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Familiar and New
During Advent, in these days leading to Christmas, our days and evenings are marked by familiar rituals of all types.
There is prayer at Mass, and in the scriptures, prayers and music, we are eased into the journey of hope and waiting. Candles glimmer from the Advent wreath, and the lights, the recipes, and the scents of these days create a place that is familiar to us.
The rituals that engage us during these weeks are a gift. They are a gift for the sacred story that they help us to understand, and their familiar space is a gift. In the midst of it all, we pause and notice that, here and now, God is offering something new.
Let us pray: Lord, I open my heart to your creative power.
Compiled by Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net
Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).
There is prayer at Mass, and in the scriptures, prayers and music, we are eased into the journey of hope and waiting. Candles glimmer from the Advent wreath, and the lights, the recipes, and the scents of these days create a place that is familiar to us.
The rituals that engage us during these weeks are a gift. They are a gift for the sacred story that they help us to understand, and their familiar space is a gift. In the midst of it all, we pause and notice that, here and now, God is offering something new.
Let us pray: Lord, I open my heart to your creative power.
Compiled by Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net
Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).
Dec 18 - St Flannan (7th century)
Summary of St Flannan, Bishop Flannan lived in the seventh century and was the son of a king of Thomond. He entered Molua's monastery at Killaloe and seems to have become abbot there. He is remembered as a powerful preacher.
St Flannan is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe. This diocese includes large portions of the counties of Clare and North Tipperary; it also includes smaller portions of Offaly, Laois, and Limerick. The diocesan cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is at Ennis. Portraits of Saints Flannan and Senan accompany those of Sts Peter and Paul in the sanctuary. Patrick Duffy summarises some traditions about the saint's life.
St Molua (554-609)
St Molua was reputed to have been the first abbot and founder of Killaloe. He was born in Ardagh, Co Limerick, where the parish church is called after him. On a visit to Munster, St Comhghall, Abbot of Bangor, found him asleep in a field where he was tending his father's flocks and recognising the boy's holiness, took him with him to Bangor. There he studied for the religious life and was ordained a priest. Molua is said to have founded monasteries at his home place Ardagh in Co Limerick, at Killaloe, at Friars' Island near Ardnacrusha (covered in 1930 by the damming for the hydroelectric scheme), at Cluain Fearta Molua (Kyle, north of Borris-in-Ossory Co Laois) on the Leinster/Munster border near his mother's home. There is also a Church of St Molua (Church of Ireland) in the Stormont area of east Belfast.
St Flannan succeeds St Molua at Killaloe
St Flannan is said to have been the son of Turlough, King of Thomond, and also Molua's nephew and first disciple. There is a story that one day, after he had been baking continously for thirty-six hours, a heavenly light shone through the fingers of his left hand. It lit up the darkness to enable him to continue with his task. Molua, on learning of this, decided to retire from his position and appointed Flannan as abbot in his place. The image right shows St. Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe.
Propaganda?
Former diocesan historian, Fr Ignatius Murphy (died 1993), referring to the abundance of legends about St Flannan, dismissed the medieval life as historically valueless and said we have very little hard information about him. Murphy maintained that Flannan lived in the 8th century, possibly in West Clare, and that the prominence given to him was due to family pride and propaganda on the part of the kings of the Dal gCais in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Patron of Killaloe diocese
However that may be, St Flannan emerged as the patron of the diocese of Killaloe. The Church of Ireland Cathedral in Killaloe is called after him as is the diocesan college, St Flannan's, Ennis.
When the diocese was established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111, it was made up of three separate dioceses which had been founded around three abbeys: Killaloe, under Saints Molua and Flannan; Roscrea, founded by St Crónán (d. 665); and Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh), founded by St Senan.
Other monks venerated locally as saints include: St Brendan of Birr, St Caimin of Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg and St Ruadhán of Lorrha, Co Tipperary, near Portumna.
St Flannan is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe. This diocese includes large portions of the counties of Clare and North Tipperary; it also includes smaller portions of Offaly, Laois, and Limerick. The diocesan cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is at Ennis. Portraits of Saints Flannan and Senan accompany those of Sts Peter and Paul in the sanctuary. Patrick Duffy summarises some traditions about the saint's life.St Molua (554-609)
St Molua was reputed to have been the first abbot and founder of Killaloe. He was born in Ardagh, Co Limerick, where the parish church is called after him. On a visit to Munster, St Comhghall, Abbot of Bangor, found him asleep in a field where he was tending his father's flocks and recognising the boy's holiness, took him with him to Bangor. There he studied for the religious life and was ordained a priest. Molua is said to have founded monasteries at his home place Ardagh in Co Limerick, at Killaloe, at Friars' Island near Ardnacrusha (covered in 1930 by the damming for the hydroelectric scheme), at Cluain Fearta Molua (Kyle, north of Borris-in-Ossory Co Laois) on the Leinster/Munster border near his mother's home. There is also a Church of St Molua (Church of Ireland) in the Stormont area of east Belfast.
St Flannan succeeds St Molua at Killaloe
St Flannan is said to have been the son of Turlough, King of Thomond, and also Molua's nephew and first disciple. There is a story that one day, after he had been baking continously for thirty-six hours, a heavenly light shone through the fingers of his left hand. It lit up the darkness to enable him to continue with his task. Molua, on learning of this, decided to retire from his position and appointed Flannan as abbot in his place. The image right shows St. Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe.
Travels to Rome and Scotland?
Flannan was noted for his hospitality and the people of Thomond agreed he should become bishop. He is said to have made a trip to Rome where he received consecration from Pope John IV (640-2). There were churches dedicated to him at Inishlannaun in Lough Corrib and another on Inishbofin. The Flannan Islands in the Outer Hebrides may be connected to his cult. However, it is not certain that the Scottish Flannan is the same as the Killaloe Flannan. There is a possibility that there was a second saint called Flannan.
Propaganda?
Former diocesan historian, Fr Ignatius Murphy (died 1993), referring to the abundance of legends about St Flannan, dismissed the medieval life as historically valueless and said we have very little hard information about him. Murphy maintained that Flannan lived in the 8th century, possibly in West Clare, and that the prominence given to him was due to family pride and propaganda on the part of the kings of the Dal gCais in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Patron of Killaloe diocese
However that may be, St Flannan emerged as the patron of the diocese of Killaloe. The Church of Ireland Cathedral in Killaloe is called after him as is the diocesan college, St Flannan's, Ennis.
When the diocese was established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111, it was made up of three separate dioceses which had been founded around three abbeys: Killaloe, under Saints Molua and Flannan; Roscrea, founded by St Crónán (d. 665); and Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh), founded by St Senan.
Other monks venerated locally as saints include: St Brendan of Birr, St Caimin of Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg and St Ruadhán of Lorrha, Co Tipperary, near Portumna.
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 18th December, 2018
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Jeremiah 23: 5-8
I will raise a virtuous Branch for David.
'See, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks –
when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,
who will reign as true king and be wise,
practising honesty and integrity in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel dwell in confidence.
And this is the name he will be called:
the Lord -our-integrity.
'So, then, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when people will no longer say, "As the Lord lives who brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt!" but, "As the Lord lives who led back and brought home the descendants of the House of Israel out of the land of the North and from all the countries to which he had dispersed them, to live on their own soil." '
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps: 71
Response In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
1 O God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king's son your justice,
that he may judge your people
in justice and your poor in right judgement. Response
2 For he shall save the poor when they cry
and the needy who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. Response
3 Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,
who alone works wonders,
ever blessed his glorious name.
Let his glory fill the earth.
Amen! Amen! Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Ruler of the House of Israel who gave the law to Moses on Sinai,
come and save us with outstretched arm.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-24
Jesus is born of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son
and they will call him Emmanuel,
a name which means 'God-is-with-us.' When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
The Gospel of the Lord
**************************
Gospel Reflection Tuesday Third Week of Advent Matthew 1:18–24
Today’s gospel reading is Matthew’s account of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. In Luke’s gospel, the annunciation of Jesus’ birth is made to Mary; in Matthew’s gospel, it is made to Joseph. Artists have tended to depict Luke’s version of the annunciation to Mary much more often than Matthew’s version of the annunciation to Joseph. In both accounts, the angel announces that Mary is to conceive her child through the Holy Spirit. In both accounts there is a rich description of the unique identity of the child. Matthew’s account of the annunciation highlights two aspects of the identity of Mary’s child. He is to be named Jesus, a name which means in Hebrew ‘the Lord saves’, because he is to save God’s people from their sins. He is also to be named Emmanuel, which in Hebrew means ‘God is with us’. Combining these names indicates that Jesus is the presence of the loving mercy of God. When we look upon this child, we are looking upon God with us, or, as Saint Paul says in his letter to the Romans, God ‘for us’, working to reconcile us to himself. Jesus was born, lived, died and was raised from the dead to reconcile us to God, to lead us back to God. At the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his death, the Last Supper, he said, ‘this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. It is because Jesus is the face of God’s mercy that we celebrate his birth with such gladness and hope. He has shown us that nothing need come between us and the love of God.
________________________________
The scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel reflection comes from: Weekday Reflections for the Liturgical Year 2018/2019; I Want to Know Christ by Martin Hogan, published by The Messenger c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
________________
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 18th December, 2018
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an fáidh Irimia 23: 5-8
Ardóidh mé do Dháiví beangán fíréanta
Feach, tá na laethanta ag teacht – an Tiarna a labhraíonn –
agus ardóidh mé do Dháiví beangán fíréanta;
rialóidh sé ina rí go críonna,
agus déanfaidh sé breithiúnas agus ceart sa talamh.
Ina laethanta siúd sábhálfar Iúdá agus cónóidh Iosrael faoi dhóchas.
Is é seo an t-ainm a bhéarfar air: An Tiarna ár bhfíréantacht.
“Mar sin, tá na laethanta ag teacht – an Tiarna a labhraíonn – nach ndéarfaidh daoine níos mó: ‘Go maire an Tiarna a thug clann Iosrael as críoch na hÉigipte!’ ach: ‘Go maire an Tiarna a thug ar ais agus a threoraigh abhaile sliocht theach Iosrael as an tír thuaidh agus as gach uile thír inar dhíbir sé iad, le go ndéanfaidís cónaí ina dtír féin.’”
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 71
Freagra Bláthóidh síochcáin agus fíréantacht lena linn nó go meathfaidh an ghealach.
1. Tabhair do bhreithiúnas, a Dhia, don rí
agus d'fíréantacht do mhac an rí.
Go dtuga se ceartbhreithiúnas ar a phobal
agus cothrom do na bochtáin. Freagra
2. Saorfaidh se na bochtáin nuair a ghlaofaidh siad air
agus na hainniseoiri gan chunamh.
Glacfaidh se trua don duine lag
agus sabhalfaidh se an duine dealbh. Freagra
3. Moladh leis an Tiarna, Dia Isráél,
an tAon amhain a dheanann éachtaí
Moladh go deo lena ainm glórmhar.
Go Iíona a ghlóir an talamh.
Amen! Amen! Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 1:18-24
Beidh an mhaighdean torrach agus béarfaidh sí mac agus tabharfar Imeánuéil mar ainm air.
Seo mar a tharla Íosa Críost a shaolú. Bhí Muire, a mháthair, luaite le Iósaef, agus
sula ndearnadar aontíos, fuarthas torrach í ón Spiorad Naomh. Ba dhuine cóir a fear
céile Iósaef, ach níorbh áil leis go dtabharfaí míchlú di, agus chinn sé í a scaoileadh uaidh
os íseal. Ag machnamh ar an méid sin dó, áfach, thaispeáin aingeal ón Tiarna é féin dó imbrionglóid agus dúirt: “A Iósaef, a mhic Dháiví, ná bíodh eagla ort do bhean chéile
Muire a thabhairt abhaile leat, óir, an leanbh atá gafa aici, is ón Spiorad Naomh é.
Béarfaidh sí mac, agus tabharfaidh tú Íosa mar ainm air, óir slánóidh sé a phobal óna bpeacaí.” Thit an méid sin go léir amach chun go gcomhlíonfaí a ndúirt an Tiarna tríd
an bhfáidh:
“Beidh an mhaighdean torrach agus béarfaidh sí mac
agus tabharfar Imeánuéil mar ainm air,”
– ainm a chiallaíonn: Tá Dia linn. Dhúisigh Iósaef agus d’éirigh, agus rinne mar d’ordaigh aingeal an Tiarna dó: a bhean a thabhairt abhaile leis.
Soiscéal Dé.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd December, 2018
FIRST READING A reading from the book of the Prophet Micah 5:1-4
Out of you will be born the one who is to rule over Israel.
The Lord says this:
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me
the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past,
to the days of old.
The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back
to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock
with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land.
He himself will be peace.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79
Response God of hosts, bring us back;let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
1. O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help. Response
2. 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
3. May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again:
give us life that we may call upon your name. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Hebrews 10:5-10
Here I am! I am coming to obey your will.
This is what he said, on coming into the world:
You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation,
prepared a body for me.
You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;
then I said,
just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,
'God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.'
Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 1: 38
Alleluia, alleluia!
'I am the handmaid of the Lord,'
'let what you have said be done to me.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 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 December, 2018
AN CEATRÚ DOMNACH DEN AIDBHINT
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Fáidh Míocí 5:1-4
Is asatsa a thiocfaidh chugam an té a bheidh ina cheann urra ar Iosrael.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Tusa, a Bheithil Eafrátá
bíodh gur beag thú i measc chlanna Iúdá
is asatsa a thiocfaidh chugam
an té a bheidh ina cheann urra ar Iosrael,
an té a dtéann a shinsearacht na cianta siar
go dtí an t-am fadó.
Sin é an fáth a dtréigfidh Dia iad
go dtí go mbéarfar mac di siúd,
a bhfuil tinneas clainne uirthi,
ansin fillfidh iarmhar a bhráithre ar chlann Iosrael.
Seasfaidh sé go daingean agus beathóidh sé a thréad
trí chumhacht an Tiarna
agus le mórgacht ainm an Tiarna, a Dhia.
Mairfidh siad go slán sábháilte
mar leathnóidh a chumhacht amach ansin go críocha na cruinne.
Beidh sé féin ina údar síochána.
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 79
Freagra Cuir ar ais sinn, a Dhia. Taispeáin dúinn d'aghaidh ghrianmhar agus slánaigh sinn, a Thiarna.
I. Éist linn, a aoire Isráél.
Túsa atá i do shuí ar na Ceiribíni, soilsigh amach.
Corraigh do chumhacht, a Thiarna,
agus tar chugainn dár sábháil. Freagra
2. Cas ar ais, a Dhia na Slua.
Breathnaigh anuas ó neamh agus féach.
Tabhair cuairt ar an bhfíniúin a chuir tú féin.
Caomhnaigh an stoc a phlandaigh do dheaslámh féin.Freagra
3.Go raibh do lámh ar an bhfear a roghnaigh tú,
ar mhac an duine a neartaigh tú duit féin.
Ní thréigfimid thú go brách ansin:
tabhair dúinn an bheatha agus mórfaimid d'ainm. Freagra
AN DARA LÉACHT Eabhraig 10:5-10
Táim ag teacht, a Dhia chun do thoil a dhéanamh.
A bhráithre, deir Críost agus é ag teacht isteach sa saol seo:
“Níorbh áil leat íobairt ná tabhartas;
ach d’ullmhaigh tú corp dom.
Ní raibh dúil agat in íobairtí uileloiscthe ná sna hofrálacha
a dhéantaí ar son peacaí.
Dúirt mé ansin: ‘Féach, táim ag teacht, a Dhia
chun do thoil a dhéanamh,’
faoi mar atá sé scríofa fúm sa Leabhar.”
Sa chéad áit dúirt sé: “Níorbh áil leat íobairtí ná tabhartais ná íobairtí uileloiscthe ná ofrálacha a dhéantaí ar son peacaí ná ní raibh aon dúil agat iontu,” bíodh go n-ofráltar iad de réir an dlí. Ansin dúirt sé: “Féach, táim ag teacht chun do thoil a dhéanamh.” Sa tslí seo chuir Dia na chéad íobairtí ar ceal d’fhonn an dara ceann a bhunú. Agus toisc gurbh é sin ba thoil leis, naomhaíodh sinn tríd an ofráil a rinne Íosa Críost dá chorp féin an taon uair amháin ar fad.
Briathar Dé.
Alleluia Véarsa Lc 1:38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Féach mise banóglach an Tiarna:
déantar liom de réir d'fhocail.
Alleluia!
AN SOISCÉAL: Lúcás 1:39-45Conas a tharla seo domsa, máthair mo Thiarna a theacht chugam?
Chuir Muire chun bóthair sna laethanta sin agus d’imigh go deifreach faoi dhéin na gcnoc go dtí cathair in Iúdá, agus chuaigh isteach i dteach Zachairias agus bheannaigh d’Eilís . Agus tharla, nuair a chuala Eilís beannachadh Mhuire, gur bhíog an naíonán ina broinn, agus líonadh Eilís den Spiorad Naomh, agus gháir sí de ghlór ard agus dúirt: “Is beannaithe tú idir mná, agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne. Agus conas a tharla seo domsa, máthair mo Thiarna a theacht chugam? Óir féach, nuair a chuaigh glór do bheannachtha i mo chluasa, bhíog an naíonán i mo bhroinn le háthas. Agus is méanar di seo a chreid go gcomhlíonfaí na nithe a dúradh léi ón Tiarna.”
Soiscéal Dé
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
