Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 21 - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Summary : The Presentation of Mary. This memorial originally marked the dedication of a sixth century church of the Virgin Mary near the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Eastern Church took it up as a celebration of Mary's presentation to God in the Temple at the age of three, a non-biblical story from the apocryphal gospel of James. Established in the West late in the Middle Ages, the feast was universally observed by the sixteenth century. It celebrates Mary in her grace-filled life, wholly given over to the Holy Spirit from the time of her conception.
The feast is found in the liturgical documents of the East in the 11th century and was brought to the papal chapel in Avignon in 1373. A year later King Charles V introduced it to the royal Chapel in Paris, from where it spread through Spain and Germany. It is also now celebrated in the Roman Calendar.
The Protoevangelium of James
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James we read that offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Holiness of Mary
The feast is best linked with the other feasts of the birth of Mary (8th September) and of the Immaculate Conception (8th December). It highlights the holiness of Mary from the beginning of her life on earth that continued through her early childhood and beyond.
Icon of the Feast
It is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like this. The Eastern Church has a special icon for this feast included in the top of the iconostasis in every church. This stresses that Mary from the beginning of her life was dedicated to God. She became a greater temple than any made by human hands. God came to dwell in her in a wonderful way and sanctified her for her unique role in God's saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary redounds on her children. They, too, are temples of God and sanctified so that they may enjoy and share in God's saving work.
Homily of St Germanus
Some of the enthusiasm of the feast is expressed in the homily of St Germanus:
"Hail, holy throne of God,
divine sanctuary, house of glory,
jewel most fair, chosen treasure house,
and mercy seat for the whole world,
heaven showing forth the glory of God.
Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise,
sanctuary dedicated to God and
raised above all human condition,
virgin soil, unplowed field,
flourishing vine,
fountain pouring out waters,
virgin bearing a child,
mother without knowing man,
hidden treasure of innocence,
ornament of sanctity,
by your most acceptable prayers,
strong with the authority of motherhood,
to our Lord and God, Creator of all,
your Son who was born of you without a father,
steer the ship of the Church and
bring it to a quiet harbour."
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This feast is celebrated both in the Roman and the Eastern Orthodox rites. 
In the East it takes its origin from the dedication of the Church of Our Lady near the Temple area in Jerusalem which took place on 21st November 543. A church was built on the above site in honour of this mystery.
Patrick Duffy recalls some of the themes of the feast.
The Eastern Church took it up as a celebration of Mary's presentation to God in the Temple at the age of three, a non-biblical story from the apocryphal gospel of James. Established in the West late in the Middle Ages, the feast was universally observed by the sixteenth century. It celebrates Mary in her grace-filled life, wholly given over to the Holy Spirit from the time of her conception.
The feast is found in the liturgical documents of the East in the 11th century and was brought to the papal chapel in Avignon in 1373. A year later King Charles V introduced it to the royal Chapel in Paris, from where it spread through Spain and Germany. It is also now celebrated in the Roman Calendar.
The Protoevangelium of James
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James we read that offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Holiness of Mary
The feast is best linked with the other feasts of the birth of Mary (8th September) and of the Immaculate Conception (8th December). It highlights the holiness of Mary from the beginning of her life on earth that continued through her early childhood and beyond.
Icon of the Feast
It is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like this. The Eastern Church has a special icon for this feast included in the top of the iconostasis in every church. This stresses that Mary from the beginning of her life was dedicated to God. She became a greater temple than any made by human hands. God came to dwell in her in a wonderful way and sanctified her for her unique role in God's saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary redounds on her children. They, too, are temples of God and sanctified so that they may enjoy and share in God's saving work.
Homily of St Germanus
Some of the enthusiasm of the feast is expressed in the homily of St Germanus:
"Hail, holy throne of God,
divine sanctuary, house of glory,
jewel most fair, chosen treasure house,
and mercy seat for the whole world,
heaven showing forth the glory of God.
Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise,
sanctuary dedicated to God and
raised above all human condition,
virgin soil, unplowed field,
flourishing vine,
fountain pouring out waters,
virgin bearing a child,
mother without knowing man,
hidden treasure of innocence,
ornament of sanctity,
by your most acceptable prayers,
strong with the authority of motherhood,
to our Lord and God, Creator of all,
your Son who was born of you without a father,
steer the ship of the Church and
bring it to a quiet harbour."
__________________________________________
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Memorable Sayings for Today
What you are is God's gift to you.
What you become is your gift to God.
~Hans urs von Baltasar ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 21st November, 2025
11-21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, memorial
Mary is entirely given over to the Holy Spirit.
c/f A Short review of today’s feast can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Zechariah 2:14-17
Rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming.
Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you – It is the Lord who speaks.
Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people.
But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord!
For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Lk 1:46-55
Response The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name
Or Blessed is the Virgin Mary who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
1. My soul glorifies the Lord,my spirit rejoices in God, my saviour. Response
2. Henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! Response
3. His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted. Response
4. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. Response
5. He protects Israel, his servant, remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons for ever. Response
Gospel Acclamation Lk 11: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Happy are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 12:46-50 Glory to you, O Lord
Stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers.'
Jesus was still speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared;
they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him.
But to the man who told him this Jesus replied,
'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?
'And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said,
'Here are my mother and my brothers.
Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Matthew 12:46-50
The feast of Mary’s presentation as a child in the temple in Jerusalem celebrates an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God, given over to God’s purposes. Because of her dedication to God from an early age, she was called by God to become a greater temple than the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. If the temple in Jerusalem was the house of God, the place where God was believed to be present in a special way, Mary became the house of the Lord in an even greater way, because she carried the Lord in her womb until she give birth to him. God came to dwell in her, through Jesus, because she was open to God’s presence from the earliest years of her life. She is the prime example of the group that Jesus refers to in today’s gospel reading as those ‘who do the will of my Father in heaven’.
Today’s feast celebrates the fact that from her childhood Mary did the will of God, and was therefore ready to become the temple of God’s Son at the time of God’s choosing. We too are called to do the will of the Father in heaven so that we too can become temples of the Lord, people who carry the Lord’s presence to others, as Mary did. Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul says to each member, ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?’ (1 Cor 6:19). We ask Mary to pray for us now so that we may always do the will of the Father and so become temples of God as she was.
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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/
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Feast of the Day: November. 21st; The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This memorial originally marked the dedication of a sixth century church of the Virgin Mary near the Temple of Jerusalem.
This feast is celebrated both in the Roman and the Eastern Orthodox rites. In the East it takes its origin from the dedication of the Church of Our Lady near the Temple area in Jerusalem which took place on 21st November 543. A church was built on the site in honour of this mystery.
Patrick Duffy recalls some of the themes of the feast.
The Eastern Church took it up as a celebration of Mary's presentation to God in the Temple at the age of three, a non-biblical story from the apocryphal gospel of James. Established in the West late in the Middle Ages, this feast was universally observed by the sixteenth century. It celebrates Mary in her grace-filled life, wholly given over to the Holy Spirit from the time of her conception.
The feast is found in the liturgical documents of the East in the 11th century and was brought to the papal chapel in Avignon in 1373. A year later King Charles V introduced it to the royal Chapel in Paris, from where it spread through Spain and Germany. It is also now celebrated in the Roman Calendar.
The Protoevangelium of James
As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James we read that offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.
Holiness of Mary
The feast is best linked with the other feasts of the birth of Mary (8th September) and of the Immaculate Conception (8th December). It highlights the holiness of Mary from the beginning of her life on earth that continued through her early childhood and beyond.
Icon of the Feast
It is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like this. The Eastern Church has a special icon for this feast included in the top of the iconostasis in every church. This stresses that Mary from the beginning of her life was dedicated to God. She became a greater temple than any made by human hands. God came to dwell in her in a wonderful way and sanctified her for her unique role in God's saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary redounds on her children. They, too, are temples of God and sanctified so that they may enjoy and share in God's saving work.
Homily of St Germanus
Some of the enthusiasm of the feast is expressed in the homily/ hymn of St Germanus:
"Hail, holy throne of God,
divine sanctuary, house of glory,
jewel most fair, chosen treasure house,
and mercy seat for the whole world,
heaven showing forth the glory of God.
Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise,
sanctuary dedicated to God and
raised above all human condition,
virgin soil, unplowed field,
flourishing vine,
fountain pouring out waters,
virgin bearing a child,
mother without knowing man,
hidden treasure of innocence,
ornament of sanctity,
by your most acceptable prayers,
strong with the authority of motherhood,
to our Lord and God, Creator of all,
your Son who was born of you without a father,
steer the ship of the Church and
bring it to a quiet harbour."
******************************
Memorable Saying for Today
What you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.
~Hans urs von Baltasar ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 21st November, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar Zachária 2:14-17
Abair amhrán agus déan gairdeas, a iníon Shíón;óir, féach, táimse ag teacht.
Abair amhrán agus déan gairdeas, a iníon Shíón;
óir, féach, táimse ag teacht chun cónaí a dhéanamh i do lár, a deir an Tiarna.
Ceanglófar a lán náisiún leis an Tiarna an lá sin;
beidh siad ina bpobal aige, agus cónóidh sé in bhur measc,
agus aithneoidh tú gurbh é Tiarna na Slua a chuir chugat mé.
Ach beidh seilbh ag an Tiarna ar Iúdá, mar a chomhroinn féin sa talamh naofa,
agus déanfaidh sé rogha de Iarúsailéim athuair.
Bíodh gach duine ina thost i láthair an Tiarna;
óir, tá sé ag éirí chun teacht amach as a áitreabh naofa.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Lk 1: 46-55
Freagra Óir rinne an Té atá cumhachtach nithe móra dom agus is naofa a ainm.
1. “Mórann m’anam an Tiarna,
agus rinne mo spiorad gairdeas i nDia mo Shlánaitheoir. Freagra
2. Óir dhearc sé le fabhar ar ísle a bhanóglaigh;
nmar féach, déarfaidh na glúine uile feasta gur méanar dom.
Óir rinne an Té atá cumhachtach nithe móra dom agus is naofa a ainm. Freagra
3. Tá a thrócaire ó ghlúin go glúin dóibh seo ar a mbíonn a eagla.
Thaispeáin sé neart a láimhe:
scaip sé an dream a bhí uaibhreach i smaointe a gcroí. Freagra
4. Leag sé prionsaí óna gcathaoireacha, agus d’ardaigh sé daoine ísle;
Líon sé lucht an ocrais le nithe maithe, agus chuir sé na saibhre uaidh folamh. Freagra
5. D’fhóir sé ar Iosrael a sheirbhíseach, ag cuimhneamh dó ar a thrócaire –
de réir mar gheall sé dar n-aithreacha – d’Abrahám agus dá shliocht go brách.” Freagra
Alleluia Véarsa Mth 11: 28
Alleluia! alleluia
“Is mó is méanar dóibh seo a chluineann briathar Dé
agus a choimeádann é.
Alleluia
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 12: 46-50 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Síneadh Íosa a lámha faoina chuid deisceabal, dúirt: “Féach mo mháthair agus mo bhráithre!
Bhí Íosa ag caint leis na sluaite nuair a tháinig a mháthair
agus a bhráithre agus
amuigh ag iarraidh labhairt leis.Dúirt duine éigin leis:
“Feach, tá do mháthair agus do bhráithre lasmuigh ag iarraidh labhairt leat.”
Agus dúirt leis an té a d’inis dó é:
“Cé hí mo mháthair agus cé hiad mo bhráithre?”
Agus ag síneadh a láimhe faoina chuid deisceabal, dúirt:
“Féach mo mháthair agus mo bhráithre! óir, duine ar bith a dhéanfaidh toil m’Athar atá ar neamh, is bráthair dom é agus is siúr agus is máthair.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd November, 2025
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, Solemnity
- The 34th (and Final Sunday) in Ordinary time, Year C
We celebrate Jesus Christ as a true shepherd king who leads his people to peace and Eternal Life.
FIRST READING
A reading from the second book of the Prophet Samuel 5:1-3
They anointed David King of Israel.
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron.
'Look' they said 'we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to you,
"You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel,
you shall be the leader of Israel".'
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and they anointed David, king of Israel.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 121: 1-5, R/v 2
Response I rejoiced when I heard them say: 'Let us go to God's house.'
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say: 'Let us go to God's house.'And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Response
2. Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. Response
3. For Israel's law it is, there to praise the Lord's name.
There were set the thrones of judgement of the house of David. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Colossians 1:12-20
He has created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves.
We give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join the saints and with them to inherit the light. Because that is what he has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity. Now the Church is his body, he is its head.
As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way; because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24:42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 23:35-43 Glory to you, O Lord
Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.
The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered at him.'He saved others,' they said 'let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.'
The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said,
'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself'.
Above him there was an inscription: 'This is the King of the Jews'.
One of the criminals hanging there abused him.
'Are you not the Christ?' he said. 'Save yourself and us as well.'
But the other spoke up and rebuked him. 'Have you no fear of God at all?' he said. 'You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.
Jesus,' he said 'remember me when you come into your kingdom.'
'Indeed, I promise you,' he replied 'today you will be with me in paradise.'
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, 23rd November, 2025
(AN DOMHNACH SAOR DEIREANACH)
SOLLUNTAS CHRIOST RI NA nUILE
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an dara leabhar Samuél 5:1-3
Rinne siad DáivI a ungadh ma rI ar Isráél.
Tháinig treibheanna Iosrael go léir chuig Dáiví ansin i Heabrón.
“Féach,” ar siad, “sinne do mhuintir ó dhúchas feola agus smeara. San am atá thart nuair a bhí Sól ina rí orainn, is tusa a bhí mar thaoiseach ar Iosrael ina gcuid eachtraí go léir;
agus dúirt an Tiarna leat:
‘Is tusa a bheidh i d’aoire ar mo phobal Iosrael, is tusa a bheidh mar thaoiseach ar Iosrael.’”
Tháinig seanóirí Iosrael go léir chuig an rí ag Heabrón, agus rinne Dáiví rí conradh leo ag Heabrón i bhfianaise an Tiarna agus rinne siad Dáiví a ungadh ina rí ar Iosrael.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 121: 1-5, R/v 2
Freagra Rinne mé gairdeas nuair a dúradh liom: 'Téimis i dteach an Tiarna.'
I. Rinne mé gairdeas nuair a dúradh liom: 'Téimis i dteach an Tiarna.'
Tá ár gcosa ina seasamh cheana féin i do dhoirse, a Iarúsailéim. Freagra
2. Rinneadh cathair larúsailéim a thógáil go dlúth is go daingean.
Is chuici a ghabhann na treibheanna suas, treibheanna an Tiarna. Freagra
3. D'fhonn buíochas a ghabháil le hainm an Tiarna de réir dhlí chlann Israáél.
Is ansiúd atá cathaoir bhreithiúnais theaghlach Dháiví. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig Colosaigh 1:12-20
Chruthaigh Sé áit dúinn i ríocht a mhic mhuirnigh.
A bhráithre, gabhaimid buíochais go lúcháireach leis an Athair a dheonaigh daoibh a bheith páirteach in oidhreacht an phobail naofa sa solas agus a d’fhuascail sinn ó chumhacht an dorchadais agus chruthaigh Sé áit dúinn i ríocht a mhic mhuirnigh. Is tríd an Mac sin atá ár bhfuascailt le fáil, is é sin, maithiúnas na bpeacaí.
Is íomhá den Dia dofheicthe é agus céadghin gach dúile cruthaithe
mar is trídsean a cruthaíodh a bhfuil ar neamh agus ar
bídís sofheicthe nó dofheicthe, idir Thróin agus Thiarnais
idir Phrionsachtaí agus Chumhachtaí.
Is trídsean agus dósan a cruthaíodh an t-iomlán.
Tá tosach aige orthu uile agus is ann a choinnítear ar bun iad.
Is é ceann an choirp é, ceann na hEaglaise.
Is é an tús é, an chéadghin ó mhairbh i dtreo go mbeadh an tosach aige ar gach slí.
Mar is ann ab áil le lánmhaireacht iomlán Dé a bheith ina cónaí,
agus is trídsean ab áil leis gach a bhfuil ar neamh agus ar talamh
a thabhairt chun athmhuintearais leis féin,agus síocháin a dhéanamh leo trí fhuil a chroise.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Mc 11: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!
Is beannaithe ag teacht í, Ríocht ár nAthar, Daivi!
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 23:35-43
A Thiarna, cuimhnigh ormsa nuair a thiocfaidh tú faoi réim do riochta.
San am sin d’fhan an pobal ansiúd ag breathnú ar Íosa. Bhí na cinn urra féin ag dranngháire:
“Shaor sé daoine eile,” deiridís, “saoradh sé é féin, más é Críost Dé, an té atá tofa.”
Agus rinne na saighdiúirí freisin fonóid faoi; ag teacht ag tabhairt fínéagair chuige deiridís: “Más tú Rí na nGiúdach, saor thú féin!”
Agus fós, bhí scríbhinn os a chionn i nGréigis, i Laidin, agus in Eabhrais: “Rí na nGiúdach é seo.”
Duine de na coirpigh a bhí arna gcrochadh, bhí sé á dhiamhaslú á rá:
“Nach tú an Críost? Saor tú féin agus sinne.”
Ach thug an duine eile casaoid dó agus dúirt:
“An ea nach bhfuil eagla Dé ort, agus tusa faoin daorbhreith chéanna? Agus maidir linne, is le ceart é: tá díol ár mbeart féin á thabhairt orainn ach ní dhearna sé seo rud ar bith as an tslí.”
Agus dúirt: “A Íosa, cuimhnigh ormsa nuair a thiocfaidh tú faoi réim do ríochta!”
Agus dúirt seisean leis: “Deirim leat go fírinneach, beidh tú in éineacht liom inniu i bparthas.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
