with an overwhelming sense of God's love and she had a vision of Christ's passion. This coincided with a reversal in Giuliano's fortunes; his character changed and he became a Franciscan tertiary. They moved out of their palazzo into a small house. She devoted her life to looking after terminally-ill patients in the Pammatone hospital in Genoa where she became the director. Giuliano also joined in the work and both worked without pay.
The plague struck Genoa at this time and both were affected, but Catherine was able to nurse her husband - with real affection - until he died in 1496. She also cared for his longstanding mistress and her daughter.
Spirituality
Catherine had an intense spiritual life, going to daily Mass and receiving communion - which was quite uncommon at that time. She fasted completely throughout Lent and Advent, taking only water mixed with salt and vinegar to remind herself of the drink offered to Our Lord on the cross, and during these fasts she enjoyed exceptional health and vigour.
She had no formal spiritual direction and never went to confession until, after Giuliano's death, she met a sympathetic priest, Don Cattaneo Marabotto, who succeeded her as head of the hospital. To him she made a general confession and it was he who wrote her biography. Together with a young lawyer Ettore Vernazza, they were part of a group of disciples with whom she shared her insights.
Her Writings
During the ten years before her death, Catherine wrote a Treatise on Purgatory, which she describes as a place of joy rather than a place of physical suffering; it also seems to be a metaphor for how she experienced her own spiritual life. Similarly her Dialogue of the Soul and Body is a witty conversation embodying the internal conflict she had undergone between her spiritual goals and her bodily desires.
Death and Legacy
Catherine died of natural causes on 14th September 1510 at Genoa, Italy and was canonised in 1737. Many spiritual writers - Baron Von Hügel, Kathleen Jones and Benedict J. Groeschel - have written about her enigmatic but engaging personality.
__________________
******************************
Memorable Proverb for Today
Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations,
you can modify the extent to which you can suffer
by how you choose to respond to the situation.
- Dalai Lama -
******************************
Wednesday of the Twenty Third Week of Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 7:25-31
If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one.
About remaining celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord's mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that.
Brothers, this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 44
Response Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
1. Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: forget your own people and your father's house.
So will the king desire your beauty: He is your lord, pay homage to him. Response
2. The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour, her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.
She is led to the king with her maiden companions. Response
3. They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the king.
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers; you will make them princes over all the earth. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Jn 2: 5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
When anyone obeys what Christ has said, God's love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia !
or Lk 6: 23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6:20-26 Glory to you, O Lord
'How happy are you who are poor. But alas for you who are rich.
Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:
'How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you,
denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
'But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
Alas for you when the world speaks well of you!
This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
********************
Gospel Reflection Wednesday Twenty Third Week in Ordinary Time Luke 6:20-26
In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks a word of consolation to those who are struggling the most, the poor, the hungry, all who weep, those experiencing rejection because of their loyalty to him. He declares that God is working to transform their situation for the better. The day will come when they will be satisfied, when they will laugh, when the kingdom of God will be theirs. Jesus is revealing God to be one who is not only present to us in our most vulnerable situations but who is actively working on our behalf to bring a change for the better to our lives. This is the God whom Jesus revealed by his deeds and his words. He invited the poor to his table, he fed the hungry in the wilderness, the brought the joy of God’s kingdom to those who were weeping, such as the widow at Nain.
Jesus wants his disciples, all of us, to reveal this same God by our deeds and our words. The risen Lord wants to work through us to bring something of that fullness of life which characterizes the kingdom of God to those who are poor, hungry and weeping today. We are aware of some people who are bringing hunger, poverty and sadness to others by their actions or even complacent indifference. It is this group that Jesus addresses in the second half of the gospel, declaring that God will hold them to account for the suffering they are inflicting on others, very often growing rich in the process. There are forces around that are death dealing and in the face of such forces the Lord needs us all the more to be instruments of his life-giving work in the world.
________________________________
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 2024: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications 2022/23, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
_____________________
Sliocht as an céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 7:25-31
Má tá tú scaoilte ó bhean, ná bí ag iarraidh bean a phósadh.
A bhráithre, maidir le maighdeana, níl aon ordú agam ón Tiarna; tá mo thuairim féin agam le tabhairt daoibh, áfach, mar dhuine atá iontaofa de bharr thrócaire an Tiarna. Is é is dóigh liomsa, mar gheall ar strus na huaire, go mb’fhearr do dhuine fanacht mar atá sé. Má tá tú ceangailte le bean, ná bí ag lorg do scaoilte; má tá tú scaoilte ó bhean, ná bí ag iarraidh bean a phósadh. Má phósann tú, áfach, ní aon pheaca duit é agus má phósann cailín óg ní aon pheaca dise é. Beidh anró an tsaoil ar a leithéidí áfach agus ba mhaith liom sibh a shábháil air sin.
Is é atáim a rá libh, a bhráithre, go bhfuil an uain dulta I ngiorracht; dá chionn sin, iad seo a bhfuil bean acu, bídís ar chuma daoine nach mbeadh aon bhean acu; bíodh lucht an ghoil faoi mar nach mbeidís ag gol, agus bíodh lucht na lúcháire faoi mar nach mbeidís ag déanamh lúcháire. Iad sin a bhíonn ag ceannach, bídís ar chuma daoine nach mbeadh dada ina seilbh acu; agus iad siúd a bhíonn ag gabháil do ghnóthaí an tsaoil ná bídís gafa iontu, mar tá dreach an tsaoil seo ag síothlú.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 44
Freagra Claon chugam do chluas, a iníon, agus éist liom.
1. Claon chugam do chluas, a iníon, agus éist liom;
cuir cuimhne do mhuintire féin uait agus teaghlach d’athar.
Óir tabharfaidh an rí grá is taitneamh do d’áilleacht;
eisean do Thiarna, agus umhlaigh thú féin dó. Freagra
2. Tá iníon an rí gléasta le róbaí órmhaisithe,
agus seoltar chun an rí í faoi éadaí ildathacha.
Seoltar dá héis chuige a maighdeana coimhdeachta. Freagra
3. Déantar a dtionlacan le háthas is gairdeas
nuair a ghabhann siad isteach in áras an rí.
In ionad do shinsear beidh clann mhac de do chuid féin agat;
ceapfaidh tú ina bhflatha iad ar fud chríocha na cruinne. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 6:20-26 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Is méanar daoibhse atá bocht. Ach is mairg daoibhse atá saibhir.
San am sin d’ardaigh Íosa a shúile I dtreo a dheisceabail agus dúirt
“Is méanar daoibhse atá bocht, óir is libh ríocht Dé.
“Is méanar daoibhse a bhfuil ocras oraibh anois, óir sásófar sibh.
“Is méanar daoibhse atá ag gol anois, óir déanfaidh sibh gáire.
"Is méanar daoibh nuair is fuath le daoine sibh agus nuair a scarfaidh siad amach sibh agus bhur n-ainm a aithisiú agus a fhógairt mar dhrochainm, mar gheall ar Mhac an Duine. Bígí lúcháireach an lá sin, bígí ag léimneach le háthas, óir féach, is mór é bhur dtuarastal ar neamh. Óir is sa chaoi chéanna a dhéanadh a n-aithreacha leis na fáithe.
“Ach is mairg daoibhse atá saibhir, óir tá bhur sólás faighte agaibh cheana.
“Is mairg daoibhse atá sách anois, óir beidh ocras oraibh.
“Is mairg daoibhse a dhéanann gáire anois, óir déanfaidh sibh brón agus gol.
“Is mairg daoibh nuair a bheidh cách ag labhairt go maith oraibh.
Óir is sa chaoichéanna a dhéanadh a n-aithreacha leis na fáithe bréagacha.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Peter, acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, finds it hard to accept that Jesus must suffer and die because of who he is.
So also Christians find it hard to accept the Cross as an integral part of their identity.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:5-9
I offered my back to those who struck me.
The Lord has opened my ear.
For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
My vindicator is here at hand.
Does anyone start proceedings against me?
Then let us go to court together.
Who thinks he has a case against me? Let him approach me.
The Lord is coming to my help who dare condemn me?
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 114:1-6. 8-9.
Response I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
Or Alleluia!
1. I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. Response
2. They surrounded me, the snares of death, with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress. I called on the Lord's name.
O Lord my God, deliver me! Response
3. How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me. Response
4. He has kept my soul from death, my eyes from tears
and my feet from stumbling. I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St James 2:14-18
If good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him?
If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, 'I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,' without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that?
Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
This is the way to talk to people of that kind:
You say you have faith and I have good deeds;
I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds
- now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
no one can come to the Father except through me.
Alleluia!
or Gal 6:14
Alleluia, alleluia!
The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord,
through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 8:27-35 Glory to you, O Lord.
You are the Christ. The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously
[caption id="attachment_85285" align="alignright" width="257"] St Peter's confession of faith[/caption]
Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi.
On the way he put this question to his disciples,
'Who do people say I am?'
And they told him.
'John the Baptist,' they said 'others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.'
'But you,’ he asked 'who do you say I am?'
Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.'
And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him,
'Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God's way but man's.'
He called the people and his disciples to him and said,
'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it;
but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
*****************************
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.
Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh 50:5-9
Lig mé mo dhroim le lucht a bhuailte
An Tiarna Dia, is é a d’oscail mo chluas.
Maidir liom féin, níor chuir mé ina choinne, níor theann mé ar gcúl.
Lig mé mo dhroim le lucht a bhuailte agus mo ghruanna leo siúd a bhí
ag piocadh na féasóige asam; níor cheil mé mo ghnúis ar mhasla ná ar sheile.
Tá an Tiarna Dia ag teacht i gcabhair orm,
is é sin an fáth nach mothaím an masla.
Mar sin, chruaigh mé mo ghnúis mar an chloch ghlas,
bhí a fhios agam nach mbeinn meallta.
An té a shaorfaidh mé ar chion, tá sé i ngar.
An bhfuil aon duine a chuirfeadh cúis orm?
Tagaimis beirt i láthair, má tá.
An bhfuil aon duine ag éileamh ceart orm?
Seasadh sé chugam amach!
Tá an Tiarna Dia ag cuidiú liom, cé a thabharfadh ciontach mé?
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 114
Freagra Siúlfaidh mé i bhfianaise an Tiarna i ndúiche na mbeo.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. Alleluia!
Ta grá agam don Tiarna toisc gur chuala sé glór mo ghuí
agus toisc gur chlaon sé chugam a chluas an lá ar ghlaoigh mé air. Freagra
2. Chrioslaigh téada an bháis mé agus tháinig líonta ifrinn anuas orm
gur thit mé in angar is in anacra. Ghlaoigh mé ar ainm an Tiarna.
A Thiarna, tarrthaigh m'anam! Freagra
3. Is ceansa an Tiarna is is cóir, is trócaireach é ár nDia.
Cosnaíonn an Tiarna lucht na simplíochta.
Bhí mé go hainnis agus shábháil sé mé. Freagra
4. Sciob sé m'anam ón mbás, mo shúile ó dheora, mo chosa ó thuisleadh.
Siúlfaidh mé i bhfianaise an Tiarna i ndúiche na mbeo. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Séamus 2:14-18
Tá sé marbh leis féin gan dea-oibreacha.
Cén tairbhe é, a bhráithre liom, má deir duine go bhfuil creideamh aige, ach é gan dea-oibreacha? An féidir don chreideamh é a shábháil? Má tá deartháir nó deirfiúr gan éadach agus gan cuid an lae de bhia acu, agus go ndeir duine agaibhse leo:
“Imígí faoi shíocháin; faighigí goradh agus ithigí bhur sáith,” agus nach dtugann sibh riachtanais na beatha dóibh, cén tairbhe é?
Sé a fhearacht sin ag an gcreideamh é. Tá sé marbh leis féin gan dea-oibreacha.
Ach déarfaidh duine éigin:
“Tá creideamh agatsa agus tá dea-oibreacha agamsa.”
Taispeáin dom do chreideamh in éagmais do dhea-oibreacha, agus taispeánfaidh mise mo chreideamh duitse trí mo dhea-oibreacha.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 14:5,
Alleluia, alleluia!
'Is mise an tSlí, an Fhírinne agus an Bheatha,' a deir an Tiarna:
'Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa.'
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 8:27-35 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is tú an Críost.
San am sin d’imigh Íosa agus a chuid deisceabal go dtí na bailte i gCéasaráia Philib, agus sa tslí dóibh d’fhiafraigh sé dá dheisceabail:
“Cé hé a deir na daoine mise?”
Dúirt siad leis: “Eoin Baiste, agus cuid eile acu Éilias, cuid eile duine de na fáithe.”
D’fhiafraigh sé díobh:
“Ach cé hé a deir sibhse mé?”
Dúirt Peadar leis á fhreagairt: “Is tú an Críost.”
Agus d’ordaigh sé dóibh go géar gan labhairt mar gheall air le haon duine.
Thosaigh sé á theagasc dóibh nárbh fholáir do Mhac an Duine mórán a fhulaingt agus an diúltú a fháil ó na seanóirí agus ó uachtaráin na sagart agus óna scríobhaithe agus a chur chun báis agus éirí arís tar éis trí lá. Agus labhair sé an méid sin go hoscailte. Ach thug Peadar ar fhód ar leith é agus thosaigh ag tabhairt casaoide dó. Ach d’iompaigh seisean thairis, agus ar fheiceáil a dheisceabal dó, thug sé casaoid do Pheadar agus dúirt:
“Siar i mo dhiaidh leat, a Shátain, mar ní hiad smaointe Dé atá i d’aigne ach smaointe daoine.”
Ghlaoigh sé chuige an slua mar aon lena dheisceabail agus dúirt sé leo:
“Más áil le haon duine bheith ar mo bhuíon, séanadh sé é féin, tógadh suas a chros agus leanadh mé.
Óir cibé arb áil leis a anam a shaoradh, caillfidh sé é;
ach cibé a chaillfidh a anam mar gheall ormsa agus ar an soiscéal, saorfaidh sé é."
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
************************************
Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh
Cad a cheapann tú fúmsa?
Níl sé éasca go mbeadh a fhios ag duine go maith i ndáiríre. Beidh lánúin a bhfuil cónaí orthu le chéile ar feadh blianta fada go maith ar an eolas faoi cháilíochtaí a chéile agus d'fhoghlaim siad glacadh lena dteorainneacha. Beidh leibhéal maith glactha agus measartha frithpháirteach acu. Ach is féidir le daoine fiú go bhfuil a fhios againn go maith ar aghaidh ag iontas orainn. Is féidir linn rud éigin a fháil faoi na rudaí a thugamar faoi deara riamh. Is féidir linn a chur i gcuimhne go tobann ar an mistéireach urghnách ar an duine eile, ar dhliteanas duine ar a bhfuil a fhios againn agus a bhfuil grá againn. Tuigeann muid níos soiléire go bhfuil an duine eile difriúil dom agus beidh mé i gcónaí ina mistéireach orm, cé go bhfuil a fhios agam iad chomh maith agus is eol dom aon duine. Má bhíomar ag iarraidh ar dhuine a raibh a fhios againn i ndáiríre, 'Cé a deir tú go bhfuil mé?' agus ansin d'iarr orthu cúpla míreanna a scríobh faoi dúinn, ní fhéadfaimis féin a aithint cad a scríobhfeadh siad.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart