Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jun 12 - Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837)

Patrick Duffy tells her story here.
Early Life
Anna Maria Gesualda was born in 1769. She came from a moderately wealthy family of apothecaries in Siena. The family business failed when she was six and they had to move to Rome where she grew up in real poverty. Her parents had to work as domestic servants.
Schooling and Marriage
After her schooling she could recite most of the psalms by heart, but could scarcely read or write. Her father found employment with a relative of the prominent Chigi family and Anna fell in love with Domenico Taigi, the kitchen porter for Prince Chigi, who used to bring food to her family from the Chigi palace. They married - he was twenty eight, she was twenty. They had seven children, three of whom died.
Holiness and Tensions
Married life was hard enough. Domenico was a bit coarse, but when Anna's mother moved in, it caused untold difficulties as she proved quite interfering. Anna Maria herself felt a call to expiate for the sins of the world by exceptional penances. She had a vision of a dazzling globe surrounded by a crown of thorns where she could see present and future events anywhere in the world as well as the state of grace of individuals, living and dead. Domenico, not having any such vision, became ill-tempered and demanding. Also Napoleon's invasion of Rome caused the Chigi family to leave Rome and so Domenico was unemployed for some time.
Works of Charity, Prayer, and Spiritual Advice
Anna felt called to engage in many practical works of charity - caring for the sick and dying in hospitals, helping battered wives and even looking after stray cats. Many famous people - such as Napoleon's mother Letizia Buonaparte and the daughter of the queen of Spain Marie-Louise de Bourbon - heard of her great powers and came seeking spiritual advice. She had become a tertiary of the Order of the Trinity and later became the centre of a confraternity which met every Friday for the Stations of the Cross and prayer.
Her Death and Beatification

Anna's health failed and she died in 1837. The process for her beatification brought many testimonies of her holiness from nobles, cardinals and even the pope. Benedict XV beatified her in 1920 holding her as an example of how an ordinary mother can become a saint and influence others by her spirituality. Her feast is kept on the 9th June.
Bl Anna's body still lies uncorrupt. mage above right.
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Memorable Saying for Today
God created women with beauty and grace
to reflect His love and light in the world
~ Unknown ~
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Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1
The Old Law brought death, the New Covenant brings freedom from death
FIRST READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 3:15-4:1. 3-6
God has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God's glory.

Since we have by an act of mercy been entrusted with this work of administration, there is no weakening on our part. If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation; the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. It is the same God that said, 'Let there be light shining out of darkness', who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God's glory, the glory on the face of Christ.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 84
Response The glory of the, Lord will dwell in our land.
1. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.
His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land. Response
2. Mercy and faithfulness have met, justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven. Response
3. The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Thess 2: 13
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Accept God's message it for what it really is, God's message and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!
or Jn 13: 34
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I give a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:20-26 Glory to you, O Lord.
Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

'You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother "Fool" he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him "Renegade" he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Thursday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 5:20-26
There is a striking image of our calling as Christians in today’s first reading. Paul declares that we are to reflect, like mirrors, the brightness of the Lord. As we reflect the Lord’s brightness, Paul says, we ourselves grow brighter and brighter until, eventually, we are turned into the one whom we reflect. Paul then states that all of this ‘is the work of the Lord, who is the Spirit’. It is a very powerful vision of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is through the power of the Spirit that we reflect the Lord’s brightness, that we grow brighter and brighter, until we become the one whom we reflect. This work of the Spirit will never be complete in this life. It is only beyond this earthly life that we will be fully conformed to the image of God’s Son. Yet, the Holy Spirit is constantly trying to move us here and now towards this glorious destiny.
The words of Jesus in the gospel reading suggests what it means for us to reflect the brightness of the Lord, to be continually turning into his image. It involves acquiring what Jesus refers to there as a deeper virtue, a virtue that goes deeper than actions, touching our inner core. It is the Spirit who forms this deeper virtue within us, a virtue that impacts on our emotions as much as on our words and actions. Jesus not only forbids killing as the Jewish Law does but warns against the deep feelings of anger that can lead to killing. The creating of this deeper virtue is the good work that the Lord has begun in us and wants to bring to completion through the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To the extent that we allow the Spirit to form this deeper virtue in us, we will reflect every more fully the brightness of the Lord’s loving nature.
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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 Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2022-2023: Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications 2022, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Sliocht as dara Litir Naomh Pól chuig naCoirintigh 3:15 - 4:1. 3-6
Is é an Dia céanna é a chuir solas ag lonradh inár gcroí-ne d’fhonn eolas na glóire diaga.
A bhráithre, go dtí an lá inniu féin bíonn púicín anuas ar a n-aigne nuair a bhíonn Maois á léamh dóibh, ach “nuair a iompófar chun an Tiarna tógfar an púicín chun siúil.” Is é an Tiarna an Spiorad, agus aon áit a mbíonn Spiorad an Tiarna bíonn saoirse ann. Níl aon phúicín orainne, áfach; tá scáil de ghlóir an Tiarna le feiceáil inár ngnúis mar a bheadh i scáthán agus sinn ag dul i gcosúlacht leis-sean ó niamhracht go niamhracht faoi luí Spiorad an Tiarna.

Ós le trócaire a leagadh an cúram seo orainn, ní loicimid choíche. Má tá ár ndea-scéal folaithe ar dhuine ar bith, is orthu siúd atá ar bhealach a millte atá sé folaithe, is é sin ar lucht an díchreidimh a bhfuil an intinn dallta iontu ag dia an tsaoil seo ar eagla go lonródh an solas orthu, solas niamhrach dea-scéil Chríost, an té is macasamhail de Dhia féin. Ní dár bhfógairt féin atáimid ach ag fógairt Íosa Críost ina Thiarna agus gan ionainne ach seirbhísigh daoibhse ar son Íosa. An Dia a dúirt: “Bíodh solas ag lonradh as an dorchadas,” is é an Dia céanna é a chuir solas ag lonradh inár gcroí-ne d’fhonn eolas na glóire diaga ar chuntanós Chríost a chur ar ár súile dúinn.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 84
Freagra Cónóidh ghlóir an Tiarna inár dtír.
I. Éistfidh mé leis an ní a déarfaidh an Tiarna Dia; déarfaidh sé go deimhin lena phobal: 'Síocháin daoibh.'
Tá a shlánú i ngar do lucht a eaglaithe chun go gcónóidh an ghlóir inár dtír. Freagra
2. Casadh ar a chéile an trócaire is an dílseacht, phóg an fhíréantácht is an tsíocháin a chéile.
Eascróidh an dílseacht as an tálamh agus breathnóidh an fhíréantacht anuas ó neamh. Freagra
3. Tábharíaidh an Tiarna fós an mhaith, agus tabharfaidh an tálamh a thoradh uaidh.
Rachaidh an fhíréantacht roimhe amach agus an tsíocáin i lorg a choiscéiméanna. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 5:20-26 Glóir duit , a Thiarna
Duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail: Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.

“Chuala sibh go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná déan marú; agus má dhéanann duine marú beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh, duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas, agus má deir aon duine lena bhráthair ‘Ceann baoth’, beidh air freagairt ann don tsainidrín; agus má deir sé ‘Amadán’ leis, beidh air freagairt ann i dtine ifrinn.
Dá réir sin, má bhíonn tú ag tabhairt d’ofrála chun na haltóra agus go gcuimhneoidh tú ansin go bhfuil cúis ghearáin éigin ag do bhráthair ort, fág d’ofráil ansiúd os comhair na haltóra, imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair, agus tar ansin ag déanamh na hofrála. An duine a chúisíonn thú, tar chun réitigh leis gan mhoill agus tú ag gabháil na slí leis, le heagla go dtabharfadh fear do chúisithe suas don bhreitheamh thú, agus an breitheamh don phóilín, agus go gcuirfí i bpriosún thú. Deirim leat go fírinneach, ní thiocfaidh tú amach as sin go mbeidh an cianóigín deireanach díolta agat.
Soiscéal Dé. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
The Most Holy Trinity-year C, Solemnity
At the last Supper Jesus explained to the Apostles that he still had much to teach them
and his Holy Spirit will take care of this for all the days of the future.
A Day of prayer for Life
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Proverbs 8:22-31
Before earth came into being, Wisdom was born.
The Wisdom of God cries aloud:
The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded, before the oldest of his works.
From everlasting I was firmly set, from the beginning, before earth came into being.
The deep was not, when I was born, there were no springs to gush with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth;
before he made the earth, the countryside, or the first grains of the world's dust.
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,
when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,
when he thickened the clouds above, when he fixed fast the springs of the deep,
when he assigned the sea its boundaries- and the waters will not invade the shore-
when he laid down the foundations of the earth, I was by his side, a master craftsman,
delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 8
Response How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth!
1. When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him? Response
2. Yet you have made him little less than a god; with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hand, put all things under his feet. Response
3. All of them, sheep and cattle, yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish that make their way through the waters. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:1-5
The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John 16:12-15 Glory to you, O Lord
Everything the Father has is mine; All the Spirit tells you will be taken from what is mine.
Jesus said to his disciples:

'I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth come he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.
He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as leabhar na Seanfhocal 8:22-31
Sular cruthaíodh an domhan féin, rugadh an Eagna
Dúirt Dia:
"Chruthaigh an Tiarna mé i dtús a shaothair, roimh gach ní eile dá ndearna sé anallód.
I bhfad ó shin is ea a rinneadh mé, i dtosach báire sular cruthaíodh an domhan féin.
Ní raibh na duibheagáin fós ann,ná na toibreacha ag brúchtaíl le huisce nuair a rugadh mé.
Sular cuireadh na sléibhte ina n-áit, sula raibh na cnoic fós ann, saolaíodh mise;
De bhrí nár thóg sibh ceann d’aon chomhairle do mo chuid,
agus gur dhiúltaigh sibh do gach rabhadh uaim, Déanfaidh mise gáire faoi bhur gcruachás
agus magadh fúibh nuair a thiocfaidh an tubaiste oraibh, Nuair a bhuailfidh an tubaiste sibh dála stoirme, agus a thiocfaidh an mí-ádh agus an anachain sa mhullach oraibh.
Glaoifidh siad orm ansin, ach gan freagra a fháil; lorgóidh siad mé, ach gan fáil orm.
Óir bhí fuath acu don eolas, agus níorbh é eagla an Tiarna ba rogha leo.
Ní ghlacfaidís le comhairle uaim, agus bhí drochmheas acu ar gach rabhadh uaim.
Uime sin ní foláir dóibh torthaí a gcúrsaí féin a chaitheamh, agus masmas a chur orthu féin lena mbearta féin."
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia.
Salm le Freagra Sm 8
Freagra A Thiarna, ár dTiarna, nach éachtach é d'ainm ar fud na cruinne!
1. Nuair a fheicim na spéartha, saothar do mhéar, an ré agus na réaltaí a rinne tú,
cad is duine ann go dtógfá ceann de, na mac an duine go ndéanfa curam de? Freagra
2. Is beag nach ndearna tú dia de; chuir tú barr glóire agus gradaim air.
Thug tú ceannas ar oibreacha do himh dó, agus chuir tú gach aon ní faoina chosa. Freagra
3. Caoirigh agus eallach agus eile, agus ainmhithe uile an mhachaire;
éanlaith an aeir agus iasc na mara agus a ngluaiséann ar raonta na farraige. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Romanaigh 5:1-5
Cuig Dia trí Chríost sa ghrá a thug an Spiorad dúinn.

A bhráithre, ó táimid fíréanaithe ag an gcreideamh, tá síocháin againn le Dia trínár dTiarna Íosa Críost, mar is trídsean atá teacht againn le creideamh ar an ngrásta seo ina mairimid. Agus ábhar mórála dúinn is ea an dóchas go bhfuil glóir Dé i ndán dúinn. Agus ní amháin sin ach is ábhar mórála dúinn ár dtrioblóidí agus a fhios againn go dtagann foighne ón trioblóid, agus diongbháilteacht ón bhfoighne agus dóchas ón diongbháilteacht. Ní chliseann an dóchas seo orainn mar tá ár gcroí líonta de ghrá Dé tríd an Spiorad Naomh a tugadh dúinn.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Vearsa Apac 1:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glóir don Athair, don Mac agus don Spiorad Naomh, do Dhia, an té ata, a bhí agus atá le teacht.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉIL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 16:12-15 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
An uile ní dá bhfuil ag m’Athair, is liomsa é. ‘ Is de mo chuidse a ghlacfaidh agus a inseoidh sé daoibh.’
Dúirt Íosa leis na deisceabail:
Tá mórán eile le rá agam libh,

ach nuair a thiocfaidh sé siúd, Spiorad na Fírinne,
déanfaidh sé eolas daoibh chun an uile fhírinne.
Óir ní as féin a labhróidh; labhróidh sé na nithe a chuala sé,
agus inseoidh sé daoibh na nithe atá le teacht.
Tabharfaidh sé glóir domsa, óir is de mo chuidse a ghlacfaidh agus a inseoidh sé daoibh.
An uile ní dá bhfuil ag m’Athair, is liomsa é.
Uime sin a dúirt mé: ‘ Is de mo chuidse a ghlacfaidh agus a inseoidh sé daoibh.’
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
