Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jun 18 - St Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341)
Summary: St Juliana was a spirited young woman of Florence who felt drawn to serve God in a radical way. Through her uncle she was attracted to the Servites, first as a tertiary and later became the Superior of the "Mantellate" Servite Sisters.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Early life
Juliana was born into the noble Florentine family of Falconieri in 1270. Her parents had paid for the construction of the Church of L'Annunziata in Florence. Her father died when she was quite young and her uncle Alexis, who shared her upbringing with her mother, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order, the only one of the founders who did not become a priest.
The Servites
The Servite order was begun by seven merchants, wealthy young men of Florence, who were disenchanted with the worldly life of the city. They wanted to live a more radical Christian life and at first were first known as Laudesi, "Praisers", and later as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. See 17th February. (Feast of the Seven Founders)
Servite Tertiary
At 15 Juliana refused her family's plans for her to marry and soon after became a Servite tertiary. She continued to live with her mother and followed the rule given her by the prior general of the Servites, St. Philip Benizi, practising charity, chastity, mortification, penance, and prayer. Her mother was so impressed with her conduct that she eventually also placed herself under her daughter's direction and spent the last 20 years of her life living a quiet, austere life of prayer and good works. Other young women of Florence had become tertiaries and formed a community. Juliana found a place for them at the Grifoni Palace in Florence.
Mother's Death
After her mother's death in 1305 Juliana herself asked to be admitted to the tertiaries' community. They elected her as their superior. She continued in this position for the next thirty five years until the end of her life .
Mantellate
For their habit they adopted a black gown or cloak secured by a leather girdle with a white veil. The gown had short sleeves to facilitate work and so people called them Mantellate, because it looked like a cloak (mantello). Their main devotion was to Our Lady of Sorrows and their main activity was caring for the sick.
Miracle on her Death-bed
As Juliana lay on her death bed she was sick much of the time and couldn't receive Holy Communion. She asked the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the host on it. Shortly afterwards the host disappeared and Juliana died. When her community came to wash her body, they found the imprint of the cross on her heart just as it had been on the host. She is buried below the altar in L'Annunziata church in Florence.
Canonisation and Influence
Immediately after her death Juliana was honoured as a saint and was canonised in 1737. She is usually represented in the habit of her order with a host upon her breast. The order of Mantellate Sisters has houses in mainland Europe and England, the USA and Canada. The sisters are involved in education, parish ministry, hospital and prison chaplaincies, the care of cancer patients and AIDS sufferers. Her feast is usually celebrated on 19th June.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Early life
Juliana was born into the noble Florentine family of Falconieri in 1270. Her parents had paid for the construction of the Church of L'Annunziata in Florence. Her father died when she was quite young and her uncle Alexis, who shared her upbringing with her mother, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order, the only one of the founders who did not become a priest.The Servites
The Servite order was begun by seven merchants, wealthy young men of Florence, who were disenchanted with the worldly life of the city. They wanted to live a more radical Christian life and at first were first known as Laudesi, "Praisers", and later as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. See 17th February. (Feast of the Seven Founders)
Servite Tertiary
At 15 Juliana refused her family's plans for her to marry and soon after became a Servite tertiary. She continued to live with her mother and followed the rule given her by the prior general of the Servites, St. Philip Benizi, practising charity, chastity, mortification, penance, and prayer. Her mother was so impressed with her conduct that she eventually also placed herself under her daughter's direction and spent the last 20 years of her life living a quiet, austere life of prayer and good works. Other young women of Florence had become tertiaries and formed a community. Juliana found a place for them at the Grifoni Palace in Florence.
Mother's Death
After her mother's death in 1305 Juliana herself asked to be admitted to the tertiaries' community. They elected her as their superior. She continued in this position for the next thirty five years until the end of her life .
Mantellate
For their habit they adopted a black gown or cloak secured by a leather girdle with a white veil. The gown had short sleeves to facilitate work and so people called them Mantellate, because it looked like a cloak (mantello). Their main devotion was to Our Lady of Sorrows and their main activity was caring for the sick.
Miracle on her Death-bedAs Juliana lay on her death bed she was sick much of the time and couldn't receive Holy Communion. She asked the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the host on it. Shortly afterwards the host disappeared and Juliana died. When her community came to wash her body, they found the imprint of the cross on her heart just as it had been on the host. She is buried below the altar in L'Annunziata church in Florence.
Canonisation and Influence
Immediately after her death Juliana was honoured as a saint and was canonised in 1737. She is usually represented in the habit of her order with a host upon her breast. The order of Mantellate Sisters has houses in mainland Europe and England, the USA and Canada. The sisters are involved in education, parish ministry, hospital and prison chaplaincies, the care of cancer patients and AIDS sufferers. Her feast is usually celebrated on 19th June.
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Memorable Saying for Today
A woman of God loves God,
obeys His commands and eagerly does the work
He has given to her to do.
~ John 14:23; Romans 12:11; 1 John 2:5; 5:2–3. ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 19th June, 2026
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 48:1-14
Elijah was shrouded in the whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit.
The prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his word flaring like a torch.
It was he who brought famine on them, and who decimated them in his zeal.
By the word of the Lord, he shut up the heavens, he also, three times, brought down fire.
How glorious you were in your miracles, Elijah!
Has anyone reason to boast as you have?- rousing a corpse from death, from Sheol by the word of the Most High; dragging kings down to destruction, and high dignitaries from their beds;hearing reproof on Sinai, and decrees of punishment on Horeb;
anointing kings as avengers, and prophets to succeed you;
taken up in the whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses;
designated in the prophecies of doom to allay God's wrath before the fury breaks, to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Happy shall they be who see you, and those who have fallen asleep in love; for we too will have life.
Elijah was shrouded in the whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit;
throughout his life no ruler could shake him, and no one could subdue him.
No task was too hard for him, and even in death his body prophesied.
In his lifetime he performed wonders, and in death his works were marvellous.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-7. R/v 12
Response Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
1. The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, the many coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment; his throne, justice and right. Response
2. A fire prepares his path; it bums up his foes on every side.
His lightnings light up the world, the earth trembles at the sight. Response
3. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory. Response
4. Let those who serve idols be ashamed, those who boast of their worthless gods.
All you spirits, worship him. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3; 9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Or Rom 8: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
The spirit you received is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, 'Abba Father'.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 6:7-15 Glory to you, O Lord
You should pray like this.
Jesus said to his disciples:
In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many
words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:'Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one.
Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours;
but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Thursday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus contrasts the prayer which is to characterize his disciples with the prayer of the pagans, who ‘think that by using many words they will make themselves heard’. They consider it necessary to use a multitude of words to get an indifferent deity’s attention. If they use many words, sooner or later they will hit on the right formula to engage their god. However, Jesus declares that God his Father, and our Father, knows what we need before we even ask him. He is not a distant God who needs to be prodded into action by frantic prayers. The God whom Jesus reveals is unimaginably generous. What matters is to dispose our hearts to receive his generosity.
The prayer that Jesus gives his disciples is with a view to opening up our hearts to all that God wants to give us. The opening petitions imply a surrender of ourselves to God’s purpose for our lives, the prayer for the honouring of God’s name, the coming of God’s kingdom and the doing of God’s will. The remaining petitions acknowledge our poverty before God and our need for all that God can and wants to give us, the satisfaction of our physical and spiritual hunger, forgiveness for our sins and the readiness to pass on God’s forgiveness to others, and protection from the evil forces that seek to undermine our relationship with God. This surrender of ourselves to what God wants and this recognition of our poverty and need before God disposes our heart to receive all that God wants to give us and to give our world through us.
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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 his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : 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/
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 19th June, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Sírach 48:1-14
Folaíodh Éilias i ngaoth ghuairneáin, ach líonadh Eilíseá lena spiorad.
Ansin tháinig an fáidh Éilias ar nos tine, agus a bhriathar ag bladhmadh amach mar lóchrann.
Thug seisean gorta orthu agus le teann díograise laghdaigh sé a líon.
Le briathar an Tiarna dhún sé suas na spéartha, agus tharraing sé tine anuas orthu faoi thrí chomh maith.
Nach glórmhar a bhí tú, a Éilias, de bharr na nithe iontacha a rinne tú!
an bhfuil ábhar maíte ag aon duine eile mar atá agatsa?
Thóg tú duine ó mhairbh agus ó Sheól le briathar an Té is Airde.
Rinne tú léirscrios ar ríthe agus díothú ar fhir cháiliúla ina leaba tinnis.
Chuala tú milleán á chur ort ar Shíonái, agus daorbhreith díoltais á thabhairt ar Horaeb.
Rinne tú ríthe a ungadh le díoltas a imirt, agus fáithe le bheith ina gcomharbaí ort.
Tógadh suas ar neamh thú le tine ghuairneáin, i gcarbad a bhí á tharraingt ag capaill tintrí.
Ainmníodh thú sna bagarthaí brátha le teacht chun fearg an Tiarna a mhaolú roimh an rabharta, chun croíthe na n-aithreacha a iompú i leith a gclainne, agus chun treibheanna Iacóib a athbhunú.
Is méanar dóibh siúd a fheicfidh thú, agus iad siúd a chuaigh chun suain sa ghrá, óir mairfimidne beo chomh maith.
Folaíodh Éilias i ngaoth ghuairneáin, ach líonadh Eilíseá lena spiorad;
i gcaitheamh a shaoil níor fhéad aon rialtóir é a shuaitheadh; ná níor éirígh le haon duine é a chur faoi smacht.
Ní raibh aon obair róthrom dó, agus fiú nuair a bhí sé marbh rinne a chorp tairngreacht.
Nuair a bhí sé beo, rinne sé éachtaí, agus b’iontach freisin na nithe a rinne sé tar éis a bháis.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 96::1-7. R/v 12
Freagra Déanaigí gairdeas sa Tiarna, a fhíréana.
1. Is é an Tiarna is rí, gairdíodh an talamh; bíodh lúcháir ar na hinsí go léir.
Tá néalta agus dorchacht ina thimpeall; ceart agus cóir is bonn lena ríchathaoir. Freagra
2. Gabhann tine roimhe amach ar a shlí dó, agus í ag loscadh a naimhde de gach leith.
Soilsíonn a splancacha an chruinne; creathnaíonn an talamh ar a fheiceáil. Freagra
3. Tagann leá ar na sléibhte ar nós céarach i bhfianaise Thiarna na cruinne.
Fógraíonn na flaithis a fhíréantacht; feiceann na náisiúin go léir a ghlóir. Freagra
4. Go raibh náire ar lucht adhartha na n-íomhánna, a bhíonn ag maíomh as a n-íola gan tairbhe;
umhlaíodh na déithe go léir ina fhianaise. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 6: 6:7-15 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Seo mar a dhéanfaidh sibhse guí.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“Agus sa ghuí daoibh, ná déanaigí deilín de mar a dhéanann na págánaigh; samhlaíonn siad seo, dá mhéad a gcaint, gurb ea is dóichí go n-éistfear leo. Ná déanaigí aithris orthu; mar is eol do bhur nAthair na nithe a
theastaíonn uaibh sula n-iarrann sibh air iad.Seo mar a dhéanfaidh sibhse guí:
Ár nAthair, atá ar neamh,
go naofar d’ainm;
go dtaga do ríocht;
go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu;
agus maith dúinn dár bhfiacha, mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin;
agus ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc.
Óir, má mhaitheann sibh a gcionta do chách, maithfidh bhur nAthair neamhaí daoibhse freisin.
Ach mura maitheann sibhse do chách, ní mó a mhaithfidh bhur nAthair bhur gcionta daoibhse.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 21st June, 2026
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:10-13
He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
Jeremiah said: I hear so many disparaging me,
"Terror from every side!" Denounce him! Let us denounce him!'
All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall,
'Perhaps he will be seduced into error. Then we will master him and take our revenge!'
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:4-5. 29-34. R/v 29
Response In your great love, answer me, 0 God.
1. It is for you that I suffer taunts, that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house and taunts against you fall on me. Response
2. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour.
In your great love, answer me, 0 God, with your help that never fails:
Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me. Response
3. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, the sea and all its living creatures. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:12-15
The gift itself considerably outweighed the fall.
Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of 'law-breaking', yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.
Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man's fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 1: 14.12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him he gad.ve power to become children of God
Alleluia!
or Jn 15: 26.27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of truth will be my witness; and you too will be my witnesses.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 10:26-33 Glory to you, O Lord
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
'Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
'So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.
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, 21st June, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Irimia, fáidh 20:10-13
Óir shaor sé anam an bhoicht ó láimh lucht déanta an oilc.
Dúirt Irimia, Cluinim mórán do mo tharcaisniú:
“Eagla ar gach aon taobh!
Sceithigí air! Sceithimis air!”Ag a raibh de chairde agam uair bhí súil in airde le mo threascairt:
“Meallfar é b’fhéidir, ansin béarfaimid bua air agus imreoimid díoltas air!”
Ach tá an Tiarna liomsa, curadh cumhachtach; ar an ábhar sin tuisleoidh lucht m’ionsaithe;
ní chloífidh siad mé; brisfear orthu; beidh siad trína chéile.
Ní dhéanfar dearmad go brách ar a náire shíoraí.
Ach, a Thiarna na Slua, a scrúdaíonn le fírinne, a ransaíonn na háranna agus an croí, feicim do dhíoltas orthu mar is duitse a d’fhoilsigh mé mo chúis.
Canaigí don Tiarna, molaigí an Tiarna, óir shaor sé anam an bhoicht ó láimh lucht déanta an oilc.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 68; 4-5. 29-34. R/v 29
Freagra Éist liom de réir do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna.
1. Ar do shonsa a d'fhulaing mé aithisí, a bhí luisne na náire ar mo ghnúis.
Is strainséir mé do mo bhráithre féin, agus is comhthíoch mé do chlann mo mháthar.
Táim ar lasadh le dúthracht do do theach; is ormsa a thiteann aithisí lucht do cháinte. Freagra
2. Chugatsa a chuirim m'urnaí, a Thiarna, an uair is mian leat féin.
Éist liom de réir do bhuanghrá agus do chúnaimh chinnte.
Freagair mé as ucht do dhilghrá, a Thiarna; iompaigh chugam de réir do thrócaire. Freagra
3. Beidh áthas ar na hísle nuair a fheicfidh siad é; athbheofar croíthe lucht cuardaithe an Tiarna.
Éisteann an Tiarna leis na daoine bochta, is ní thugann droim láimhe dá bhraighdeanaigh.
Go mola na spéartha is an talamh é, an mhuir agus a maireann inti.
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,
An uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibhgo ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 5:12-15
Ní hé an dála céanna ag an tabhartas agus ag an gcoir é.
A bhráithre, tháinig an peaca isteach sa saol trí aon duine amháin agus an bás isteach tríd an bpeaca, sa tslí sin leath an bás i measc cách uile de bhrí go ndearna cách uile an peaca. Bhí an peaca ar an saol, ar ndóigh, sular tugadh an dlí ach ní chuirtear an peaca sa chuntas mura mbíonn dlí ann. Mar sin féin bhí an bás i réim ó Ádhamh anuas go Maois fiú amháin dóibh siúd nach raibh ciontach i mbriseadh reachta ar nós Ádhaimh.
Agus bhí Ádhamh ina shamhail ar an té úd a bhí le teacht. Ach ní hé an dála céanna ag an tabhartas agus ag an gcoir é. Mar, má fuair mórán bás de bharr choir an aon duine amháin, is fairsinge go mór do mhórán a bhí grásta Dé agus an tabhartas a dáileadh de dheonú an aon duine amháin, Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 1: 14: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,
An uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibhgo ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 10:26-33 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu seo a mharaíonn an corp.
San am sin dúirt Íosa:
Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu, mar sin. Níl aon ní i bhfolach nach bhfoilseofar, ná aon ní faoi cheilt nach mbeidh fios air. An rud a deirim libh sa dorchadas, abraigí i solas an lae é, agus an cogar a chuirtear in bhur gcluais, fógraígí é ó bharr na dtithe.“Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu seo a mharaíonn an corp ach nach féidir dóibh an t-anam a mharú: ní hea, ach bíodh eagla oraibh roimh an té ar féidir dó idir chorp agus anam a mhilleadh in ifreann. Nach mbíonn na gealbhain leathphingin an péire? Agus ní thitfidh gealbhan acu as an aer gan fhios do bhur nAthair. Maidir libhse, fiú amháin ribí bhur gcinn tá siad uile comhairthe. Mar sin, ná bíodh aon eagla oraibh; is mó is fiú sibhse ná dá liacht na gealbhain!
“Duine ar bith a admhóidh mise os comhair daoine, admhóidh mise eisean chomh maith os comhair m’Athar atá ar neamh. Ach duine ar bith a shéanfaidh os comhair daoine mé, séanfaidh mise eisean chomh maith os comhair m’Athar atá ar neamh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
