Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jan 5 - Saint Charles of St Andrew of Mount Argus (1821-93)
Summary: St Charles of Mt. Argus, Dublin, Priest, Religious. Charles John Houben (1821-1893), was a Dutch Passionist priest who served in Dublin in the late 19th-century. He showed extraordinary compassion for the sick and those in need of guidance. Many came asking his prayers, and in latter life his reputation for healings was such that a reference is made to him by James Joyce in Ulysses. He was canonized in 2007 and his feast day is today
Charles was renowned for his gifts of bodily and spiritual healing during his many years of service at the Passionist Church at Harold's Cross, Dublin. A man healed of a seemingly terminal illness through his intercession attended his canonisation inRome on the 3rd June 2007.
Patrick Duffy tells the story.
Childhood
St Charles was born Joannes Andreas Houben on 11 December 1821 in the village of Munstergeleen ,a village in the south-east of Holland near the border with Germany and Belgium. in the Province of Limburg in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. His parents were Peter Joseph Houben and his wife, Johanna Elizabeth Luyten. His father was a miller by trade. As a boy Andrew attended the village primary school. he was he fourth of 11 children in a poor family. To those outside his family he seemed quiet and extremely shy. John Andrew was a shy but cheerful boy who like singing to himself around the house. He liked serving Mass and visiting the church during the day. A slow learner, for ten years he walked the two miles to a secondary school at nearby town of Sittard. Neighbours began to wonder if he would ever finish school.
He joined the army as a reserve in 1840, but as he wasn’t very good at being a soldier, he only spent three months on active service. While in the army he heard of the Passionists and decided he wanted to become a Passionist priest. This meant he had to resume studying.
Vocation
John returned to work at his uncle’s mill by day and studied in his spare time. When he got his official discharge from the army in 1845, he went to join the Passionist novitiate at Ere in Belgium and was given the name Charles. By now his mother and uncle had both died and though his father tried to dissuade him, John Andrew had made up his mind. Houben was admitted to the novitiate of the Passionists, who had recently arrived in Belgium, in the village of Ere, near Tournai. He professed his religious vows the following year and was given the religious habit and the religious name of Charles of St. Andrew.
Ordination
He was good-humoured and cheerful as a novice and student. When his ordination day came on 21st December 1850, his father had died and, because of the huge expense of his father’s long illness and funeral, none of his family was able to make the journey to attend his ordination at Tournai in Belgium.
First assignment in England
In February 1852 he was assigned to England. Here he came in contact with the many Irish who, unable to go to America, had gone to England because of the Famine. Fr Charles's heart went out to them. He admired their struggle and their loyalty to the faith. Even then, he began to call them “my people”.
At Mount Argus, Dublin
Five years later, aged 35, he arrived at the newly founded monastery of Mount Argus at Harold’s Cross, Dublin. At that time there were ten Passionists living in a reconstructed farmhouse with a temporary chapel added. But soon they started building an eighty-roomed monastery and retreat house for priests and lay people, the first of its kind in Ireland. Charles helped to fund-raise for the new monastery and retreat house all over Ireland and was quite successful at it.
A popular confessor
Charles wasn’t a great preacher, never really mastering the language, but his gift was in the confessional and comforting the sick. In community he was cheerful and often was heard humming the Dutch National Anthem as he walked around the house.
A reputation for healing
It became a daily routine for him to walk from the monastery to the Church preaching to the kneeling people about the love Jesus showed in his passion. Inside the church he would pray privately, ask the people to renew their baptismal promises, bless them with the relic of St. Paul of the Cross, and then move among them laying his hands on them in prayer. Great graces were attributed to his prayers – not only physical cures but also healing of depressions and psychological disorders. Often people would send carriages to bring him out through the city and into the country to visit the sick at a distance.
Allegations of Simony
But trouble was brewing for the priest with the gift of healing. Some doctors complained to Cardinal Cullen and wrote to the newspapers alleging that Charles was telling sick people they had no need to go to a doctor. Also his custom of blessing holy water with a relic of St Paul of the Cross for people to take home with them led some traders to cash in on the act - bottling the water and offering it for sale countrywide. This led to allegations of simony. Although Charles was innocent of both charges, an agreement was reached between Cardinal Cullen and his superiors to send him back to England as the only way to stop the scandal. He remained there for eight years (1866-74) helping with novices and working in various parishes. But there is no evidence that any unusual cures occurred there.
Return to Ireland and death
When the dust settled, Charles was able to return to Mount Argus and live there for the last nineteen years of his life. The crowds came and the cures began again. But an accident – a trap in which he was travelling overturned near St Clare’s Convent at Harold’s Cross – caused both a fracture which never set right and a wound which became ulcerated. Also he had constant toothache; he didn’t complain, but people saw his swollen jaw and his hand going up to his mouth. Gradually he grew too weak to say Mass and he died peacefully on 5th January 1893. It was said he had a bigger funeral than Parnell who died in 1891. The Superior of the monastery wrote to his family: "The people have already declared him a saint
A place of pilgrimage
Fr Charles's grave in the community cemetery soon became a place of pilgrimage. But people sometimes took away pieces of clay. In 1949 his body was transferred to a shrine inside the church. He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1979.
Miracles of healing
The cure of a Dutch woman, Mrs Verhegge, with a large inoperable growth in her stomach, opened the way for his beatification in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. A second miracle took place in Charles’ home village of Munstergeleen in 1999. JHA Dormans experienced abdominal pains that turned out to be a ruptured appendix. From the beginning of his illness Mr Dormans entrusted himself in faith into the hands of Blessed Charles. Surgery exposed porous intestines and every effort to stem the leaks only seemed to make matters worse. The surgeon explained to the family he had reached the limits of what he could do. Mr Dormans received the last sacraments and the family said their good-byes. They invoked Blessed Charles to guide him through the difficult hours. But he did not die. Doctors could not believe it when he began to recover. Subsequent surgery revealed that the intestines had healed naturally; only a small suture was needed to complete the process. Mr Dormans was present at the canonisation of the saint who healed him.
As Archbishop of Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was what is called the Actor in the cause of Blessed Charles. He and many Passionists along with many lay people attended the canonisation in St Peter's Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 3rd June 2007.
Heavenly Father,
you filled Blessed Charles with your Holy Spirit.
In love with Christ Crucified
he spent his life in prayer at the foot of the cross.
From the cross he went forth to bring good news to the poor,
healing to the sick and dying,
and forgiveness to the sinner.
Through the intercession of Blessed Charles
give us the graces we need.
Heal our aches and pains,
our hurts and wounds,
our anxieties and bad memories.
Free us from depressions, habits of sin, ald all evil.
Strengthen our faith,
deepen our hope,
and increase our love.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Charles was renowned for his gifts of bodily and spiritual healing during his many years of service at the Passionist Church at Harold's Cross, Dublin. A man healed of a seemingly terminal illness through his intercession attended his canonisation inRome on the 3rd June 2007.Patrick Duffy tells the story.
Childhood
St Charles was born Joannes Andreas Houben on 11 December 1821 in the village of Munstergeleen ,a village in the south-east of Holland near the border with Germany and Belgium. in the Province of Limburg in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. His parents were Peter Joseph Houben and his wife, Johanna Elizabeth Luyten. His father was a miller by trade. As a boy Andrew attended the village primary school. he was he fourth of 11 children in a poor family. To those outside his family he seemed quiet and extremely shy. John Andrew was a shy but cheerful boy who like singing to himself around the house. He liked serving Mass and visiting the church during the day. A slow learner, for ten years he walked the two miles to a secondary school at nearby town of Sittard. Neighbours began to wonder if he would ever finish school.
He joined the army as a reserve in 1840, but as he wasn’t very good at being a soldier, he only spent three months on active service. While in the army he heard of the Passionists and decided he wanted to become a Passionist priest. This meant he had to resume studying.
Vocation
John returned to work at his uncle’s mill by day and studied in his spare time. When he got his official discharge from the army in 1845, he went to join the Passionist novitiate at Ere in Belgium and was given the name Charles. By now his mother and uncle had both died and though his father tried to dissuade him, John Andrew had made up his mind. Houben was admitted to the novitiate of the Passionists, who had recently arrived in Belgium, in the village of Ere, near Tournai. He professed his religious vows the following year and was given the religious habit and the religious name of Charles of St. Andrew.
Ordination
He was good-humoured and cheerful as a novice and student. When his ordination day came on 21st December 1850, his father had died and, because of the huge expense of his father’s long illness and funeral, none of his family was able to make the journey to attend his ordination at Tournai in Belgium.
First assignment in England
In February 1852 he was assigned to England. Here he came in contact with the many Irish who, unable to go to America, had gone to England because of the Famine. Fr Charles's heart went out to them. He admired their struggle and their loyalty to the faith. Even then, he began to call them “my people”.
At Mount Argus, Dublin
Five years later, aged 35, he arrived at the newly founded monastery of Mount Argus at Harold’s Cross, Dublin. At that time there were ten Passionists living in a reconstructed farmhouse with a temporary chapel added. But soon they started building an eighty-roomed monastery and retreat house for priests and lay people, the first of its kind in Ireland. Charles helped to fund-raise for the new monastery and retreat house all over Ireland and was quite successful at it.
A popular confessor
Charles wasn’t a great preacher, never really mastering the language, but his gift was in the confessional and comforting the sick. In community he was cheerful and often was heard humming the Dutch National Anthem as he walked around the house.
A reputation for healingIt became a daily routine for him to walk from the monastery to the Church preaching to the kneeling people about the love Jesus showed in his passion. Inside the church he would pray privately, ask the people to renew their baptismal promises, bless them with the relic of St. Paul of the Cross, and then move among them laying his hands on them in prayer. Great graces were attributed to his prayers – not only physical cures but also healing of depressions and psychological disorders. Often people would send carriages to bring him out through the city and into the country to visit the sick at a distance.
Allegations of Simony
But trouble was brewing for the priest with the gift of healing. Some doctors complained to Cardinal Cullen and wrote to the newspapers alleging that Charles was telling sick people they had no need to go to a doctor. Also his custom of blessing holy water with a relic of St Paul of the Cross for people to take home with them led some traders to cash in on the act - bottling the water and offering it for sale countrywide. This led to allegations of simony. Although Charles was innocent of both charges, an agreement was reached between Cardinal Cullen and his superiors to send him back to England as the only way to stop the scandal. He remained there for eight years (1866-74) helping with novices and working in various parishes. But there is no evidence that any unusual cures occurred there.
Return to Ireland and death
When the dust settled, Charles was able to return to Mount Argus and live there for the last nineteen years of his life. The crowds came and the cures began again. But an accident – a trap in which he was travelling overturned near St Clare’s Convent at Harold’s Cross – caused both a fracture which never set right and a wound which became ulcerated. Also he had constant toothache; he didn’t complain, but people saw his swollen jaw and his hand going up to his mouth. Gradually he grew too weak to say Mass and he died peacefully on 5th January 1893. It was said he had a bigger funeral than Parnell who died in 1891. The Superior of the monastery wrote to his family: "The people have already declared him a saint
A place of pilgrimage
Fr Charles's grave in the community cemetery soon became a place of pilgrimage. But people sometimes took away pieces of clay. In 1949 his body was transferred to a shrine inside the church. He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1979.Miracles of healing
The cure of a Dutch woman, Mrs Verhegge, with a large inoperable growth in her stomach, opened the way for his beatification in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. A second miracle took place in Charles’ home village of Munstergeleen in 1999. JHA Dormans experienced abdominal pains that turned out to be a ruptured appendix. From the beginning of his illness Mr Dormans entrusted himself in faith into the hands of Blessed Charles. Surgery exposed porous intestines and every effort to stem the leaks only seemed to make matters worse. The surgeon explained to the family he had reached the limits of what he could do. Mr Dormans received the last sacraments and the family said their good-byes. They invoked Blessed Charles to guide him through the difficult hours. But he did not die. Doctors could not believe it when he began to recover. Subsequent surgery revealed that the intestines had healed naturally; only a small suture was needed to complete the process. Mr Dormans was present at the canonisation of the saint who healed him.
As Archbishop of Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was what is called the Actor in the cause of Blessed Charles. He and many Passionists along with many lay people attended the canonisation in St Peter's Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 3rd June 2007.
Prayer for the intercession of Blessed Charles
Heavenly Father,
you filled Blessed Charles with your Holy Spirit.
In love with Christ Crucified
he spent his life in prayer at the foot of the cross.
From the cross he went forth to bring good news to the poor,
healing to the sick and dying,
and forgiveness to the sinner.
Through the intercession of Blessed Charles
give us the graces we need.
Heal our aches and pains,
our hurts and wounds,
our anxieties and bad memories.
Free us from depressions, habits of sin, ald all evil.
Strengthen our faith,
deepen our hope,
and increase our love.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
Blessed Charles, pray for us.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make the world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom
~ Rosa Parks ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 5th January, 2026
Wed 7th January - After the Epiphany
Jesus works signs and wonders among his his people.
We risk losing the full message of Christmas if we only think of Jesus as a baby in a crib.
Optional Memorial of St Raymond of Penyafort, brilliant lawyer, joined the Dominican Order, made Archbishop of Tarragona, d. 1275
c/f short history of today’s Feast and memorial saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first letter of St John 3:22-4:6
Test the spirit, to see if they come from God.
Whatever we ask God, we shall receive, because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants. His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us.
It is not every spirit, my dear people, that you can trust;
test them, to see if they come from God,
there are many false prophets, now, in the world.
You can tell the spirits that come from God by this:
every spirit which acknowledges that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh is from God; but any spirit which will not say this of Jesus is not from God, but is the spirit of Antichrist, whose coming you were warned about. Well, now he is here, in the world.
Children, you have already overcome these false prophets, because you are from God and you have in you one who is greater
than anyone in this world; as for them, they are of the world, and so they speak the language of the world and the world listens to them.
But we are children of God, and those who know God listen to us; those who are not of God refuse to listen to us.
This is how we can tell the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 2:7-8. 10-11. R/v 8Response I will give you the nations for your heritage
1. The Lord said to me : 'You are my Son' It is I who have begotten you this day.
Ask and I will bequeath you the nations, put the ends of the earth in your possession Response
2. Now, O kings understand, take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe and trembling, pay him your homage. Response
Gospel Acclamation Mt 4: 16
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.
Alleluia!
or
Alleluia,Alleluia! Mt 4:23
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured all kinds of diseases among the people.
Alleluia!
Gospel
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 4:12-17. 23-25 Glory to you, O Lord
The kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
Hearing that John had been arrested he went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:
'Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.'
From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand'.He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people. His fame spread throughout Syria, and those who were suffering from diseases and painful complaints of one kind or another, the possessed, epileptics, the paralysed, were all brought to him, and he cured them.
Large crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and Transjordania.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection 7 Jan After Epiphany Matthew 4:12–17, 23–25
Matthew in today’s gospel reading describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry as like an explosion of light in a dark world. He sees it as the fulfilment of one of the great prophecies of the Jesus Scriptures, ‘the people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has shone’. What did this light consist in? Jesus proclaimed that God was powerfully present and active in a life-giving way in his own ministry, ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’. As a result, Matthew tells us, people came to Jesus from all over, not only from the whole of Galilee, but from Syria, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and from across the Jordan river. In particular, those who were crushed, bruised and broken came to him. Matthew conveys a sense of the excitement and hope that Jesus generated when he began his ministry. We can easily lose that sense of excitement about our own faith. Yet, that explosion of light, love and life that characterized the beginning of Jesus’ ministry has not died away. The Lord’s presence is as explosive today as it was then.
The same Jesus, now risen Lord, is in our midst, as light in our darkness, as life in our death, as love in our weakness and frailty. The last words of Jesus in this gospel of Matthew are, ‘I am with you always until the end of time’. This explosive Jesus is constantly calling us into a relationship with himself. He calls out to us to turn towards him, to come to him and to receive from his fullness. He then sends us forth to bring something of his light, his life, his love to others. A few chapters later in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says to his disciples who have come to him and have been with him for some time, ‘You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’. Those same words are addressed to us all in these dark days of winter.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the day: St Raymond of Penyafort , op (1175/80-1275)
St Raymond of Penafort, Priest, Religious. Born about 1175 near Barcelona (Spain), a brilliant lawyer and at the age of 47 became a canon of the cathedral and joined the Dominican Order, eventually being elected their master general. Noted for his knowledge of canon law, especially in its application to the sacrament of penance, and for his scholarly apostolate to Jews and Muslims. Raymond died there in extreme old age on 6 January 1275.
Patrick Duffy outlines his life.
St Raymond's gift was as an organiser and codifier. He was also influential in promoting the evangelisation of Muslims and Jews during the 13th century. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers.
Early Life
Raymond was born in Peñafort in Catalonia in 1175 and was related to the Counts of Barcelona and the kings of Aragon. He was a brilliant student and was already teaching philosophy at Barcelona by the time he was twenty. From 1210 he studied canon and civil law in Bologna. In 1219 he returned to become the archdeacon and vicar of the archdiocese of Barcelona.
Joined the Dominicans
In 1222, age 47, Raymond joined the Dominican friars, having come to know the founder Dominic Guzman in the months previous to the latter's death. The Dominicans asked him to put together a collection of cases of conscience for the instruction of confessors and moralists, a Summa casuum conscientiae, which became an authoritative work. He also exercised an apostolate of preaching, instructing and hearing confessions, becoming confessor to King James of Aragon. Through the advice given at the declaration of the nullity of James's first marriage, he became known to the papal legate who encouraged him to preach a holy war against the Moors and in this he was quite successful.
To Rome
Pope Gregory IX (1227-41) had come to hear of Raymond and called him to Rome in 1230, appointing him papal penitentiary and his personal confessor. Gregory had Raymond edited a collection of conciliar and papal decrees which the Pope published (1234) as the Decretals and were the forerunner of the Code of Canon Law. In the meantime Raymond still gave much of his time generously to the poor.Later Life
Named by the pope in 1235 to the archbishopric of Tarragon, Raymond declined the appointment. He returned to Spain in 1236. Two years later he was elected as the third master general of the Dominicans, succeeding Jordan of Saxony quite suddenly as the latter died by shipwreck on returning from the Holy Land. However, after two years, Raymond resigned as master general. He then spent the latter years of his life as a director of souls and confessor, but his main aim at this time was to promote the evangelisation of Muslims and Jews. To secure this, he developed higher schools for the study and teaching of Arabic and Hebrew and encouraged his Italian confrère Thomas Aquinas in writing his Summa contra Gentiles (1261-64).
Death and Influence
Raymond died in 1275 and was buried in the cathedral of Barcelona.
He was canonised by Clement VIII in 1601 and is the patron saint of canon lawyers.
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Memorable Saying of the Day
'Set your sights on the Cross of Christ', St Paul says 'It is the one alone in which we must make our boast'
~ St Raymund of Penafort ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 5th January, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Dara Litir Naomh Eoin 3:22-4:6
Promhaigí na spioraid féachaint an ó Dhia dóibh.
A chlann ionúin, Agus cibé ní a agraímid air, gheobhaimid uaidh é, ó tharla go gcoinnímid a aitheanta agus go ndéanaimid beart de réir a thaitnimh. Agus seo í an aithne a thug sé: go gcreidfimis in ainm a Mhic Íosa Críost agus go dtabharfaimis grá dá chéile, de réir mar a d’ordaigh seisean dúinn. An té a choinníonn a aitheanta, maireann i nDia, agus maireann seisean ann. Agus is mar seo a aithnímid go maireann sé ionainn, tríd an Spiorad a thug sé dúinn.
A chairde cléibh, ná creidigí gach spiorad ach promhaigí na spioraid féachaint an ó Dhia dóibh: mar go ndeachaigh a liacht fáithe bréige amach ar an saol. Mar seo a aithnítear an spiorad ó Dhia: gach spiorad a admhaíonn gur tháinig Íosa Críost i gcolainn dhaonna, is ó Dhia dó. Agus gach spiorad a shéanann Íosa, ní ó Dhia dó, ach is é spiorad an Ainchríost é ar chuala sibh go raibh sé le teacht; agus atá ar an saol cheana féin.
Sibhse, áfach, a chlann liom, is ó Dhia daoibh agus tá buaite agaibh orthu siúd, mar gur treise an té atá ionaibhse ná an té atá ar an saol. Is den saol iadsan agus dá bhrí sin is ar chúrsaí saolta a thráchtann siad, agus éisteann an saol leo. Is ó Dhia dúinne.
An té a aithníonn Dia éisteann linn, agus an té nach ó Dhia dó ní éisteann. Mar sin a aithnímid spiorad na fírinne thar spiorad na hearráide.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 2
Freagra Iarr orm agus tiomnóidh mé na ciníocha duit
1. Foilseoidh mé reacht an Tiarna. “Is tú mo mhac,” a dúirt an Tiarna liom,
“inniu is ea a ghin mé thú.
Iarr orm agus tiomnóidh mé na ciníocha duit
agus críocha na cruinne mar oidhreacht duit. Freagra
2.Bígí críonna, dá bhrí sin, a ríthe;
aire chugaibh! a rialtóirí na cruinne.
Déanaigí fónamh don Tiarna le heagla
agus tugaigí ómós dó go creathnach. Freagra
Alleluia Véarsa Mth 4: 16
Alleluia, Alleluia!
An pobal a bhí ina suí sa dorchadas, chonaic siad solas mór,
an mhuintir a chónaigh i dtír scáilmhear an bháis, d’éirigh solas chucu.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 4:12-17. 23-25 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Tá ríocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht.
Nuair a chuala Íosa go raibh Eoin tugtha ar láimh, chuaigh sé i leataobh go dtí an Ghailíl. D’fhág sé Nazarat agus chuir faoi i gCafarnáum cois na farraige, i gcríocha Zabúlun agus Naftáilím chun go gcomhlíonfaí a ndúradh trí Íseáia fáidh:
"Talamh Zabúlun, talamh Naftáilím, bóthar na farraige, an taobh eile den Iordáin, Gailíl na gciníocha,
an pobal a bhí ina suí sa dorchadas, chonaic siad solas mór, an mhuintir a chónaigh i dtír scáilmhear an bháis, d’éirigh solas chucu.”
Ón am sin amach, thosaigh Íosa ag seanmóir agus ag rá:“Déanaigí aithrí, mar tá ríocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht.”
Agus ghabh Íosa ar fud na Gailíle go léir, ag teagasc sna sionagóga, ag fógairt dea-scéil na ríochta, agus ag leigheas gach galar agus gach éagruas i measc an phobail. Chuaigh a chlú ar fud na Síre go léir, agus tugadh cách a bhí tinn ó gach sort galair nó ag fulaingt piolóidí, daoine a raibh deamhain iontu, nó an titimeas orthu nó an phairilis, agus leigheas sé iad.
Agus lean sluaite móra é ón nGailíl, ó Dheacapoil, ó Iarúsailéim, ó Iúdáia agus ó thar an Iordáin.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 11th January, 2026
The Baptism of the Lord The Baptism of the Lord. Jesus is anointed with the Spirit and proclaimed Messiah.
He now goes about doing good, working the signs that make him known as the Servant of God.
Jesus is the one who brings the Good News to the poor and tells of salvation.
His public life and ministry begins
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Here is my servant in whom my soul delights
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations.
He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame.
Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law.
I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,
- to open the eyes of the blind,
- to free captives from prison,
- and those who live in darkness from the dungeon
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 28, 1-2, 3-4, 9-10
Response The Lord will bless his people with peace.
1. O give the Lord you sons of God, give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court. Response
2. The Lord's voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour. Response
3. The God of glory thunders. In his temple they all cry: 'Glory!'
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38
God anointed him with the Holy Spirit
Then Peter addressed Cornelius and his household:
'The truth I have now come to realise' he said 'is that God does not have favourites,
but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.
'It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ - but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mk:9:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
The heavens opened and the Father's voice resounded:
'This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL Year A
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 3:13-17 Glory to you, O Lord
As soon as Jesus was baptised he saw the Spirit of God descending on him.
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him.
'It is I who need baptism from you' he said 'and yet you come to me!'
But Jesus replied,
'Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands'.
At this, John gave in to him.
As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven,
'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him'.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
_______________________________________________
Alternatives Readings for other years
for Year C
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 3:15-16.21-22 Glory to you, O Lord
While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened.
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all,
'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire'
Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove and a voice came from heaven,
You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.
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.
___________________________________________
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.
alternate FIRST READING
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 40:1-5. 9-11
'Console my people, console them' says your God.
'Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended,
that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the Lord
double punishment for all her crimes.'
A voice cries, 'Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low,
let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley;
then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it;
for the mouth of the Lord God has spoken'
Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Shout without fear, say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God'.
Here is the Lord the coming with power, his arm subduing all things to him.
The prize of his victory is with him, his trophies all go before him.
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2. 3-4.24-25. 27-30 R/v 1
Response Bless the Lord my soul! Lord God how great you are.
1. Lord God how great you are, clothed in majesty and glory
wrapped in light as in a robe! you stretch out the heavens like a tent. Response
2. Above the rains you build your dwelling. you make the clouds your chariot,
you walk on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers
and flashing fire your servants. Response
3. The God of glory thunders. In his temple they all cry: 'Glory!'
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus 2:11-14. 3:4-7
He saved us by the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with he Holy Spirit
God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions: we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessings which will come with the appearance of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to ser us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it very own and would have no ambition except to do good.
When the kindness and the love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of cleansing water of rebirth by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has generously poured over us through Jesus Christ , our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Lk 3:16
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Someone is coming, said John, someone greater than I.
h will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 3:15-16.21-22
While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened.
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all,'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire'
Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove and a voice came from heaven,
You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.
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.
___________________________________________
Alleluia!
________________________
Responsorial Psalm Ps 28, 1-4
Response The Lord will bless his people with peace.
1. O give the Lord you sons of God, give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court. Response
2. The Lord's voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour. Response
3. How many are your works , O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all'
The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea vast and wide,
with its moving swarms past counting, living things great and small. Response
4. All of these look to you to give them their food in due season.
You give it, they gather it up. You open your hand, they have their fill. Response
5. You take back their spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus 2:11_14. 3:4-7
Alternative First and Second Readings and Responses
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Here is my servant in whom my soul delights
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations.
He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame.
Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law.
I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,
- to open the eyes of the blind,
- to free captives from prison,
- and those who live in darkness from the dungeon
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 28, 1-4
Response The Lord will bless his people with peace.
1. O give the Lord you sons of God, give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court. Response
2. The Lord's voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour. Response
3. The God of glory thunders. In his temple they all cry: 'Glory!'
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38
Theme: God anointed him with the Holy Spirit
Then Peter addressed Cornelius and his household:
'The truth I have now come to realise' he said 'is that God does not have favourites,
but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.
'It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ - but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mk:9:8
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The heavens opened and the Father's voice resounded:
'This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 3:15-16.21-22
While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened.
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all,
'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire'
Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove and a voice came from heaven,
You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.
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.
___________________________________________
Alternate Gospel for Year A : Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him.
'It is I who need baptism from you' he said 'and yet you come to me!'
But Jesus replied,
'Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands'.
At this, John gave in to him.
As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven,
'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him'.
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, 11th January, 2026
Féle Bhaiste ár dTiarna
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh. 40:1-5. .9-11
Seo é mo shearbhónta a bhfuil páirt mo chléibhe leis.
“Sólás, beirigí sólás chuig mo mhuintir,” a deir bhur nDia.
“Labhraigí le croí Iarúsailéim agus fógraígí di go bhfuil aimsir a seirbhíse istigh,
go bhfuil a peaca maite, go bhfuair sí ó láimh an Tiarna pionós faoi dhó ina cionta go léir.”
Tá glór ag fógairt: “Réitigí cosán san fhásach le haghaidh an Tiarna.
Déanaigí díreach thar an machaire bealach mór dár nDia.
Líontar isteach gach gleann, agus íslítear gach sliabh agus gach cnoc;
déantar achréidh de na hailteanna agus míntír den gharbhchríoch.
Ansin foilseofar glóir an Tiarna agus feicfidh an uile fheoil í in éineacht.
Óir tá béal an Tiarna tar éis labhairt.”
Suas leat ar shliabh ard, a challaire an dea-scéala chuig Síón.
Ardaigh do ghlór go láidir, a challaire an dea-scéala chuig Iarúsailéim.
Ardaigh do ghlór gan eagla, abair le bailte Iúdá: “Seo é bhur nDia.”
Féach an Tiarna Dia ag teacht lena neart,agus a lámh ag smachtú roimhe!
Tá a luach saothair leis ina sheilbh,agus a éadáil ag dul roimhe amach.
Mar a dhéanfadh aoire ag aoireacht a thréada dó,
ag bailiú na n-uan chuige ina bhaclainn,
á n-iompar ar chlár a uchta
agus ag fosaíocht na gcaorach tórmaigh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 28: 1-4. 9-10 R/v 11
Freagra Beannóidh an Tiarna a phobal Ie síocháin
1. Tugaigí don Tiarna, a chlann Dé, tugaigí don Tiarna clú agus cumhacht.
Tugaigí don Tiarna glóir a ainm. Adhraigí an Tiarna ina phálás naofa. Freagra
2.Tá glór an Tiarna ar an uisce, I tá an Tiarna ar na huiscí móra.
Tá glór an Tiarna go lánchumhachtach, tá glór an Tiarna go lánmhaorga. Freagra
3. Tá Tiarna na glóire ag toirneach. Cluintear ‘glóir!’ ó gach aon neach ina theampall.
Tá an Tiarna ina rí os cionn na díleann; tá an Tiarna ina rí go brách. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 10:34-38
Rinne Dia é a ungadh leis an Spiorad Naomh.
Thosaigh Peadar ag labhairt le Coirnéilias agus lena theaghlach:
“Tuigim anois go fíor nach bhféachann Dia chun pearsan seachas a chéile ach cibé duine a thugann ómós dó agus a dhéanann an ceart, gur taitneamhach an duine sin dó is cuma cén cine ar díobh é.
Sin é an teachtaireacht a chuir sé go dtí clann Iosrael nuair a d’fhógair sé dea-scéal na síochána dóibh trí Íosa Críost – an té atá ina Thiarna ar chách uile. Tá a fhios agaibh an rud a thit amach ar fud Iúdáia, tar éis dó tosú sa Ghailíl i ndiaidh an bhaiste a d’fhógair Eoin, an scéal faoi Íosa ó Nazarat: mar a choisric Dia é leis an Spiorad Naomh agus le cumhacht; mar a chuaigh sé timpeall na tíre ag déanamh na maitheasa agus ag leigheas gach duine a bhí faoi smacht an diabhail, mar go raibh Dia fairis.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Mc 9: 8
Alleluia,alleluia!
Osclaíodh na flaithís agus cloiseadh glór an athar, á rá:
'Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach: éstigí leis.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 3:13-17 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Tháinig Íosa i láthair ansin: ón nGailíl a tháinig, go dtí an Iordáin ag triall ar Eoin chun baisteadh a fháil uaidh. Ach bhí Eoin ag iarraidh é stop.
“Is domsa is gá baisteadh a fháil uaitse,” ar seisean, “agus an bhfuil tusa ag teacht chugamsa?”
Dúirt Íosa leis á fhreagairt:
“Lig dó anois: is mar seo is cuí dúinn an fhíréantacht a chur i gcrích go hiomlán.” Lig sé dó ansin. An túisce is a baisteadh é, tháinig Íosa aníos as an uisce, agus osclaíodh na flaithis dó, agus chonaic sé Spiorad Dé ag teacht anuas mar a bheadh colm agus é ag tuirlingt air. Agus tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
__________________________________________________
Malairt Soiscéal
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 3:15-16.21-22 Glóir duit a Thiarna.duit.
Ó bhí an pobal ar fionraí, agus cách ag machnamh ina gcroí i dtaobh Eoin,
go
mb’fhéidir gurbh é an Críost é, d’fhreagair Eoin á rá leo uile:“Táimse do bhurmbaisteadh le huisce, ach tá an té ag teacht atá níos treise ná mé, nach fiú mé iall a chuarán a scaoileadh; baistfidh seisean sibh leis an Spiorad Naomh agus le tine."
Ach tar éis don phobal uile a bheith baiste, tharla, nuair a bhí Íosa féin baiste agus é
ag guí, gur osclaíodh na flaithis, agus tháinig an Spiorad Naomh anuas air i gcruth
corpartha mar a bheadh colm, agus tháinig glór ó na flaithis:
“Is tú mo Mhac muirneach; is duit a thug mé gnaoi.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
*********************************
___________________________________
Malairt Soiscéal Blian A
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 3:13-17 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Tháinig Íosa i láthair ansin: ón nGailíl a tháinig, go dtí an Iordáin ag triall ar Eoin chun baisteadh a fháil uaidh. Ach bhí Eoin ag iarraidh é stop.
“Is domsa is gá baisteadh a fháil uaitse,” ar seisean, “agus an bhfuil tusa ag teacht chugamsa?”
Dúirt Íosa leis á fhreagairt:
“Lig dó anois: is mar seo is cuí dúinn an fhíréantacht a chur i gcrích go hiomlán.” Lig sé dó ansin. An túisce is a baisteadh é, tháinig Íosa aníos as an uisce, agus osclaíodh na flaithis dó, agus chonaic sé Spiorad Dé ag teacht anuas mar a bheadh colm agus é ag tuirlingt air. Agus tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 3:13-17 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Tháinig Íosa i láthair ansin: ón nGailíl a tháinig, go dtí an Iordáin ag triall ar Eoin chun baisteadh a fháil uaidh. Ach bhí Eoin ag iarraidh é stop.
“Is domsa is gá baisteadh a fháil uaitse,” ar seisean, “agus an bhfuil tusa ag teacht chugamsa?”
Dúirt Íosa leis á fhreagairt:
“Lig dó anois: is mar seo is cuí dúinn an fhíréantacht a chur i gcrích go hiomlán.” Lig sé dó ansin. An túisce is a baisteadh é, tháinig Íosa aníos as an uisce, agus osclaíodh na flaithis dó, agus chonaic sé Spiorad Dé ag teacht anuas mar a bheadh colm agus é ag tuirlingt air. Agus tháinig glór ó na flaithis a dúirt: “Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
