Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Aug 31 - St Aidan of Lindisfarne (7th century) monk and missionary
St Aidan , had a reputation of being a gentle but effective missionary in the English kingdom of Northumbria. He founded the monastery of Lindisfarne.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Monk of Iona
Aidan was a monk of Irish descent on the island of Iona. During the struggles for the kingship of Northumbria, two sons of the king found refuge in Iona. When the younger of these Oswald eventually became king in 634, he invited the monks of Iona to send a mission to evangelise Northumbria. Aidan was of Irish descent and made his headquarters at Lindisfarne. With the aid of the king as interpreter he was very successful in his mission.
A Simple Message
The first monk from Iona who came, Colmán, was combative in temperament. He dismissed the local people as "obstinate and barbarous" and in less than a year went back to Iona. Aidan, who was sent on a second mission the following year, felt Colmán had been too harsh, and decided on simpler approach. He became firm friends with King Oswald, whom he had known in Iona. Aidan also used Oswald, who had become bilingual during his time on Iona, as his interpreter and soon became bilingual himself, bringing the gospel everywhere he went, to rich and poor alike. He had the great missionary virtues of patience and openness to everyone he met.
Aidan Begins
Aidan founded a monastery and school for twelve young boys on the island of Lindisfarne. It was within sight of the King's castle at Bamburgh. Two of his disciples, Cedd and Chad, later became missionaries and brought Celtic Christianity into Mercia, the Midlands area of present-day England. When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswin of Deira and the two became close friends.
Encouraged St Hilda of Whitby
Aidan also encouraged women in the religious life and was friend and spiritual director to the abbess Hilda at Whitby. This was a monastery in the Celtic style, with men and women living separately in small houses, but worshipping together in church.
Death and Burial
[caption id="attachment_50039" align="alignleft" width="259"]
St Aidan saving slaves[/caption]
Strongly opposed to slavery, Aidan spent much time and effort in ransoming slaves and sending them home. When he died at Bamburgh Castle in 651, his body was taken back to Iona for burial.
Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People portrays him with the virtues that were also his own: 'a teacher with a passionate love of goodness, tempered with humility, warmth and gentleness'.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Monk of Iona
Aidan was a monk of Irish descent on the island of Iona. During the struggles for the kingship of Northumbria, two sons of the king found refuge in Iona. When the younger of these Oswald eventually became king in 634, he invited the monks of Iona to send a mission to evangelise Northumbria. Aidan was of Irish descent and made his headquarters at Lindisfarne. With the aid of the king as interpreter he was very successful in his mission.A Simple Message
The first monk from Iona who came, Colmán, was combative in temperament. He dismissed the local people as "obstinate and barbarous" and in less than a year went back to Iona. Aidan, who was sent on a second mission the following year, felt Colmán had been too harsh, and decided on simpler approach. He became firm friends with King Oswald, whom he had known in Iona. Aidan also used Oswald, who had become bilingual during his time on Iona, as his interpreter and soon became bilingual himself, bringing the gospel everywhere he went, to rich and poor alike. He had the great missionary virtues of patience and openness to everyone he met.
Aidan Begins
Aidan founded a monastery and school for twelve young boys on the island of Lindisfarne. It was within sight of the King's castle at Bamburgh. Two of his disciples, Cedd and Chad, later became missionaries and brought Celtic Christianity into Mercia, the Midlands area of present-day England. When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswin of Deira and the two became close friends.
Encouraged St Hilda of Whitby
Aidan also encouraged women in the religious life and was friend and spiritual director to the abbess Hilda at Whitby. This was a monastery in the Celtic style, with men and women living separately in small houses, but worshipping together in church.
Death and Burial
[caption id="attachment_50039" align="alignleft" width="259"]
St Aidan saving slaves[/caption]Strongly opposed to slavery, Aidan spent much time and effort in ransoming slaves and sending them home. When he died at Bamburgh Castle in 651, his body was taken back to Iona for burial.
Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People portrays him with the virtues that were also his own: 'a teacher with a passionate love of goodness, tempered with humility, warmth and gentleness'.
________________________
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Memorable Proverb for Today
Being humble means recognising that we are not put on earth
to see how important we can become,
but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.
~ Gordon B. Hinckley ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 31st August, 2026
Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Saint of the Day: Aug 28; – St Aidan of Lindisfarne, bishop and missionary
C/f A short look at this saint’s life can be found below today's Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 2:1-5
The only knowledge I claimed to have was about the crucified Christ.
Brothers, when I came to you, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ.Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great 'fear and trembling' and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118: 97-102 r/v 97
Response Lord, how I love your law!
1. Lord, how I love your law! It is ever in my mind.
Your command makes me wiser than my foes; for it is mine for ever. Response
2. I have more insight than all who teach me for I ponder your will.
I have more understanding than the old for I keep your precepts. Response
3. I turn my feet from evil paths to obey your word.
I have not turned away from your decrees; you yourself have taught me. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia !
Or Lk 4: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 4:16-30 Glory to you, O Lord
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor. No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Jesus came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:'The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favour.'
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them,
'This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen'.
And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips
They said, 'This is Joseph's son, surely?'
But he replied, 'No doubt you will quote me the saying, "Physician, heal yourself" and tell me,
"We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside"'.
And he went on, 'I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.
'There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah's day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha's time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.'
When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Monday Twenty Second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 4:16-30
Today’s gospel reading begins with an account of the liturgy of the word in the synagogue of Jesus’ home town in Nazareth. Jesus stands up to read from the prophet Isaiah and then sits down to comment on what he read. Jesus identifies himself with the prophet who was sent to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, new sight to the blind, to set the downtrodden free. Jesus goes on to identify himself with two other prophets, Elijah and Elisha, who ministered to people outside Israel, a hungry widow from Sidon and a leper from Syria. Jesus was saying to the people of Nazareth that he had come for those in greatest need, regardless of who they were or where they were from. This generous vision Jesus had of his mission made the people of Nazareth very angry.
Jesus was one of their own and they expected special treatment. However, the good news is that Jesus has come for us all. If he has favourites it is those who are broken in body, in mind, in spirit. The Lord is constantly reaching out to us in our brokenness, in our pain and suffering. All he asks is that we receive him as he is, on his own terms, which the people of Nazareth could not do. The Lord is always close to all of us; it is our need, our suffering, whatever form it takes, which can bring us close to him.
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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 made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: Aug 31; – St Aidan of Lindisfarne, bishop and missionary
St Aidan , had a reputation of being a gentle but effective missionary in the English kingdom of Northumbria. He founded the monastery of Lindisfarne.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Monk of Iona
Aidan was a monk of Irish descent on the island of Iona. During the struggles for the kingship of Northumbria, two sons of the king found refuge there. When the younger of these Oswald eventually became king in 634, he invited the monks of Iona to send a mission to evangelise Northumbria. Aidan was of Irish descent and made his headquarters at Lindisfarne. With the aid of the king as interpreter he was very successful in his mission.A Simple Message
The first monk from Iona who came, Colmán, was combative in temperament. He dismissed the local people as "obstinate and barbarous" and in less than a year went back to Iona. Aidan, who was sent on a second mission the following year, felt Colmán had been too harsh, and decided on simpler approach. He became firm friends with King Oswald, whom he had known in Iona. Aidan also used Oswald, who had become bilingual during his time on Iona, as his interpreter and soon became bilingual himself, bringing the gospel everywhere he went, to rich and poor alike. He had the great missionary virtues of patience and openness to everyone he met.
Aidan Begins
Aidan founded a monastery and school for twelve young boys on the island of Lindisfarne. It was within sight of the King's castle at Bamburgh. Two of his disciples, Cedd and Chad, later became missionaries and brought Celtic Christianity into Mercia, the Midlands area of present-day England. When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswin of Deira and the two became close friends.
Encouraged St Hilda of Whitby Modern image of St Aidan
Aidan also encouraged women in the religious life and was friend and spiritual director to the abbess Hilda at Whitby. This was a monastery in the Celtic style, with men and women living separately in small houses, but worshipping together in church.
Death and Burial
[caption id="attachment_50039" align="alignleft" width="259"]
St Aidan saving slaves[/caption]Strongly opposed to slavery, Aidan spent much time and effort in ransoming slaves and sending them home. When he died at Bamburgh Castle in 651, his body was taken back to Iona for burial.
Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People portrays him with the virtues that were also his own:
'a teacher with a passionate love of goodness,
tempered with humility, warmth and gentleness'.
________________________
******************************
Memorable Proverb for Today
Being humble means recognising that we are not put on earth
to see how important we can become,
but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.
~ Gordan B. Hinckley ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 31st August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 2:1-5
Shocraigh mé i m’aigne gan aon ní eile ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh
I dtaca liomsa, a bhráithre, nuair a tháinig mé chugaibh, níor tháinig mé ag fógairt [rúndiamhair] Dé le hardnós cainte ná eagna. Shocraigh mé i m’aigne fad a bheinn in bhur measc gan aon ní eile a aithint ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh.
Is mé a bhí go lagbhríoch in bhur measc agus mé lán d’uamhan agus d’eagla. Agus ní ar bhriathra mealltacha na heagna daonna a bhí mo scéal agus m’fhógra ag brath ach ar fhoilsiú an Spioraid agus na cumhachta, i dtreo nach ar eagna dhaonna a bheadh bhur gcreideamhsa bunaithe ach ar chumhacht Dé.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 118: 97-102 r/v 97
Freagra A, nach aoibhinn liom do dhlí, a Thiarna
1. A, nach aoibhinn liom do dhlí, a Thiarna; is ábhar machnaimh dom de shíor é.
Rinne d’aithne níos críonna ná m’eascairde mé; óir bíonn sí in éineacht liom de shíor. Freagra
2. Is críonna mé ná lucht mo mhúinte go léir, toisc go machnaím ar d’fhorálacha.
Is mó mo thuiscintse ná tuiscint na seanóirí; óir comhlíonaim do phroiceapta. Freagra
3. Tugaim ar mo chosa gach drochshlí a sheachaint, d’fhonn do bhriathra a choimeád.
Ní chlaonaim i leataobh ó d’fhoraitheanta; ós tú a mhúin mé. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 4:16-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Chuir sé uaidh mé ag tabhairt an dea-scéil do na boicht. fáidh ar bith ní ghlactar ina dhúiche féin.
San am sin tháinig Íosa go Nazará, mar ar oileadh é, agus chuaigh isteach mar ba ghnáthbhéas dó sa tsionagóg lá na sabóide, agus d’éirigh ina sheasamh chun an léitheoireacht a dhéanamh. Síneadh chuige leabhar Íseáia fáidh, agus ar oscailt an leabhair dó, fuair sé an t-ionad ina raibh scríofa:
“Tá Spiorad an Tiarna orm,mar gur choisric le hola mé.
Chuir sé uaidh mé ag tabhairt an dea-scéil do na boicht,
ag fógairt a scaoilte do bhránna
agus aiseag a radhairc do dhaill;
ag scaoileadh lucht géarbhroide saor;ag fógairt bhliain ghrásta an Tiarna.”
D’fhill sé an leabhar ina chéile, thug ar ais don seirbhíseach é, agus shuigh. Agus bhí súile a raibh sa tsionagóg dlúite air. Agus thosaigh sé ag rá leo:
“Inniu atá an scríbhinn seo comhlíonta i gclos bhur gcluas.”
Agus thug cách fianaise air, b’ionadh leo na briathra grástúla a bhí ag teacht as a bhéal, agus deiridís: “Nach é mac Iósaef é seo?”
Agus dúirt sé leo: “Gan amhras, tagróidh sibh liom an seanfhocal: ‘A lia, leighis tú féin.
Na nithe a chualamar déanta i gCafarnáum, déan anseo iad freisin i do dhúiche féin.’”
Ach dúirt sé: “Deirim libh go fírinneach, fáidh ar bith ní ghlactar ina dhúiche féin.
Ach go deimhin deirim libh, bhí mórán baintreach in Iosrael i laethanta Éilias, nuair a bhí an spéir dúnta ar feadh trí mblian agus sé mhí, ionas go raibh gorta mór sa tír go léir, agus ní chun aon duine acu a cuireadh Éilias ach chun mná baintrí i Saireipte i dtír na Síodóine. Agus bhí mórán lobhar in Iosrael le linn Éilíseá fáidh, ach aon duine acu sin níor glanadh ach Námán an Suíreach.”
Agus a raibh sa tsionagóg, nuair a chuala siad an méid sin, líon siad d’fheirg, agus d’éirigh siad agus thiomáin amach as an gcathair é agus sheol é go dtí mala an chnoic ar a raibh a gcathair tógtha chun é a chaitheamh le faill. Ach ghabh sé trína lár agus d’imigh leis.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 6th September, 2026
The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The three readings today deal with the same theme - neighbourly correction. This is a difficult art and can only be exercised through genuine love, the purest of motives and diplomatic skill. We have to learn to help and to heal each other. In this we have to avoid attitudes of prying, denunciation, jealousy and informing. The spirit of the Gospel lays down a procedure that must be our guide- The Jesus way
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel 33:7-9
If you do not speak to warn the wicked man I will hold you responsible for his death.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:'Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name.
If I say to a wicked man:
Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Response O that today you would listen to his voice!
Harden not your hearts.
1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Response
2. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. Response
3. O that today you would listen to his voice! 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:8-10
Love is the answer to every one of the commandments.
Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love.
If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations.
All the commandments:
You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself.
Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is truth, O Lord, consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!
Or 2 Cor 5:19
Alleluia, alleluia!
God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 18:15-20
If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you:
the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
'I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
'I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.'
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 copyrighted 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, 6th September, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh. 33:7-9
Nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Tháinig briatar an Tiarna chugam:“A mhic an duine, tá tusa ceaptha agam mar gharda do mhuintir Iosrael; aon uair a chluineann tú focal uaimse cuir ar a bhfaichill iad thar mo cheannsa.
Má deirim le drochdhuine:
'A dhrochdhuine, éagfaidh tú gan teip'; agus nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, gheobhaidh an drochdhuine sin bás de bharr a pheaca ach cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Ach má thugann tú rabhadh don drochdhuine iompú óna aimhleas agus nach n-iompaíonn sé, gheobhaidh sé bás de bharr a pheaca ach tabharfaidh tusa do bheatha slán.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Freagra Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Ná calcaigí bhur gcroí.'
I. Tagaigí, déanaimis gairdéas don Tiarna, tógaimis gartha áthais do Charraig ;ar slánaithe.
Tagaimis ina láthair le moltaí, déanaimis gairdéas dó le laoithe. Freagra
2. Tagaigí, adhraimis agus sléachtaimis, feacaimis ár nglúine don Tiarna a rinne sinn.
Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne pobal a aoireachta agus caoirigh a lámh. Freagra
3. Á, dá n-eistfeadh sibh lena ghuth innÍu:'Na calcaigí bhur gcroí mar a tharla i Meríba,
mar a tharla an lá úd ag Masa san fhásach mar ar chuir bhur n-aithreacha cath orm,
mar ar thriail siad mé cé go bhfaca siad m'obair.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 13:8-10
Is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
A bhráithre, ná bíodh fiacha ar bith ag aon duine oraibh ach amháin fiacha an ghrá a thabhairt dá chéile. Mar an té a thugann grá dá chomharsa tá an dlí comhlíonta aige. Na haitheanta
“Ná déan drúise,” “ná déan marú,” “ná déan goid,” “ná santaigh,” agus aon aithne eile dá bhfuil ann, tá coimriú déanta orthu go léir san abairt seo: “Gráigh do chomharsa mar thú féin.”
Ní dhéanann an grá aon olc ar an gcomharsa, agus, dá bhrí sin, is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is fírinne do bhriathar A Thiarna. Déan sinn a naomhú san fhírinne.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 18:15-20
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail“Má dhéanann do bhráthair peaca i d’aghaidh, gabh chuige á áiteamh air is gan ann ach é agus tú.
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat; ach mura n-éisteann, beir leat duine nó beirt eile, chun go mbeadh focal a dó nó a trí d’fhinnéithe ag deimhniú gach scéil.
Má dhiúltaíonn sé éisteacht leo sin, inis don eaglais é; agus má dhiúltaíonn éisteacht leis an eaglais féin, bíodh sé ina phágánach agus ina phoibleacánach agat.
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, gach uile ní a cheanglaíonn sibh ar talamh beidh siad ceangailte ar neamh, agus nithe ar bith a scaoilfidh sibh ar talamh beidh siad scaoilte ar neamh.
Agus deirim go fírinneach rud eile libh má bhíonn beirt agaibh ar talamh ar aon aigne faoi rud ar bith a bhíonn le hiarraidh acu, beidh sé le fáil acu ó m’Athair atá ar neamh. Óir, mar a mbíonn beirt nó triúr tagtha i gceann a chéile i m’ainmse, bím féin ansin ina measc.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
