Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today

Jan 13 - St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
St Hilary of Poitiers
Born at Poitiers of wealthy pagan parents, Hilary had a good secular education in rhetoric and philosophy, married early in life and had a daughter Afra. His reading of the Scriptures, especially the Prologue to John's Gospel brought him to Christianity at the age of thirty-five. Three years later, while still a layman, he was elected bishop of Poitiers in 353.Arian Controversies and Exile
At this time Constantius II had become the sole emperor and was promoting Arianism. While Hilary avoided attending some of the pro-Arian synods, his opposition was known to the emperor, who exiled him to Phrygia for four years.
Here he began writing the twelve books of his De Trinitate, translating into Latin the theology the Eastern bishops were expounding in Greek on the Nicene Creed. Eventually he was found to be so much of a nuisance campaigning in the East that he was sent back to the West.Co-operation with St Martin of Tours
Welcomed back with enthusiasm in Poitiers, Hilary co-operated with Martin of Tours in combating Arianism in Gaul. In 364 he went to Milan to refute and hopefully depose its Arian bishop Auxentius. Auxentius managed to convince the Pope - Liberius - of his orthodoxy and Hilary expressed his thoughts in a book Against Auxentius. The positions of Hilary and Athanasius were eventually vindicated at the First Council of Constantinople in 381.
Monastery of Ligugé (Solesmes)
In 360 Hilary co-operated with Martin of Tours in founding the monastery of Ligugé, 8 km south of Poitiers, where today the famous abbey of the Benedictine monks of Solesmes is located.Death and Influence
Although in character Hilary was gentle and courteous, his theological writings show a sharpness of tone against his opponents and are difficult to the point of obscurity. Hilary also composed some of the earliest Latin Christian poems and hymns.
Worn out by his travels and struggles, Hilary died in 367. His feast on 13th January marks the start of Hilary Term (spring semester) at Oxford and Cambridge and in the Law courts.
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Memorable Quote about' living a courageous life'
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave person is not the who does not feel afraid,
but the who conquers that fear."
~ Nelson Mandela ~
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Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Saint of the day; Jan 13th; St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of Samuel. 1: 9-20
The Lord was mindful of Hannah and she gave birth to Samuel.
After they had eaten in the hall, Hannah rose and took her stand before the Lord, while Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. In the bitterness of her soul she prayed to the Lord with many tears and made a vow, saying,'Lord Sabaoth! If you will take notice of the distress of your servant, and bear me in mind and not forget your servant and give her a man child, I will give him to you for the whole of his life and no razor shall ever touch his head'.
While she prayed before the Lord which she did for some time, Eli was watching her mouth, for she was speaking under her breath; her lips were moving but her voice could not be heard. He therefore supposed that she was drunk and said to her, 'How long are you going to be in this drunken state? Rid yourself of your wine.'
'No, my lord,' Hannah replied 'I am a woman in great trouble; I have taken neither wine nor strong drink - I was pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; all this time I have been speaking from the depth of my grief and my resentment.'
Then Eli answered her: 'Go in peace,' he said 'and may the God of Israel grant what you have asked of him'.
And she said, 'May your maidservant find favour in your sight';
and with that the woman went away; she returned to the hall and ate and was dejected no longer. They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord and then set out and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah had intercourse with Hannah his wife and the Lord was mindful of her.
She conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel 'since' she said 'I asked the Lord for him.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm 1 Sam 2:1. 4-8 R/v 1
Response My heart exults in the Lord.
1. My heart exults in the Lord. I find my strength in my God;
my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help. Response
2. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength.
Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more.
The childless wife has children now but the fruitful wife bears no more. Response
3. It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back;
it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high. Response
4. He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dung heap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes, to give him a glorious throne. Response
Gospel Acclamation James 1:21
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word, which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
or 1 Thess 2: 13
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Accept God's message it for what it really is,
God's message and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!
Gospel
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 1:21-28 Glory to you, O Lord
He taught them with authority.
Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted,
'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.'
But Jesus said sharply, 'Be quiet! Come out of him!'
And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.
The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant.
'Here is a teaching that is new' they said 'and with authority behind it:
he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.'
And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday, First Week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:21-28
Prayer doesn’t always have to be measured and controlled. It can be spontaneous and blunt at times. We have a good example of that kind of prayer in today’s first reading. It is said that Hannah spoke to God out of the depth of her grief and resentment. Her prayer was silent; the priest Eli heard nothing and only saw her lips move. Yet, it was full of emotion. As she said to Eli, she was pouring out her soul before the Lord. She was being herself before the Lord, opening up to the Lord the resentment and sadness that was in her heart and soul, because she had been childless for so long. Hannah’s prayer shows us that our own prayer can be completely honest. We do not have to censure our prayer in the Lord’s presence. There is nothing in our lives that is out of bounds in our prayer. The Lord can deal with whatever we throw at him in prayer. There is no such thing as uncivil prayer.
The possessed man in the gospel reading addresses Jesus in the same direct way that Hannah addresses God in the first reading. He shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?’ We can almost sense the anger in the questions that the man hurls at Jesus. Yet, as God was comfortable with Hannah’s resentment and grief, Jesus seems comfortable with this man’s deep, demonic, anger. Jesus responds with a word that becalms the man and releases him of his demon, just as in the first reading it is said of Hannah that she was dejected no longer after her prayer. Whenever we open our hearts to the Lord, revealing to him what is there, including our darkest emotions, we too will experience the Lord’s healing and calming presence.
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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 , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
Saint of the day; Jan 13th; St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor
St Hilary is sometimes called "the Athanasius of the West" because of his efforts to combat the Arian heresy and his contribution to the doctrine of the Trinity. His life also had much of the rough and tumble of opposition and struggle.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
St Hilary of Poitiers
Born at Poitiers of wealthy pagan parents, Hilary had a good secular education in rhetoric and philosophy, married early in life and had a daughter Afra. His reading of the Scriptures, especially the Prologue to John's Gospel brought him to Christianity at the age of thirty-five. Three years later, while still a layman, he was elected bishop of Poitiers in 353.Co-operation with St Martin of Tours
Welcomed back with enthusiasm in Poitiers, Hilary co-operated with Martin of Tours in combating Arianism in Gaul. In 364 he went to Milan to refute and hopefully depose its Arian bishop Auxentius. Auxentius managed to convince the Pope - Liberius - of his orthodoxy and Hilary expressed his thoughts in a book Against Auxentius. The positions of Hilary and Athanasius were eventually vindicated at the First Council of Constantinople in 381.
Monastery of Ligugé (Solesmes)
In 360 Hilary co-operated with Martin of Tours in founding the monastery of Ligugé, 8 km south of Poitiers, where today the famous abbey of the Benedictine monks of Solesmes is located.Death and Influence
Although in character Hilary was gentle and courteous, his theological writings show a sharpness of tone against his opponents and are difficult to the point of obscurity. Hilary also composed some of the earliest Latin Christian poems and hymns.
Worn out by his travels and struggles, Hilary died in 367. His feast on 13th January marks the start of Hilary Term (spring semester) at Oxford and Cambridge and in the Law courts.
**********************************
Memorable Quote about' living a courageous life'
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave person is not the who does not feel afraid,
but the who conquers that fear."
~ Nelson Mandela ~
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Sliocht as an chéad leabhar Samuéil. 1: 9-20
Chuidigh an Tiarna le Hanná, rug sí Samúéil.
Nuair a bhí bia agus deoch caite acu i Sileo, d’éirigh Hanná agus sheas sí os comhair an Tiarna. Bhí Éilí an sagart ina shuí ina chathaoir láimh le hursain theampall an Tiarna. Bhí sí an-bhuartha agus ghuigh sí an Tiarna agus na deora léi go goirt. Thug sí móid á rá:“A Thiarna na Slua! Má thugann tú aird ar bhuaireamh do bhanóglaigh agus cuimhneamh orm, agus gan dearmad a dhéanamh de do bhanóglach, agus leanbh mic a thabhairt do do bhanóglach, tabharfaidh mise é don Tiarna lena shaol uile, agus ní bhainfidh rásúr lena cheann.”
Lean sí uirthi ag guí i láthair an Tiarna agus bhí Éilí ag breathnú ar a béal, mar bhí Hanná ag labhairt ina croí agus a beola ag corraí ach gan aon ghlór le cloisteáil. Shíl Éilí dá bhrí sin go raibh sí ar meisce agus dúirt sé léi:
“An fada a bheidh tú ar meisce? Cuir uait do chuid fíona.”
D’fhreagair Hanná: “Imigh faoi shíocháin, agus go dtuga Dia Iosrael duit ar iarr tú air.”
“Ní amhlaidh atá agam, a mháistir,” ar sí, “ach is bean mé ar a bhfuil an-doilíos croí.
Níor ól mé fíon ná deoch chrua ach bhí m’anam á dhoirteadh amach agam i láthair an Tiarna. Ná bí á cheapadh gur bean táir mé; mar i rith an achair is amhlaidh a bhí mé ag cásamh le barr bróin agus buairimh.”
D’fhreagair Éilí ansin: ”
Agus dúirt sise: “Go bhfaighe do bhanóglach fabhar i do láthair.”
Ansin d’imigh an bhean léi; [d’fhill sí ar an halla], d’ith bia, agus ní raibh cuma ghruama uirthi níos mó.
D’éirigh siad go moch ar maidin agus rinne adhradh i láthair an Tiarna, agus d’fhill siad abhaile go Rámá. Luigh Ealcáná lena bhean Hanná agus chuimhnigh an Tiarna uirthi. Ghabh sí gin, agus in am agus i dtráth rug sí mac agus thug Samúéil mar ainm air, toisc, ar sí “gur iarr mé ar an Tiarna é.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra 1 Sam 2:1. 4-8. R/v 1
Freagra Tá mórtas croí orm sa Tiarna.
1. “Tá mórtas croí orm sa Tiarna. Cuireadh breis le mo neart sa Tiarna.
Tá mo bheola ag déanamh fonóide faoi mo naimhde,
Mar gur lúcháir liom do chumas slánaithe. Freagra
Briseadh bogha na dtréan, Ach chuir an mhuintir lag an neart mar chrios fúthu.
Reic an sách é féin ar arán,Ach tá cothú maith arís ar an seang.
Tá seachtar clainne ag an aimrid, Ach tá máthair an áil mhóir tréigthe. Freagra
Tugann an Tiarna beatha agus bás. Seolann sé daoine síos go Seol agus iompraíonn daoine aníos;
Fágann an Tiarna duine saibhir, duine eile daibhir. Leagann ar lár agus ardaíonn in airde. Freagra
Tógann sé na bochtáin as an luaithreach; Ardaíonn sé na gátaraigh ón gcarn aoiligh, Freagra
Á gcur ina suí le flatha Agus ag bronnadh cathaoir onóra orthu.
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marc 1: 21-28 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bhí sé mar dhuine a mbeadh údarás aige.
Chuaigh siad isteach i gCafarnáum. Agus lá na sabóide féin, ar dhul isteach sa tsionagóg dó, thosaigh Íosa ag teagasc. Agus bhí ionadh orthu faoina theagasc; á dteagasc a bhí sé mar dhuine a mbeadh údarás aige, níorbh ionann agus na scríobhaithe.

Bhí, san am sin, duine sa tsionagóg a raibh smacht ag spiorad míghlan air, agus scread sé amach:
“Há, cad ab áil leat dínn, a Íosa Nazairéanaigh?
Chun ár millte a tháinig tú. Is eol dom cé hé thú: Naomh Dé.”
Labhair Íosa leis go bagrach: “Bí i do thost, agus gabh amach as.”
Bhain an spiorad míghlan rachtaí as an duine, ghlaoigh amach go hard agus d’imigh as. Agus bhí alltacht chomh mór sin ar chách go raibh siad ag fiafraí dá chéile:
“Cad é an rud é seo?” deiridís: “teagasc nua á dhéanamh le húdarás; na spioraid mhíghlana féin, fógraíonn sé orthu agus déanann siad rud air.”
Agus níorbh fhada gur leath a chlú go fada gearr ar fud cheantar uile na Gailíle.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
-18-1-2026-
Second Sunday in Ordinary time
This week choices are the key; for Jesus; the Spirit, for Paul: apostleship,
for us: baptism. All are called to holiness and witness.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 49:3.5-6
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
The Lord said to me,
'You are my servant Israel in whom I shall be glorified';

I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength.
And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him:
'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Response Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
1. I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God. Response
2. You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim Instead, here am I. Response
3. In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will.
My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart. Response
4. Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:1-3
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!
or Jn 1: 14. 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 1:29-34 Glory to you, O Lord
Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.' John also declared,
'I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit."
Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.'
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/
The scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
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Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia 49:3.5-6
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha, chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.
Dúirt an Tiarna liom,
“Is tú mo ghiolla Iosrael trína saothróidh mé glóir dom féin.”
Bhí maise orm i súile an Tiarna, ba é mo Dhia mo neart.

Agus anois tá an Tiarna tar éis labhairt,
an té a dhealbhaigh mé ón mbroinn i leith i mo ghiolla dó,
le go mbailínn Iacób ar ais chuige,
le go gcruinnínn Iosrael le chéile dó:
“Is fánach an mhaise duit a bheith i do ghiolla agam
chun treibheanna Iacóib amháin a thabhairt chucu féin,
chun ar slánaíodh d’Iosrael a thabhairt ar ais.
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha,chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Freagra Féach, táim ag teacht, a Thiarna, chun do thoil a dhéanamh
1. Bhí dóchas agam, bhí dóchas agam sa Tiarna, agus chlaon sé a chluas chugam
agus d'éist le m'éamh.
Chuir sé amhrán nua i mo bhéal, amhrán molta dár nDia. Freagra
2. Íobairt ná ofráil níor thoil leat ach d'oscail tú cluasa dom.
loseadh níor theastaigh uait, ná íobairt in éiric an pheaca.
Ansin dúirt mé: 'Féach, táim ag teacht.' Freagra
3. 'I rolla an leabhair tá scríofa i mo thaobh: is ail liom do thoil a dhéanamh, a Dhia,
agus tá do dhlí go domhain i mo chroí.' Freagra
4. D'fhoilsigh mé d'fhíréantaeht sa mhórdhail. Feach, níor chuir mé cosc le mo bheola:
is eol duitse é, a Thiarna. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh 1:1-3
An té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.
Mise Pól, a bhfuil glaoite air de dheoin Dé chun bheith ina aspal ag Íosa Críost, agus an bráthair Sóstainéas in éineacht liom, chuig eaglais Dé i gCorant, chucu sin atá coisricthe in Íosa Críost agus a bhfuil glaoite ina naoimh orthu mar aon leis an uile dhuine a ghlaonn i ngach áit ar ainm ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, an té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eoin: 1:14. 12
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 1:29-34 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain.
San am sin chonaic Eoin Íosa ag teacht chuige agus dúirt sé:

“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain. Eisean an té a ndúirt mé faoi:
‘Tá duine ag teacht i mo dhiaidh a bhfuil tosach aige orm, mar bhí sé ann romham.’ Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach is chun, go nochtfaí d’Iosrael é a tháinig mé ag baisteadh le huisce.”
Agus thug Eoin fianaise:
“Chonaic mé,” ar sé, “an Spiorad, mar cholm, ag tuirlingt air ó na flaithis agus ag fanacht air. Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach an té a sheol mé ag baisteadh le huisce, dúirt seisean liom:
‘An té ar a bhfeicfidh tú an Spiorad ag tuirlingt agus ag fanacht air, eisean an té a bhaisteann leis an Spiorad Naomh.’ Chonaic mé agus is finné mé gurb é seo Mac Dé.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart


