Churches of the Day

Mar 15 -St Louise de Marillac DC (1591-1660)

Summary: St Louise was the foundress of the Daughters of Charity. Depressed after an unhappy marriage and the death of her husband, Louise found a new challenge when Vincent de Paul asked her to gather and train "country girls" in a mission to help the poor.

Patrick Duffy tells her story.

A disturbed upbringing

Louise came from a distinguished family of the Auvergne region of France. She was born between the first and second marriages of her father, who recognised her as his daughter and thus removed much of the stigma then attached to her illegitimacy. He also made financial provision for her education in a Dominican convent, but when he died, she was put in the care of a "poor spinster" - possibly her natural mother - who ran an informal orphanage.

Her marriage
Although she wanted to be a nun, Louise's spiritual director discouraged her, saying she had too much chronic ill health. She married Antoine le Gras, an official in Queen Marie de Medici's service. Although Louise was a dutiful wife, it was a somewhat loveless marriage. When the Queen was banished, Antoine lost his job and was without income. The son born to them was slow-witted and awkward. Antoine's health failed and he died. Louise went through much self-doubt, seeing her position as a punishment for not following her wish to become a nun.

Ss LouiseVincent

Meeting Vincent de Paul
She made a vow not to remarry and also three religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but she found no outlet for her spiritual energy until, in her late thirties, through Francis de Sales, she met Vincent de Paul. He and his "priests of the mission" were funded and helped by the "Ladies of Charity" - a group of aristocratic women, who supplied funds for and worked with the poor in parishes under Vincent's direction. But being aristocratic they lacked the ability to get inserted among the poor at their own level.

"Country girls"
Louise saw here a task she found challenging. She and Vincent both felt that "country girls", artless and egalitarian in spirit, would be more suited to working with the poor. She attracted, recruited and trained so many of these that they soon had several houses in Paris and in the provinces.

Living in community

Since their work was to be where they were most needed, they could not become a religious congregation in the strict sense. So they simply lived in small communities and took annual vows of poverty. Louise knew the qualities needed for the exhausting work and Vincent helped their development through monthly conferences encouraging even the newest and shyest recruits to express how they saw their mission.

Approval and spread all over the world
Only in 1655 was the Company of the Daughters of Charity established with the approval of Cardinal de Retz, Archbishop of Paris. The superior of the Priests of the Mission (founded by St Vincent de Paul) was the superior of the Daughters of Charity. When Louise died in 1660, there were 40 communities established in France and they had opened their first house in Poland. Today, the Daughters of Charity are an international community of over 27,000 Catholic women ministering all over the world.

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Memorable Saying for Today

We don't need to have deep pockets or to be rich to help the needy, the poor and the hungry.
We just need to have a heart.

~ Kevin Dcruz ~

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English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th March, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare, (Rejoicing Sunday)
(- Rose or Violet Sunday-)

The healing of the blind man by Jesus is a sign of our baptism, we begin to see things differently. Like never before you begin to see the light of Jesus, his vision for us and our mission to follow him.

This is the day of the Second Scrutiny of the adult baptism candidates.

First Reading 1Samuel 16:1. 6-7, 10-13
David is anointed king of Israel.

The lord said to Samuel,
‘Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.'
When Samuel arrived, he caught sight of Eliab and thought,
'Surely the Lord’s anointed one stands there before him',
but the Lord said to Samuel, 'Take no notice of his appearance or his height for I have rejected him; God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.'
Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen these.'
He then asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?'
He answered, 'There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.'

Then Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he comes.'
Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing. The Lord said, 'Come, anoint him, for this is the one.' At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day on.

The Word of the Lord      Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 32: 1-3, 3-4, 5-6. R/v 1.
Response     The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
    Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
    Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. Response

2. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
    If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
    You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. Response

3. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. Response

4. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.
    In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever. Response

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 5:8-14
Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. The things which are done in secret are things that people are ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. This is why it is said: 'Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead, Christ will shine on you.'

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Jn 8:12
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have eternal life.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !

Gospel

The Lord be with you.          And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 9:1-41 Glory to you, O Lord
He went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him,
'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?'
'Neither he nor his parents sinned,' Jesus answered 'he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.' As long as the day lasts I must carry out the work of the one who sent me; the night will soon be here when no one can work. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.'

Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man. and said to him,
'Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam (a name that means 'sent').
So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, 'Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?'
Some said, 'Yes, it is the same one'. Others said, 'No, he only looks like him'. The man himself said, 'I am the man'. So they said to him, 'Then how do your eyes come to be open?' 'The man called Jesus', he answered 'made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me,
"Go and wash at Siloam"; so I went, and when I washed I could see.'
They asked, 'Where is he?' 'I don't know' he answered.

They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man's eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, 'He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see'. Then some of the Pharisees said, 'This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath'.
Others said, 'How could a sinner produce signs like this?' And there was disagreement among them.

So they spoke to the blind man again, 'What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?'
'He is a prophet' replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, 'Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?'
His parents answered, 'We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we don't know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.'
His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, 'He is old enough; ask him'.

So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him,
'Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.'
The blind man

man answered, 'I don't know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see'.
They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?'
He replied, 'I have told you once and you wouldn't listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?'
At this they hurled abuse at him: 'You can be his disciple,' they said 'we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we don't know where he comes from'.
The man replied, 'Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don't know where he comes from! We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn't do a thing.'
'Are you trying to teach us,' they replied 'and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!' And they drove him away.

Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him,
'Do you believe in the Son of Man?'
'Sir,' the man replied 'tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.'
Jesus said, 'You are looking at him; he is speaking to you'.
The man said, 'Lord, I believe', and worshipped him.
Jesus said: 'It is for judgement that I have come into this world, so that those without sight may see and those with sight turn blind'.

Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, 'We are not blind, surely?'
Jesus replied: 'Blind? If you were, you would not be guilty, but since you say, "We see", your guilt remains.

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Shorter Form

Gospel

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 9:1. 6-9. 13-17..34-38 Glory to you, O Lord
He went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. He spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man. and said to him, 'Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam (a name that means 'sent'). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, 'Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?' Some said, 'Yes, it is the same one'. Others said, 'No, he only looks like him'. The man himself said, 'I am the man'.

They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man's eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, 'He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see'. Then some of the Pharisees said, 'This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath'. Others said, 'How could a sinner produce signs like this?' And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, 'What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?'
'He is a prophet' replied the man.
'Are you trying to teach us,' they replied 'and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!' And they drove him away.

Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 'Sir,' the man replied 'tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.'
Jesus said, 'You are looking at him; he is speaking to you'. The man said, 'Lord, I believe', and worshipped him.
Jesus said: 'It is for judgement that I have come into this world, so that those without sight may see and those with sight turn blind'.

Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, 'We are not blind, surely?'
Jesus replied: 'Blind? If you were, you would not be guilty, but since you say, "We see", your guilt remains.

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, 15th March, 2026

AN CEATHRU DOMHNACH DEN CHARGHAS Blian A

Céad Léacht

Sliocht as an Leabhar Samuél 16:1. 6-7.10-13
Ungtar Dáivi mar rí ar Isráél.

Dúirt an Tiarna le Samúéil: Líon d’adharc d’ola agus imigh leat. Táim do do chur go
Ieise ó Bheithil, óir tá rí roghnaithe agam dom féin i measc a chlann mhac.”
Ar theacht i láthair dóibh, chonaic sé Eilíáb, agus dúirt sé leis féin: “Caithfidh sé go bhfuil an té atá ungtha ag an Tiarna ansin os a chomhair.”
Ach dúirt an Tiarna le Samúéil: “Ná bac a dhreach ná a airde, mar diúltaím dó; ní thugann Dia breith mar a thugann an duine; breathnaíonn an duine an cló ach breathnaíonn an Tiarna an croí.”
Thug Ieise a sheachtar mac ansin os comhair Shamúéil.
Ach dúirt Samúéil le Ieise: “Ní hiad seo a roghnaigh an Tiarna.”

D’fhiafraigh sé ansin de Ieise: “An bhfuil do chlann mhac go léir anseo?”
“Tá mac eile fós agam,” ar seisean, “an té is óige; ach féach, tá sé ag aoireacht na gcaorach.”
Dúirt Samúéil le Ieise: “Cuir fios air agus tabhair leat é; ní shuífimid chun boird go dtaga sé.” Chuir sé fios air agus thug isteach é; buachaill naíonta ab ea é, le súile lonracha, agus scéimh ina chló. Dúirt an Tiarna: “Seo leat, agus déan é a ungadh mar is é seo é.”

Ansin thóg Samúéil an adharc ola agus rinne é a ungadh ansiúd mar a raibh aige fara a dhearthireacha. Tháinig spiorad an Tiarna agus luigh sé ar Dháiví agus d’fhan leis ón lá sin amach. Maidir le Samúéil, d’éirigh sé agus d’imigh go Rámá.

Salm le Freagra           Sm 32: 1-3, 3-4, 5-6. R/v 1.
Freagra :                         Is é an Tiarna m'aoire. ní bheidh aon ní de dhíth orm.

I. Is é an Tiarna m'aoire. ní bheidh aon ní de dhíth orm.
Cuireann sé i mo luí mé i móinéar féaruaithne.
Seolann sé ar imeall an uisce mé, mar a bhfaighim suaimhneas.   Freagra

2. Séolann sé mé ar rianta díreacha mar gheall ar a ainm.
Fiú da siúlfainn i ngleann an dorchadais, níor bhaol liom an t-olc .
agus tú faram Ie do shlat is do bhachall chun só1ás a thabhairt dom.    Freagra

3. Cóiríonn tú bord chun béile dom i bhfianaise mo naimhde;
Ungann tú mo cheann le hola; tá mo chupán ag cur thar maoil. Freagra

4. Leanfaidh cineáltas is fabhar mé gach uile lá de mo shaol.
I dteach an Tiarna a mhairfidh mé go brách na breithe.                           Freagra

Dara Léacht

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na hEifísigh 5:8-14
Eirigh ó na mairbh agus soilseoidh Criost thú.

A bhráithre, mar ní raibh ionaibh tráth ach dorchadas, ach is solas anois sibh sa Tiarna. Iompraígí sibh féin, más ea, ar nós clann an tsolais – bíonn toradh an tsolais le feiceáil san uile shórt maitheasa agus fíréantachta agus fírinne. Aimsígí cad é an ní is áil leis an Tiarna agus ná bíodh aon pháirt agaibh i ngnóthaí seasca an dorchadais ach iad a cháineadh. Mar is náireach le lua féin na nithe a dhéanann siad faoi choim. Gach uile ní a nochtar faoinm solas, áfach, éiríonn sé follasach agus gach ní a bhíonn follasach, bíonn sé ina sholas. Sin é an fáth a ndeirtear:“Dúisigh a chodlatáin! Éirigh ó na mairbh agus lonróidh Críost ort.”

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Véarsa Eo 8:12
Is mise solas an tsaoil, a deir an Tiarna; an té a leanfaidh mise
beidh solas na beatha aige.

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 9:1-41 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
D‘imigh sé, nigh é féin agus dfill agus a radharc aige.

San am sin ag gabháil na slí dó, chonaic sé duine a bhí dall ón mbroinn.
D’fhiafraigh a dheisceabail de: “A raibí,” ar siad, “cé acu a rinne an peaca, é seo nó a thuismitheoirí á rá is gur rugadh ina dhall é?”
D’fhreagair Íosa: “Ní amhlaidh a pheacaigh sé seo ná a thuismitheoírí; tharla seo chun go dtaispeánfaí oibreacha Dé ann.

Fad tá an lá ann, ní mór dúinn oibreacha an té a chuir uaidh mé a dhéanamh;
tá an oíche ag teacht nuair nach féidir d’aon duine obair a dhéanamh.
An fad atáim ar an saol is mé solas an tsaoil.”

Arna rá sin dó, chaith sé seile ar an talamh agus rinne sé láib den tseile agus chuir sé an láib ar shúile an daill agus dúirt sé leis: “Imigh agus nigh i Linn Siolóam” – is é sin le rá, Seolta. D’imigh sé, nigh é féin agus d’fhill agus a radharc aige.

Dúirt a chomharsana ansin, agus an dream a chonaic é roimhe sin, ag iarraidh déirce: “Nach é seo an té a bhíodh ina shuí ag lorg déirce?”
Dúirt daoine: “Is é.” Dúirt daoine eile: “Ní hé, ach is cosúil leis é.” Dúirt sé féin: “Is mé é.”
Dúirt siad leis ansin: “Conas a osclaíodh do shúile mar sin?”
D’fhreagair sé: “An fear sin ar a dtugtar Íosa, rinne sé láib agus smear sé ar mo shúile í, agus dúirt liom: ‘Imigh go Linn Siolóam agus nigh.’ D’imigh mé dá réir sin, nigh mé, agus tháinig mo radharc dom.”
D’fhiafraigh siad: “Cá bhfuil sé?” “Níl a fhios agam,” ar sé.
Thug siad chun na bhFairisíneach an té seo a bhí dall tráth. Ba é an tsabóid é an lá a rinne Íosa an láib agus a d’oscail sé súile an duine.

D’fhiafraigh na Fairisínigh de arís mar sin conas a fuair sé a radharc. Dúirt sé leo: “Chuir sé láib ar mo shúile, nigh mé agus tá mo radharc agam.” Dúirt cuid de na Fairisínigh ansin: “Ní ó Dhia an duine seo mar ní choinníonn sé an tsabóid.” Dúirt cuid eile: “Conas is féidir duine peacúil a dhéanamh míorúiltí mar iad seo?” Agus bhí aighneas eatarthu. Dúirt siad arís leis an dall dá bhrí sin: “Cad deir tusa mar gheall air ó d’oscail sé do shúile?” D’fhreagair sé: “Fáidh is ea é.”
Ansin ní chreidfeadh na Giúdaigh go raibh sé dall agus go bhfuair sé a radharc nó gur ghlaoigh siad ar athair agus ar mháthair an té a fuair a radharc agus gur cheistigh siad iad: “An é seo bhur mac a deir sibh a rugadh ina dhall?” ar siad. “Conas go bhfuil radharc anois aige, mar sin?”
D’fhreagair a thuismitheoirí: “Is eol dúinn,” ar siad, “gurb é ár mac é, agus gur dall a rugadh é. Ach conas go bhfuil radharc anois aige, ní eol dúinne, ná cé a d’oscail a shúile ní eol dúinne. Cuirigí ceist air féin; tá sé in aois fir; labhróidh sé ar a shon féin.” Labhair a thuismitheoirí mar sin mar bhí eagla na nGiúdach orthu. Óir bhí sé socair cheana ag na Giúdaigh aon duine a d’admhódh gurbh é an Críost é a dhíbirt as an tsionagóg. Mar gheall air sin is ea a dúirt a thuismitheoirí: “Tá sé in aois fir; cuirigí ceist air féin.”

Ansin ghlaoigh siad arís ar an duine a rugadh ina dhall, agus dúirt siad leis: “Tabhair glóir do Dhia! Tá a fhios againne gur peacach an duine sin.” D’fhreagair seisean iad ansin: “Más peacach é – níl a fhios agam; tá a fhios agam aon ní amháin, go raibh mé I mo dhall ach anois go bhfuil radharc agam.” Dúirt siad leis ansin arís: “Cad a rinne sé leat? Conas a d’oscail sé do shúile?” D’fhreagair sé iad: “D’inis mé cheana daoibh é, agus ní éistfeadh sibh; cad ab áil libh á chloisteáil arís? An amhlaidh gur mian libhse a bheith in bhur ndeisceabail aige chomh maith?”
Chaith siad asacháin leis ansin agus dúirt: “Bí-se i do dheisceabal aige siúd, ach is deisceabail do Mhaois sinne. Tá a fhios againn gur labhair Dia le Maois; ach an fear seo, ní fios dúinn cad as ar tháinig sé.”
D’fhreagair an fear: “Is iontach an rud é go deimhin,” ar sé leo, “nach bhfuil a fhios agaibh cad as dó, agus gur oscail sé mo shúile domsa. Tá a fhios againn nach n-éisteann Dia le peacaigh, ach cibé ar a bhfuil eagla Dé agus a dhéanann a thoil, éisteann sé leis sin. Níor chualathas riamh ó thús an domhain gur oscail aon duine súile duine a rugadh ina dhall. Mura mbeadh gur ó Dhia an duine seo, níorbh fhéidir leis aon ní a dhéanamh.” D’fhreagair siad agus dúirt leis: “I bpeacaí a rugadh thusa ar fad, agus an dár dteagasc-na atá tú?” Agus chaith siad amach é.

Chuala Íosa gur chaith siad amach é, agus nuair a fuair sé é dúirt sé leis: “An gcreideann tú i Mac an Duine?”
D’fhreagair seisean: “Cé hé féin, a thiarna?” – ar sé leis – “chun go gcreidfinn ann.”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“Tá sé feicthe agat, agus an té atá ag caint leat is é é.” Dúirt seisean: “Creidim, a Thiarna,” agus rinne sé ómós dó.
Dúirt Íosa: “Is chun breithiúnais a tháinig mé ar an saol seo, i dtreo go bhfeicfeadh an dream nach bhfeiceann, agus go ndallfaí an dream a fheiceann.”

Chuala cuid de na Fairisínigh a bhí ina fhochair na focail sin agus dúirt siad leis:
“Ní amhlaidh, ar ndóigh, atáimidne dall chomh maith?”
Dúirt Íosa leo: “Dá mbeadh sibh dall, ní bheadh peaca oraibh, ach anois deir sibh: ‘Tá radharc againn,’ agus leanann bhur bpeaca oraibh.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 22nd March, 2026

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Lazarus’ resurrection is a 'figure' and 'type' of Jesus’ resurrection, and of our resurrection,
first to divine life in Baptism and after to our definitive resurrection at the end of time.
The Gospel is a call to a deeper faith and love in the Spirit living in us, giving life to our mortal bodies.

Third Scrutiny of the Elect

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel   37:12-14
I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live.

"The Lord says this:
I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people.
And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this - it is the Lord who speaks."

The Word of the Lord    Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm   Ps 129 R/v 7
Response   With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

l. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice!
   O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.                Response

2. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
    But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you.         Response

3. My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
    My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak.
   (Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.)   Response

4. Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity.    Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:8-11
The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.

People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

The Word of the Lord    Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Jn 11: 25. 26
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord,
whoever believes in me will never die.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.   And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 11:1-45 Glory to you , Lord
'I am the resurrection and the life.

There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. - It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, 'Lord, the man you love is ill'.
On receiving the message, Jesus said, 'This sickness will end not in death but in God's glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified'.

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, 'Let us go to Judaea'. The disciples said, 'Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you; are you going back again?'
Jesus replied: ' Are there not twelve hours in the day? A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of this world to see by; but if he walks at night he stumbles, because there is no light to guide him.'

He said that and then added, 'Our friend Lazarus is resting, I am going to wake him'.
The disciples said to him, 'Lord, if he is able to rest he is sure to get better'.
The phrase Jesus used referred to the death of Lazarus, but they thought that by 'rest' he meant 'sleep',
so Jesus put it plainly, 'Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe. But let us go to him.'
Then Thomas - known as the Twin - said to the other disciples, 'Let us go too, and die with him'.

On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you'.
'Your brother' said Jesus to her 'will rise again.'
Martha said, 'I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day'.
Jesus said: 'I am the resurrection. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'
'Yes, Lord,' she said 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.'

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in a low voice, 'The Master is here and wants to see you'. Hearing this, Mary got up quickly and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village; he was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were in the house sympathising with Mary saw her get up so quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

Mary went to Jesus, and as soon as she saw him she threw herself at his feet, saying, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died'. At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who followed her, Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, 'Where have you put him?'
They said, 'Lord, come and see'. Jesus wept; and the Jews said, 'See how much he loved him!' But there were some who remarked, 'He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man's death?'
Still sighing, Jesus reached the tomb: it was a cave with a stone to close the opening.
Jesus said, 'Take the stone away'.
Martha said to him, 'Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day'.
Jesus replied, 'Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?'
So they took away the stone.
Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said:
'Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I knew indeed that you always hear me,
but I speak for the sake of all these who stand round me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me.'

When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, here! Come out!'
The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face.
Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, let him go free'.

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

__________________________________________________________________________

(Shorter form)
GOSPEL John 11:3-7. 17. 20-27. 33-45
I am the resurrection and the life.

The sisters Martha and Mary sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’
On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.’

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he learned that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judaea.’

On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’
'Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’
Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’
Jesus said: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?

‘Yes Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’ Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, ‘Where have you put him?’ They said, ‘See how much he loved him!’ But there were some who remarked, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man’s death?’
Still sighing, Jesus reached the tomb; it was a cave with a stone to close the opening. Jesus said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha said to him, ‘Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day.’
Jesus replied, ‘Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone.
Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said:
‘Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I knew indeed that you always hear me, but I speak for the sake of all these who stand round me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me.’

When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, here! Come out!’
The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face.
Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, let him go free.’

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 22nd March, 2026

AN CUIGIU DOMHNACH DEN CHARGHAS

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Ezícéal Fáidh. 37:12-14
Cuirfidh mé mo spiorad ionaibh agus mairfidh sibh.

Seo mar a deir an Tiarna Dia:
Féach, a phobal liom, tá mé chun bhur n-uaigheanna a oscailt, chun sibh a thabhairt aníos as bhur n-uaigheanna, agus seolfaidh mé abhaile sibh go tír Iosrael. Tuigfidh sibh gur mise an Tiarna nuair a osclóidh mé bhur n-uaigheanna, nuair a thabharfaidh mé aníos sibh as bhur n-uaigheanna, a phobal liom. Cuirfidh mé mo spiorad ionaibh agus beidh sibh beo, agus socróidh mé sibh síos in bhur dtír féin. Ansin a thuigfidh sibh gur mise, an Tiarna, a labhair, agus gur mise a rinne é – an Tiarna a labhraíonn.”

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 129 R/v 7
Freagra Is ag an Tiarna atá trócaire, agus tá fuascailt aige go flúirseach.

I. As na doimhní a éim ort, a Thiarna. A Thiarna, éist le mo ghuth!
Tugadh do chluasa aire do ghlór m'achainí. Freagra

2. Dá gcoinneofá cuimhne, a Thiarna, ar chionta, a Thiarna, cé thiocfadh slán?
Ach tugann tú maithiúnas sna peacaí: agus ar an ábhar sin móraimid thú. Freagra

3. Tá mo dhóchas sa Tiarna agam, cuireann m'anam a dhóchas ina bhriathar.
Is mó an feitheamh a dhéanann m'anam ar an Tiarna ná feitheamh lucht faire ar an láchaint.
Ná raibh feitheamh lucht faire ar an láchaint.
Níos mó ná feitheamh Isráél ar an Tiarna. Freagra

4. Óir is ag an Tiarna atá trócaire agus tá fuascailt aige go flúirseach;
agus fuasclóidh séisean Isráél óna urchóidí go léir. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:8-11
Spiorad an té a thóg losa ó mhairbh, tá sé lonnaithe ionaibh.

A bhráithre, na daoine, atá faoi réir na colainne ní féidir dóibh Dia a shásamh.
Ní faoi réir na colainne atá sibhse, áfach, ach faoi réir an Spioraid más rud é go bhfuil Spiorad Dé lonnaithe ionaibh. Má tá duine gan Spiorad Chríost aige ní le Críost é. Ach má tá Críost ionaibh, más marbh féin bhur gcorp de bharr an pheaca, is beo bhur spiorad de bharr na fíréantachta. Go deimhin má bhíonn Spiorad an té a thóg Críost ó mhairbh lonnaithe ionaibh, déanfaidh an té sin a thóg Críost ó mhairbh bhur gcorp básmhar a bheoú trína Spiorad atá lonnaithe ionaibh.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Véarsa Eo 11:25, 26
'Mise an tAiséiri agus an Bheatha,' a deir an Tiarna;
'An te a chreideann ionamsa ní bhfaighidh sé bás choiche.'

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 11:1-45
Mise an tAiséiri agus an Bheatha.

San am sin bhí duine áirithe tinn, Lazaras ó Bheatáine, baile Mháire agus Mharta a deirfiúr. Ba í an Mháire sin a raibh a deartháir Lazaras tinn anois, a rinne an Tiarna a ungadh le hola agus a thriomaigh a chosa lena gruaig. Chuir na deirfiúracha teachtaireacht chuige á rá: “A thiarna, féach, tá an té is ionúin leat tinn.” Arna chloisteáil sin d’Íosa dúirt sé: “Ní chun báis an galar seo ach chun glóire Dé, chun go dtabharfaí glóir do Mhac Dé tríd.”

Bhí cion ag Íosa ar Mharta agus ar a deirfiúr Máire, agus ar Lazaras. Nuair a chuala sé go raibh sé breoite, mar sin féin, d’fhan sé dhá lá mar a raibh sé. Ansin, tar éis an méid sin, dúirt sé lena dheisceabail: “Téimis go Iúdáia arís.” Dúirt a dheisceabail leis: “A Mháistir, bhí na Giúdaigh ag iarraidh gabháil de chlocha ionat ó chianaibhín, agus an rachaidh tú chun na háite sin arís?”
D’fhreagair Íosa: “Nach bhfuil dhá uair déag sa lá? Má shiúlann duine sa lá ní fhaigheann sé barrthuisle, mar feiceann sé solas an tsaoil seo. Ach má shiúlann sé san oíche,faigheann sé barrthuisle mar níl an solas sa duine sin.”

Sin é mar a labhair sé agus ansin dúirt sé leo: “Tá ár gcara Lazaras ina chodladh, ach táim ag dul á dhúiseacht.”
Dúirt a dheisceabail leis ansin: “Má tá sé ina chodladh, a Thiarna, beidh sé slán.”
Is ar a bhás a labhair Íosa, ach shíl siadsan gur ar shuan codlata a labhair sé. Dúirt Íosa leo go hoscailte ansin dá bhrí sin: “Tá Lazaras marbh; agus tá áthas orm ar bhur sonsa nach raibh mé ann, ionas go gcreidfeadh sibh. Ach téanam chuige.”
Ansin dúirt Tomás, ar a dtugtar an Leathchúpla, lena chomhdheisceabail: “Téanam, sinne chomh maith, chun bás a fháil in éineacht leis.”

Ar theacht d’Íosa dá réir sin, fuair sé é agus é ceithre lá cheana féin sa tuama. Bhí Béatáine timpeall chúig staid déag ó Iarúsailéim. Bhí cuid mhór Giúdach tagtha ag triall ar Mharta agus ar Mháire chun sólás a chur orthu i ndiaidh a ndearthár. Nuair a chuala Marta mar sin go raibh Íosa tagtha, chuaigh sí amach ina choinne. D’fhan Máire ina suí sa teach.
Dúirt Marta ansin le Íosa: “A Thiarna, dá mbeifeá-sa anseo ní bhfaigheadh mo dheartháir bás. Ach tá a fhios agam anois féin, cibé ní a iarrfaidh tú ar Dhia, go dtabharfaidh Dia duit é.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Éireoidh do dheartháir arís.”
“Tá a fhios agam,” arsa Marta leis, “go n-éireoidh sé arís san aiséirí an lá deireanach.”
Dúirt Íosa léi:

“Mise an t-aiséirí agus an bheatha; An té a chreideann ionamsa, fiú amháin má fhaigheann sé bás, mairfidh sé, agus gach duine a mhaireann is a chreideann ionamsa, ní bhfaighidh sé bás choíche. An gcreideann tú an méid sin?”

“Creidim, a Thiarna,” ar sí, “creidim gur tú Críost, Mac Dé, atá ag teacht ar an saol.”

Arna rá sin di, d’imigh sí agus ghlaoigh sí ar Mháire a deirfiúr gan fhios agus dúirt: “Tá an máistir anseo agus tá sé ag glaoch ort.” Nuair a chuala sise an méid sin d’éirigh sí go tapa agus chuaigh sí ag triall air. Óir ní raibh Íosa tagtha fós isteach sa bhaile ach bhí sé go fóill san áit inar bhuail Marta leis. Na Giúdaigh ansin a bhí sa teach i bhfochair Mháire ag cur sóláis uirthi, nuair a chonaic siad Máire ag éirí agus ag imeacht amach go deithneasach, lean siad í á mheas gur ag dul chun an tuama a bhí sí le caoineadh a dhéanamh ann.

Nuair a tháinig Máire mar a raibh Íosa, agus go bhfaca sí é, chaith sí í féin ag a chosa, á rá leis:
“A Thiarna, dá mbeifeá anseo ní bhfaigheadh mo dheartháir bás.” Ansin nuair a chonaic Íosa ag gol í agus na Giúdaigh a tháinig in éineacht léi ag gol, tháinig suaitheadh spioraid agus buaireamh air, agus dúirt sé: “Cá bhfuil sé curtha agaibh?” Dúirt siad leis: “Tar, a Thiarna, agus feic.” Bhris a ghol ar Íosa. Dúirt na Giúdaigh dá bhrí sin: “Féach, cad é cion a bhí aige air!” Ach dúirt cuid acu: “An té seo a d’oscail súile an daill, nach bhféadfadh sé chomh maith an duine seo a choimeád ón mbás?” Tháinig suaitheadh arís ansin ar Íosa agus tháinig sé go dtí an tuama; pluais a ba ea é agus líog ina luí lena bhéal.
Dúirt Íosa: “Aistrígí an líog.” Dúirt Marta, deirfiúr an mhairbh leis: “Tá sé bréan faoin am seo, mar tá sé ceithre lá marbh.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Nach ndúirt mé leat: má chreideann tú go bhfeicfidh tú glóir Dé?” D’aistrigh siad an líog ansin agus d’ardaigh Íosa a shúile agus dúirt:

“A Athair, gabhaim buíochas leat gur éist tú liom; bhí a fhios agam féin go n-éisteann tú liom i gconaí; ach is ar son an tslua atá ina seasamh anseo i mo thimpeall, a labhair mé, chun go gcreidfidís gur chuir tú uait mé.”

Arna rá sin dó, ghlaoigh sé de ghlór ard: “A Lazaras, tar amach!”
Agus tháinig an marbhán amach agus éadaí báis fillte ar a lámha agus a chosa agus brat ar a cheannaithe.
Dúirt Íosa leo: “Scaoiligí é agus ligigí chun siúil é.” Ansin a lán do na Giúdaigh a tháinig go Máire agus Marta agus a chonaic a ndearna sé, chreid siad ann.

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

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