Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 13 - St Stanislaus Kostka (1550-68) Jesuit novice
Summary: St Stanislaus Kostka died at the age of seventeen as a Jesuit novice and is the patron saint of novices. Many churches of Polish communities, especially in the United States and Canada are dedicated to him.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Family Upbringing
Born at the castle of Rostkovo (Poland), the son of a senator, Stanislaus was educated first by a private tutor and then, with his older brother Paul, at the Jesuit college in Vienna. His piety irritated his brother, who bullied and beat him. Stanislaus warned him, "This will end in my running away and not coming back. Then you will have to explain to our father and mother."
The family tutor who accompanied them did not help matters, and the Lutheran household with whom they lodged would not permit the Blessed Sacrament to be brought to him when he was ill.
Stanislaus remembered having read that those who invoked Saint Barbara never died without the Sacraments, and he prayed that she would help him in his danger. St Barbara, accompanied by two angels, entered his room with the Blessed Sacrament.
To Rome
On his recovery Stanislaus decided to become a Jesuit, but the Austrian provincial did not receive him, because of previous disturbances from outraged fathers.
Stanislaus set out on a 500-mile walk to Rome to put his case before the Jesuit General.
He first went to Dillingen where he met the provincial for Germany, St Peter Canisius, with whom he stayed for a month. Canisius employed the aspirant in a boarding school and tested him by assigning him menial tasks. He then encouraged him to continue his journey to Rome, where some days after his arrival in October 1567 the Jesuit General Francis Borgia admitted him to the novitiate on his seventeenth birthday. Stanislaus did not complete his training. Nine months into his novitiate he again became very sick. Early in the morning on the feast of the Assumption, 1568, he told a priest that he saw Mary surrounded by many angels. And shortly afterward he died. -
~ Martin Luther ~
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Family Upbringing
Born at the castle of Rostkovo (Poland), the son of a senator, Stanislaus was educated first by a private tutor and then, with his older brother Paul, at the Jesuit college in Vienna. His piety irritated his brother, who bullied and beat him. Stanislaus warned him, "This will end in my running away and not coming back. Then you will have to explain to our father and mother."The family tutor who accompanied them did not help matters, and the Lutheran household with whom they lodged would not permit the Blessed Sacrament to be brought to him when he was ill.
Stanislaus remembered having read that those who invoked Saint Barbara never died without the Sacraments, and he prayed that she would help him in his danger. St Barbara, accompanied by two angels, entered his room with the Blessed Sacrament.To Rome
On his recovery Stanislaus decided to become a Jesuit, but the Austrian provincial did not receive him, because of previous disturbances from outraged fathers.
Stanislaus set out on a 500-mile walk to Rome to put his case before the Jesuit General.He first went to Dillingen where he met the provincial for Germany, St Peter Canisius, with whom he stayed for a month. Canisius employed the aspirant in a boarding school and tested him by assigning him menial tasks. He then encouraged him to continue his journey to Rome, where some days after his arrival in October 1567 the Jesuit General Francis Borgia admitted him to the novitiate on his seventeenth birthday. Stanislaus did not complete his training. Nine months into his novitiate he again became very sick. Early in the morning on the feast of the Assumption, 1568, he told a priest that he saw Mary surrounded by many angels. And shortly afterward he died. -
His older brother Paul was sent by his father to demand that his son return home. However, by the time he arrived in Rome, he was overwhelmed by the stories of his brother's sanctity. Later when he was sixty, Paul himself became a Jesuit also and attended Stanislaus's beatification ceremony in 1605. Stanislaus was canonised in 1726.
He is regarded as the patron saint of novices.
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Memorable Saying for Today
It would be a good thing if young people were wise
and old people were strong,
but God has arranged things better.
~ Martin Luther ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 13th November, 2025
Thursday of the Thirty -Second Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1
A perfect number of twenty one Attributes are listed to describe the Wisdom of Godwhich pervade and permeate all things.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 7:22-8:1
Wisdom is a reflection of God's eternal light and power.
Within wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable,
benevolent, sharp, irresistible, beneficent, loving to man, Steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all surveying,
penetrating, all intelligent, pure and most spirits;
for Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, he pervades and permeates all things.
She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
hence nothing impure can find a way into her.
She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power,
image of his goodness.
Although alone she can do all; herself unchanging, she makes all things new.
In each generation she passes into holy souls, She makes them friends of God and prophets;
for God loves only the man who lives Wisdom.
She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations;
compared to light she takes first place for light must yield to night but over Wisdom evil can never triumph.
She deploys her strength from one end of the earth to the other ordering all things for good.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118: 89-91. 130. 135. 175 R/v89
Response Your word, O lord, stands for ever
1. Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens:
your truth lasts from age to age, like the earth you created. Response
2. By your decree it endure to this day for all things serve you .
The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple. Response
3. Let your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
Give life to my soul that I may praise you. Let your decrees give me help Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 15:5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty, says the Lord.
Alleluia ! Alleluia!
Or 1 Peter 1:25
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 17:20-25 Glory to you, O Lord
The kingdom of God is among you.
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come,Jesus gave them this answer,
'The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation
and there will be no one to say, "Look here! Look there!"
For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.'
He said to the disciples,
'A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man
and will not see it. They will say to you, "Look there!" or, "Look here!"
Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes.
But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Thursday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 17:20-25
Sometimes we can miss something of great significance. It is there before us but we do not see it. In today’s gospel reading the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come. In reply Jesus says to them, ‘You must know, the kingdom of God is among you’. They failed to see that the kingdom of God was present to them in and through the person of Jesus. They were not alert to the signs of God’s kingdom in the ministry of Jesus. The kingdom of God was there but in a less dramatic form than they expected it.
The gospel reading reminds us that the Lord is present in our lives in more ways than we realize. His presence does not always admit of observation in the words of today’s gospel reading. It will often be undramatic, without fanfare. Yet the Lord is really present especially in the words and deeds of people that build up and heal and bring life. The Lord has assured us that we will never be without his presence. What we need are eyes to see and ears to hear, the eyes and ears of faith.
Like the disciples earlier in Luke’s gospel we need to pray, ‘Increase our faith’.
In the first reading, Paul called on Philemon to create an opening for the coming of the kingdom of God by welcoming back his runaway slave no longer as a slave but as a brother in Christ. The kingdom of God is among us. Each one of us in our day-to-day lives can make visible the presence of the kingdom of God by living the Gospel message in the power of the Spirit. Then we will put new heart into one another, in the words of today’s first reading.
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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 2024: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 13th November, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar hEagna 7:22-8:1
Scáil niamhrach an tsolais shíoraí is ea í
Tá spiorad intleachtúil naofa san eagna, é uathúil, ildánach, grinn, aclaí, soiléir, gan smál, cinnte, domhillte, dea-chroíoch, géar, do-choiscthe, dea-ghníomhach, daonnachtúil, buanseasmhach, daingean, saor ó imní, uilechumhachtach, uilebhreathnaitheach, agus é fite fuaite i ngach uile spiorad intleachtúil, glan, sárghrinn eile. Is gasta í an eagna ná gach gluaiseacht eile; de bharr a glaine tá sí fite fuaite i ngach uile ní.
Anáil chumhachtach Dé is ea í, eisileadh fíorghlan ó ghlóir anUilechumhachtaigh.Ar an ábhar sin, ní féidir le haon ní salach téaltú isteach inti.
Scáil niamhrach an tsolais shíoraí is ea í agus scáthán neamhtheimhlithe éifeachtúlacht Dé agus íomhá a mhaitheasa.
Níl inti féin ach aon ní amháin ach is féidir léi gach uile ní a dhéanamh;
fanann sí istigh inti féinach déanann sí gach uile ní a athbheochan.
I ngach uile ghlúin téann sí a chónaí in anamacha cráifeacha
agus déanann sí cairde Dé agus fáithe díobh.
Ní ghránn Dia dada ach an té a chónaíonn i bhfochair na heagna. Is áille í ná an ghrian; is gile í ná gach uile réaltbhuíon atá ann.
Má chuirtear i gcóimheas leis an solas féin í faightear níos lonraí í na é; mar géill eann an solas don oíche
ach ní sháraíonn an t-olc an eagna choíche. Leathann an eagna go láidir ó imeall go himeall na cruinne agus riarann sí gach uile ní go maith.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 118: 89-990. 130. 135.175. Rv. 89
Freagra Maireann do bhriathar go brách, a Thiarna.
1. Maireann do bhriathar go brách, a Thiarna, chomh daingean le neamh.Maireann d’fhírinne go dtí an uile ghlúin,mar an talamh a bhunaigh tú. Freagra
2. Maireann siad go buan de réir do reachtanna; fónann gach aon ní duit.
Tugann foilsiú do bhriathair solas dom, agus teagasc do lucht aineolais. Freagra
3. Soilsíodh solas do ghnúise ar do ghiolla; agus múin dom do reachtanna.
Go maire m’anam agus go mola sé thú;agus go gcabhraí do reachtanna liom.Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 17:20-25 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bíodh a fhios agaibh go bhfuil ríocht Dé in bhur lár.”
San am sin, nuair a d’fhiafraigh na Fairisínigh d’ Íosa cén uair a bheadh ríocht Dé ag teacht, dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:'Ríocht Dé, ní amhlaidh a bhraitear ag teacht í, ná ní amhlaidh a déarfar:
‘Féach, tá sí anseo’; nó: ‘Tá sí ansiúd’;
óir bíodh a fhios agaibh go bhfuil ríocht Dé in bhur lár.'
Dúirt sé fós leis na deisceabail:
'Tiocfaidh an t-am ar mian libh aon lá amháin a fheiceáil de laethanta Mhac an Duine, agus ní fheicfidh sibh é. Beifear á rá libh: ‘Féach, tá sé ansiúd’; nó: ‘Féach, tá sé anseo!’
Ná téigí ann: ná bígí ar a thóir. Debhrí, ar nós mar a scinneann an splanc ó thaobh den chruinne ina lasair go dtí an taobh eile, is amhlaidh sin a bheidh Mac an Duine ina lá féin.
Ar dtús, áfach, ní foláir dó mórán a fhulaingt agus an diúltú a fháil ón nglúin seo.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 16th November, 2025
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
World Day of the Poor
Marking the end of the 'Jubilee Year of Mercy', the late Pope Francis wrote "the worthiest way to prepare for next Sunday's celebration of our Lord, King of the Universe would be to identify with His little ones, the poor
and who will judges us on our works of mercy to them."
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Malachi 3:19-20
For you the sun of righteousness will shine out.
The day is coming now, burning like a furnace;and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble.
The day that is coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord,
leaving them neither root nor stalk.
But for you who fear my name,
the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:5-9 R/v 9
Response The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.
1. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the King, the Lord. Response
2. Let the sea and all within it, thunder; the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy
at the presence of the Lord. Response
3. For the Lord comes, he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 3:7-12
Do not let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work.
You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you,
nor did we ever have our meals at anyone's table without paying for them;
no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you.
This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you:' not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work'. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else's.
In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Or Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand'.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 21:5-19 Glory to you O lord
Your endurance will win you your lives.
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said,
'All these things you are staring at now-the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another:
everything will be destroyed'.
And they put to him this question: 'Master,' they said 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?' 'Take care not to be deceived,' he said 'because many will come using my name and saying,
"I am he" and, "The time is near at hand". Refuse to join them.
And when you hear of wars and revolutions,
do not be frightened,for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.'
Then he said to them,
'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
'But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name - and that will be your opportunity to bear witness.
Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death.
You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost.'
Your endurance will win you your lives.'
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, 16th November, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHTSlíocht as leabhar Malaci 3:19-20
Soilseoidh grian na ffréantachta oraibh.
Féach, tá an lá ag teacht, agus é ar dearglasadh mar fhoirnéis, a mbeidh na scigirí uile agus lucht déanta an oilc go léir mar choinleach, agus ídeoidh an lá atá le teacht iad sa chaoi nach bhfágfaidh sé fréamh ná craobh acu, a deir Tiarna na Slua.Ach, maidir libhse, a thugann ómós do m’ainm, éireoidh oraibh grian na fíréantachta, bhfuil íocshláinte ina gathanna aici.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 95:5-9 R/v 9
Freagra Tá an Tiarna ag teacht a rialú na náisiún go cothrom.
I. Canaigí sailm don Tiarna leis an gcruit agus le fuaim na cláirsí.
Tugaigí gárthale fuaim stoic is adhairce don Tiarna, ár Rí. Freagra
2. Bíodh an fharraige agus a bhfuil inti ag búirthí an domhan agus a maireann ann.
Bíodh na haibhneacha ag bualadh a mbos; déanadh na sléibhte gairdeas
i bhfianaise an Tiarna atá ag teacht a rialú na cruinne. Freagra
3. Déanfaidh sé an domhan a rialú go cóir agus na náisiúin go cothrom. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Slíocht as dara litir Naomh P0l chuig na Teasalónaigh 3:7-12
An té nach bhfuil fonn oibre air, ná caitheadh sé bia ach oiread.
A bhráithre, tá a fhios agaibh féin cad atá agaibh le déanamh chun aithris a dhéanamh orainne.
Ní raibh aon díomhaointeas orainne fad a bhíomar in bhur measc, ná níor ghlacamar cothú in aisce ó dhuine ar bith. Is amhlaidh a bhímis ag obair le dua agus saothar, de lá is d’oíche, ar shlí nach mbeimis inár muirín ar dhuine ar bith agaibh. Ní hé nach bhfuilimid i dteideal ár gcoda ach d’fhonn sampla a thabhairt daoibhse chun go leanfadh sibh ár lorg.
Go deimhin nuair a bhíomar in bhur measc, seo é an foláireamh a thugaimis daoibh:
“An té nach bhfuil fonn oibre air, ná caitheadh sé bia ach oiread.”
Tá sé á chloisteáil againn go bhfuil daoine áirithe oraibh a chaitheann a saol go díomhaoin, gan aon ní acu á dhéanamh ach a ladar a chur i ngnó daoine eile. Táimid ag tabhairt foláirimh dá leithéidí sin agus ag moladh dóibh in ainm an Tiarna Íosa Críost, bheith ag obair go ciúin dóibh féin agus a gcuid bia féin a ithe.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Lc 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Bígí gach uile thráth do bhur bhfaire féin agus ag guí chun go mbeadh sibh
ag seasamh díreach os comhair Mhac an Duine.”
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 21:5-19 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is le bhur mbuanseasamh a ghnóthóidh sibh bhur n-anamacha.
San am sin nuair a bhí daoine áirithe á rá mar gheall ar an Teampall go raibh sé maisithe le clocha breátha agus le tíolaicí dúthrachta, dúirt Íosa:“A bhfuil le feiceáil ansin agaibh – tiocfaidh na laethanta nach bhfágfar cloch ar mhuin cloiche nach leagfar anuas.”
D’fhiafraigh siad de ansin: “Más ea, a Mháistir, cén uair a thitfidh an méid sin amach, agus cad is comhartha ar na nithe sin a bheith ag teacht?”
Dúirt sé:
“Bígí aireach agus ná cuirtear amú sibh; óir tiocfaidh mórán i m’ainmse ag rá: ‘Is mise é’; agus: ‘Tá an t-am in achmaireacht.’
Ná téigí ina ndiaidh. Nuair a chluinfidh sibh caint ar chogaí agus ar cheannaircí, ná glacaigí scéin, óir ní foláir na nithe sin a theacht ar dtús, ach ní bheidh an deireadh ann chomh luath sin.” Dúirt sé leo ansin: “Éireoidh náisiún in aghaidh náisiúin agus ríocht in aghaidh ríochta. Beidh maidhmeanna móra talún ann, agus gortaí agus plánna anseo is ansiúd; beidh tuartha uafáis ann agus comharthaí móra ón spéir.
Ach roimh an méid sin uile, leagfar lámh oraibh agus géarleanfar sibh, tabharfar ar láimh sibh do na sionagóga agus do na príosúin, seolfar i láthair ríthe agus gobharnóirí sibh mar gheall ar m’ainmse. Is é a thiocfaidh as sin daoibh, go bhféadfaidh sibh fianaise a thabhairt. Dá bhrí sin, bíodh sé de rún agaibh gan ullmhú roimh ré chun bhur gcosanta, óir tabharfaidh mise urlabhra daoibh agus eagna nach bhféadfaidh bhur gcúisitheoirí uile cur ina haghaidh ná a bhréagnú. Tabharfar ar láimh sibh ag bhur dtuismitheoirí féin, fiú amháin, ag bhur ndeartháireacha, ag bhur ngaolta, ag bhur gcairde, agus básófar cuid agaibh, agus beidh fuath ag cách daoibh mar gheall ar m’ainmse; ach ribe de ghruaig bhur gcinn ní mhillfear.
'Is le bhur mbuanseasamh a ghnóthóidh sibh bhur n-anamacha.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
