Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Aug 26 -St Ninian bishop born c. 360, died c. 432
Summary: St. Ninian, bishop, also (born c. 360, Britain—died c. 432, Britain; feast day September 16), generally credited as the first Christian missionary to Scotland, responsible for widespread conversions among the Celts and possibly the Southern Picts.
Ninian was a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples. His ministry centered around Whithorn and Galloway in Scotland. The monastery in Whithorn was later referred to by Bede as 'ad candidam casam'. There are many churches dedicated to him. He was buried at Whithorn where his shrine became a place of pilgrimage until the sixteenth Century. He was also revered in Kent and Denmark. Ninian was also called Nynia, Ninias, Rigna, Trignan, Ninnidh, Ringan, Ninus, and Dinan.
The two primary historical sources about Ninian’s life and work are of dubious reliability. According to one, a 12th-century life by St. Aelred of Rievaulx, Ninian was the son of a Christian Briton chieftain. He made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was consecrated as a bishop, and, in Aelred’s narrative, traveled through Gaul on his return journey, along the way befriending St. Martin of Tours. An earlier source, St. Bede the Venerable’s 8th-century Ecclesiastical History of the English People, implies that Ninian began the conversion of the Picts, a notion based on even earlier—and not entirely trustworthy—accounts of the period.
More certainly, Ninian was the first bishop of Galloway.
That he established his see at Whithorn, Caledonia, is a supposition borne out by modern anthropology. There, about 397, he built a whitewashed stone church (hence Whithorn, or White House, from the Anglo-Saxon Huitaern; Latin Candida Casa)—a notable departure from the customary wooden churches of the Britons.
The monastery (image right) that he established at Whithorn was, by the 6th century, a leading Anglo-Saxon monastic centre.
Ninian was a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples. His ministry centered around Whithorn and Galloway in Scotland. The monastery in Whithorn was later referred to by Bede as 'ad candidam casam'. There are many churches dedicated to him. He was buried at Whithorn where his shrine became a place of pilgrimage until the sixteenth Century. He was also revered in Kent and Denmark. Ninian was also called Nynia, Ninias, Rigna, Trignan, Ninnidh, Ringan, Ninus, and Dinan.The two primary historical sources about Ninian’s life and work are of dubious reliability. According to one, a 12th-century life by St. Aelred of Rievaulx, Ninian was the son of a Christian Briton chieftain. He made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was consecrated as a bishop, and, in Aelred’s narrative, traveled through Gaul on his return journey, along the way befriending St. Martin of Tours. An earlier source, St. Bede the Venerable’s 8th-century Ecclesiastical History of the English People, implies that Ninian began the conversion of the Picts, a notion based on even earlier—and not entirely trustworthy—accounts of the period.
More certainly, Ninian was the first bishop of Galloway.
That he established his see at Whithorn, Caledonia, is a supposition borne out by modern anthropology. There, about 397, he built a whitewashed stone church (hence Whithorn, or White House, from the Anglo-Saxon Huitaern; Latin Candida Casa)—a notable departure from the customary wooden churches of the Britons.The monastery (image right) that he established at Whithorn was, by the 6th century, a leading Anglo-Saxon monastic centre.
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Memorable Proverb for Today
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair.
We are the Easter people and
Hallelujah is our song.
~ Pope St John Paul II ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 26th August, 2026
Wednesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
FIRST READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18
Do not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we urge you, brothers,
to keep away from any of the brothers who refuses to work or to live according to the tradition we passed on to you.You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at anyone's table without paying for them; no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you. This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace all the time and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
From me, Paul, these greetings in my own handwriting, which is the mark of genuineness in every letter; this is my own writing. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 127: 1-2. 4-5. R/v 1
Response O blessed are those who fear the Lord.
1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper. Response
2. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life! Response
Gospel Acclamation Mt 4:4
Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia !
Or 1 Jn 2: 3
Alleluia, alleluia!
When anyone obeys what Christ has said God's love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 23:27-32 Glory to you, O Lord
You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets!
Jesus said:
'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You who are like
whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, "We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers' day". So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Wed, 21st Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 23:27-32
It is clear from today’s first reading that Paul was anxious not to be a financial burden on the young church in Thessalonica, ‘We worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you’. It was Paul’s policy to earn his keep by working at his trade as a tentmaker, so as to be able to preach the gospel free of charge. Paul is also concerned about some members of the church becoming an unnecessary financial burden on the community, when, in reality, they were well capable of working to support themselves. Elsewhere in his letters Paul says to the members of the church to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Gal 6:2), which is the law of love. We are called to help to carry the burden of others, while not becoming an unnecessary burden on others.
In the gospel reading, Jesus highlights one way people can become a burden on others, namely, when they give the appearance of ‘good honest people’ but, in reality, are full of ‘hypocrisy and lawlessness’. Elsewhere, Jesus uses the image of wolves in sheep’s clothing. We would all find such people burdensome, as we try to discern whether or not to rely on them and believe what they tell us.
At the end of the first reading, Paul writes his name in his own handwriting as a ‘mark of genuineness’. The genuine person is never a burden. Their honesty and truthfulness, their transparency and lack of deceit, is burden lifting rather than burden imposing. Jesus was the supremely genuine person; he revealed God’s truth to the full. He offered himself as the one who can lift our burdens, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens’. He wishes to continue this burden lifting work as risen Lord in and through each one of us.
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 c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 26th August, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as dara Litir Naomh Pól chuig naTeasalónaigh 3:6-10, 16-18
An té nach bhfuil fonn oibre air, ná caitheadh sé bia ach oiread.
Tabhairt foláirimh daoibh, a bhráithre, in ainm ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, fanacht amach ó bhráthair ar bith a chaitheann a shaol díomhaoin agus nach leanann an treoir a fuair sibh uainne. Tá a fhios agaibh féin cad atá agaibh le déanamh chun aithris a dhéanamh orainne.Ní raibh aon díomhaointeas orainne fad a bhíomar in bhur measc, ná níor ghlacamar cothú in aisce ó dhuine ar bith. Is amhlaidh a bhímis ag obair le dua agus saothar, de lá is d’oíche, ar shlí nach mbeimis inár muirín ar dhuine ar bith agaibh. Ní hé nach bhfuilimid i dteideal ár gcoda ach d’fhonn sampla a thabhairt daoibhse chun go leanfadh sibh ár lorg.
Go deimhin nuair a bhíomar in bhur measc, seo é an foláireamh a thugaimis daoibh: “An té nach bhfuil fonn oibre air, ná caitheadh sé bia ach oiread.”
Tiarna na síochána é féin go dtuga sé síocháin daoibh gach uair agus gach slí. Go raibh an Tiarna libh go léir.Beannacht oraibh uaimse Pól faoi mo láimh féin. Sin é an síniú a chuirim ar gach litir de mo chuid; is mar sin a scríobhaim.
Grásta ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, agaibh go léir.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 127; 1-2. 4-5. R/v 1
Freagra Is aoibhinn do chách lenarb eagal an Tiarna.
Is aoibhinn do chách lenarb eagal an Tiarna, agus a shiúlann ina shlite.
Íosfaidh tú toradh de shaothair féin; beidh tú go sona séanmhar. Freagra
Is amhlaidh a bheannófar an duine ar a mbíonn eagla an Tiarna.
Go mbeannaí an Tiarna thú amach as Síón; gach uile lá de do shaol. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 23:27-32
Sin mar a thugann sibh fianaise in bhur gcoinne féin gur clann sibh dóibh siúd a d’imir bás ar na fáithe.
San am sin dúirt Íosa:
“Is mairg daoibh, a scríobhaithe agus a Fhairisíneacha bréagchráifeacha, mar gur cuma sibh nó
aolta atá go hálainn le féachaint orthu ón taobh amuigh ach iad lán suas istigh de chnámha na marbh agus de gach salachar. Sibhse mar an gcéanna: ón taobh amuigh féachann sibh do dhaoine bheith fíréanta, ach ón taobh istigh tá sibh lán de bhréagchráifeacht agus d’olcas.“Is mairg daoibh, a scríobhaithe agus a Fhairisíneacha bréagchráifeacha, mar go dtógann sibh uaigheanna na bhfáithe agus go maisíonn sibh tuamaí na bhfíréan, ag rá: ‘Dá mbeimisne suas in aimsir ár n-aithreacha, ní bheadh aon pháirt againn leo i bhfuil na bhfáithe a dhoirteadh.’ Sin mar a thugann sibh fianaise in bhur gcoinne féin gur clann sibh dóibh siúd a d’imir bás ar na fáithe, agus líonaigí suas tomhas bhur n-aithreacha.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 30th August, 2026
Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9
The word of the Lord has meant insult for me.
You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced;you have overpowered me: you were the stronger.
I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody's butt.
Each time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim:
'Violence and ruin!'
The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. I used to say, 'I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more.
Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62: 2-6. 8-9. R/v 2
Response For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
1. O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. Response
2. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise. Response
3. So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy. Response
4. For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 12:1-2
Offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice.
Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation 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 Gospel according to Matthew 16:21-27 Glory to you, O Lord
'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself
Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him.'Heaven preserve you, Lord;' he said 'this must not happen to you'.
But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God's way but man's.'
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'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 will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
'For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.
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.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 30th August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an dara Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh 20:7-9
Tá briathar an Tiarna tar éis éirí ina mhasla domsa.
Mheall tú mé, a Thiarna, agus cheadaigh mé mo mhealladh;
rug tú bua orm; ba thú ba threise.
Níl lá nach mbíonn siad ag gáire fúm, is ceap magaidh mé ag gach aon duine.
Níl uair dá labhraim an briathar nach mbíonn orm
a fhógairt in ard mo chinn: “Éigean agus díobháil!”
Tá briathar an Tiarna tar éis éirí ina mhasla domsa
agus ina ábhar magaidh ar feadh an lae.
Deirinn: “Ní smaoineoidh mé air, ní labhróidh mise níos mó ina ainm.” Ansin chonacthas dom go raibh tine loiscneach i mo chroí, í dúnta istigh i mo chnámha.
Tá mé tuirseach ó bheith ag iarraidh í a chosc. Ní fhéadaim é a fhulaingt.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 62: 2-6. 8-9. R/v 2
Freagra Tá iotá tarta ar m'anam chugat, a Thiarna, a Dhia liom.
1. A Dhia, mo Dhia thú; iarraim thú go dícheallach.
Tá íota tarta ar m'anam chugat, santaíonn mo cholainn
amhail tálamh atá tirim is spalptha cheal uisce. Freagra
2. Is mar sin a bhím ag breathnú ort sa sanctóir
chun go bhfeicfinn do chumhacht is do ghlóir.
Óir is fearr do bhuanghái ná an bheatha.
Fógróidh mo bheola do mholadh. Freagra
3. Mar sin a bheannóidh mé thú le mo bheo;
i d'ainmsé a thógfaidh mé mo lámha.
Líonfar m'anam mar le fleá,
is molfaidh mo bhéal thú le beola lúcháireacha. Freagra
4. Óir tháinig tú i gcabhair orm, agus gairdím faoi scáth do sciathán.
Tá m'anam ag cloí leat go dlúth, coinníonn do dheaslámh suas mé. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 12:1-2
Déinaigí, bhur gcoirp a thoirbhirt ina n-íobairt bheo .
A bhráithre, táim á iarraidh oraibh as ucht trócaire Dé, bhur gcoirp a thoirbhirt ina n-íobairt bheo naofa thaitneamhach do Dhia; sin é bhur n-adhradh spioradálta. Ná leanaigí patrún an tsaoil seo ach cuirigí malairt meoin oraibh féin trí athnuachan aigne ar shlí go n-aithneodh sibh cad é is toil le Dia, cad é atá maith agus taitneamhach agus foirfe.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór, a deir the Tiarna
agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 16:21-27
Más áil le haon duine bheith ar mo bhuíon, séanadh sé é féin
San am sin amach, thosaigh Íosa á thaispeáint dá dheisceabail nárbh fholáir dó dul go Iarúsailéim agus mórán a fhulaingt ó na seanóirí agus ó uachtaráin na sagart agus ó na scríobhaithe, agus a chur chun báis, agus éirí an treas lá. Ach thug Peadar ar fhód ar leith é agus thosaigh ag tabhairt casaoide dó: “Go bhfóire Dia ort, a Thiarna,” ar seisean, “agus i bhfad uait sin!” Ach d’iompaigh Íosa thairis agus dúirt le Peadar:
“Siar i mo dhiaidh leat, a Shátain! is ceap tuisle dom thú, mar ní hiad smaointe Dé atá i d’aigne ach smaointe daoine.”
Ansin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“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, gheobhaidh sé é. Óir cá fearrde duine go ngnóthódh sé an domhan go léir dá ligfeadh sé a anam féin ar ceal? Nó cad a d’fhéadfadh duine a thabhairt mar mhalairt ar a anam?
Óir tá Mac an Duine le teacht faoi ghlóir a Athar lena chuid aingeal, agus ansin cúiteoidh sé le gach duine de réir mar a rinne. Deirim libh go fírinneach, tá daoine anseo i láthair nach mblaisfidh an bás nó go mbeidh Mac an Duine feicthe acu ag teacht ina ríocht.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
