Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 22 - St Cecilia (3rd century) martyr, patron of music
Summary: St Cecilia , martyr. Though a late fourth century church in Rome was named after her, nothing is known of her life or death. Popular legends were written about her in the late 5th century, and in the 16th century she was named the patron of music. Honoured by the Church as a holy person, martyred for the faith, her name is included in Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon).
St Cecilia is one of the seven women saints, besides Mary, mentioned in the old Roman Canon (First Eucharistic Prayer) of the Mass, showing that these saints were venerated in 5th century Rome.
Patrick Duffy tries to unravel what the stories say about St Cecilia and how she became patron of music.
The Acts of St Cecilia describe her martyrdom
The 5th century Acta of St Cecilia tell of events in the early 3rd century. A Christian Roman maiden from a patrician family wanted to totally dedicate herself to God, but her father had arranged her marriage to a young man named Valerian. After the marriage ceremony, she told Valerian about Jesus, adding that her virginity was protected by an angel. She said he could choose between serving the angel if he respected it and or being punished by the angel if he tried to consummate the marriage.
Perplexed, Valerian went off to find Pope Urban I (222-230), who was living among the poor along the Appian Way, and asked to be baptised. On his return, he found the angel standing beside his wife, and they both received a crown of flowers. Then his brother Tiburtius arrived, was told the story, and also went off to be baptised. The two then devoted themselves to good works and were arrested for burying bodies of martyred Christians. Refusing to recant, they were beheaded outside Rome, together with an official named Maximus, who was converted by their example. Cecilia then buried their bodies.
A crowd then gathered at her house, and Pope Urban baptised some 400 people there, one of whom established that house as a church - the detail which probably accounts for the origin of the story. Cecilia was condemned to be suffocated in her bathroom. The attempt failed. Then she was beheaded, but this was bungled, so she lingered for three days. She was buried in the catacomb of San Callisto.
A Church of St Cecilia in Trastevere
Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus were actual martyrs, historically identifiable and buried in the catacomb of Praetextatus. Mention is made of an ancient Church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere in the fifth century, where Pope Symmachus held a council in the year 500. In 821 Pope Paschal I wished to restore this church which had fallen into decay, and had their remains moved there to be together with her supposed body, which he had been told in a dream was there and not in San Callisto. He had this enclosed in a cypress coffin in a marble tomb. Pope Paschal founded a monastery in honour of these saints, near the Church of St. Cecilia, that the monks might perform the office day and night.
Restoration of 1595
Another restoration under Cardinal Sfondrati in 1595 led to their tombs being opened. Cecilia's body was found to be incorrupt, and remained so for some days, long enough for a graphic altar sculpture of St. Cecilia to be made by the late-Renaissance sculptor Stefano Maderno (1600), before contact with the air caused the body to disintegrate. It was seen by many people, and full descriptions were written of it by the reputable historian Cardinal Baronius. The statue depicts evidence of decapitation, thus helping to confirm the identity of the saint. Incorrupt bodies are not a feature of earlier stories of saints, and no mention was made of it in 821; by the 16th century they had become quite "fashionable", and this discovery was seen as a great coup for the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
Patron Saint of Music and Musicians?
Up to this stage there had been no association between Cecilia and music. Till then, those regarded as the patron saints of music were: Pope St Gregory I, credited with originating the style of liturgical singing known as Gregorian chant; from the Old Testament, King David, a fabled harpist and a composer of psalm tunes and texts and Job, who in Job 30:31 says: ''My harp is turned to mourning, my flute to the sound of weepers.''
The Acta of St Cecilia telling how she converted her husband Valerian, her brother-in-law Tiburtius and the Roman official Maximus and her death set out the basis for her sainthood (canonisation). How she became the patroness of music and musicians can be traced to a misunderstanding of the account of Cecilia's prayer during her wedding as reported in the Acta. What the Acta say is: "So at the ceremony, while musical instruments played around her, she prayed that she might remain as pure in body as she was in spirit". Her prayers were answered when she converted Valerian to Christianity.
But by the 15th century the Vespers antiphon for her feast day highlighted the words: Cantantibus organis, Caecilia Domino leaving out the words in corde suo (in her heart) and the content of her prayer from the Acta account of the wedding. This led to an interpretation of Cecilia as actually herself singing and playing the organ. By Handel's time, Cecilia, as well as being a virtuoso performer, had become a great appreciator of music!
Popularity
Soon Cecilia is depicted in paintings as singing and playing the organ and is declared as the patron of music by musicians’ guilds. This led to an extraordinary growth in her popularity, especially when Palestrina helped set up the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1584. She was even said to have invented the organ.
A total fabrication?
There are a many twists and turns to the story of Cecilia as patroness of music. There are many difficulties in writing off the story of Cecilia as a total fabrication, not least of them is the need for the ideals that myths express and that serve to guide and motivate us to high achievements. As the Italians say: Se non è vero, è ben trovato. "If it's not true, it's still a good story".
See also
http://www.academyofsaintcecilia.com/stcecilia/stcecilia.htm
____________________________________________________
St Cecilia is one of the seven women saints, besides Mary, mentioned in the old Roman Canon (First Eucharistic Prayer) of the Mass, showing that these saints were venerated in 5th century Rome. Patrick Duffy tries to unravel what the stories say about St Cecilia and how she became patron of music.
The Acts of St Cecilia describe her martyrdom
The 5th century Acta of St Cecilia tell of events in the early 3rd century. A Christian Roman maiden from a patrician family wanted to totally dedicate herself to God, but her father had arranged her marriage to a young man named Valerian. After the marriage ceremony, she told Valerian about Jesus, adding that her virginity was protected by an angel. She said he could choose between serving the angel if he respected it and or being punished by the angel if he tried to consummate the marriage.
Perplexed, Valerian went off to find Pope Urban I (222-230), who was living among the poor along the Appian Way, and asked to be baptised. On his return, he found the angel standing beside his wife, and they both received a crown of flowers. Then his brother Tiburtius arrived, was told the story, and also went off to be baptised. The two then devoted themselves to good works and were arrested for burying bodies of martyred Christians. Refusing to recant, they were beheaded outside Rome, together with an official named Maximus, who was converted by their example. Cecilia then buried their bodies.
A crowd then gathered at her house, and Pope Urban baptised some 400 people there, one of whom established that house as a church - the detail which probably accounts for the origin of the story. Cecilia was condemned to be suffocated in her bathroom. The attempt failed. Then she was beheaded, but this was bungled, so she lingered for three days. She was buried in the catacomb of San Callisto.A Church of St Cecilia in Trastevere
Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus were actual martyrs, historically identifiable and buried in the catacomb of Praetextatus. Mention is made of an ancient Church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere in the fifth century, where Pope Symmachus held a council in the year 500. In 821 Pope Paschal I wished to restore this church which had fallen into decay, and had their remains moved there to be together with her supposed body, which he had been told in a dream was there and not in San Callisto. He had this enclosed in a cypress coffin in a marble tomb. Pope Paschal founded a monastery in honour of these saints, near the Church of St. Cecilia, that the monks might perform the office day and night.
Restoration of 1595
Another restoration under Cardinal Sfondrati in 1595 led to their tombs being opened. Cecilia's body was found to be incorrupt, and remained so for some days, long enough for a graphic altar sculpture of St. Cecilia to be made by the late-Renaissance sculptor Stefano Maderno (1600), before contact with the air caused the body to disintegrate. It was seen by many people, and full descriptions were written of it by the reputable historian Cardinal Baronius. The statue depicts evidence of decapitation, thus helping to confirm the identity of the saint. Incorrupt bodies are not a feature of earlier stories of saints, and no mention was made of it in 821; by the 16th century they had become quite "fashionable", and this discovery was seen as a great coup for the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
Patron Saint of Music and Musicians?
Up to this stage there had been no association between Cecilia and music. Till then, those regarded as the patron saints of music were: Pope St Gregory I, credited with originating the style of liturgical singing known as Gregorian chant; from the Old Testament, King David, a fabled harpist and a composer of psalm tunes and texts and Job, who in Job 30:31 says: ''My harp is turned to mourning, my flute to the sound of weepers.''
The Acta of St Cecilia telling how she converted her husband Valerian, her brother-in-law Tiburtius and the Roman official Maximus and her death set out the basis for her sainthood (canonisation). How she became the patroness of music and musicians can be traced to a misunderstanding of the account of Cecilia's prayer during her wedding as reported in the Acta. What the Acta say is: "So at the ceremony, while musical instruments played around her, she prayed that she might remain as pure in body as she was in spirit". Her prayers were answered when she converted Valerian to Christianity.But by the 15th century the Vespers antiphon for her feast day highlighted the words: Cantantibus organis, Caecilia Domino leaving out the words in corde suo (in her heart) and the content of her prayer from the Acta account of the wedding. This led to an interpretation of Cecilia as actually herself singing and playing the organ. By Handel's time, Cecilia, as well as being a virtuoso performer, had become a great appreciator of music!
Popularity
Soon Cecilia is depicted in paintings as singing and playing the organ and is declared as the patron of music by musicians’ guilds. This led to an extraordinary growth in her popularity, especially when Palestrina helped set up the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1584. She was even said to have invented the organ.
A total fabrication?
There are a many twists and turns to the story of Cecilia as patroness of music. There are many difficulties in writing off the story of Cecilia as a total fabrication, not least of them is the need for the ideals that myths express and that serve to guide and motivate us to high achievements. As the Italians say: Se non è vero, è ben trovato. "If it's not true, it's still a good story".
St Cecilia was first buried in the Catecombs of St Calistas.
See also
http://www.academyofsaintcecilia.com/stcecilia/stcecilia.htm
____________________________________________________
******************************
Memorable Quotation for Today
Talent is God-given; be humble.
Fame is man-given; be thankful.
Conceit is self-given; be careful.
~Harvey Mackay~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 22nd November, 2025
Saturday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1
Antiochus finally realises, when our evil deeds catch up with us, they can utterly destroy our lives.
Saint of the Day: November 22; St Cecilia, religious, a second /third century martyr, Patron of (religious) music & musicians
c/f short history of today’s saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Maccabees 6:1-13
I am dying of melancholy because of the wrong I did in Jerusalem.
King Antiochus was making his way across the upper provinces; he had heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais, renowned for its riches, its silver and gold, and its very wealthy temple containing golden armour, breastplates and weapons, left there by Alexander, son of Philip, the king of Macedon, the first to reign over the Greeks. He therefore went and attempted to take the city and pillage it, but without success, since the citizens learnt of his intention, and offered him a stiff resistance, whereupon he turned about and retreated, disconsolate, in the direction of Babylon.
But while he was still in Persia news reached him that the armies that had invaded the land of Judah had been defeated, and that Lysias in particular had advanced in massive strength, only to be forced to turn and flee before the Jews; these had been strengthened by the acquisition of arms, supplies and abundant spoils from the armies they had cut to pieces; they had overthrown the abomination he had erected over the altar in Jerusalem, and had encircled the sanctuary with high walls as in the past, and had fortified Bethzur, one of his cities. 
When the king heard this news he was amazed and profoundly shaken; he threw himself on his bed and fell into a lethargy from acute disappointment, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned. And there he remained for many days, subject to deep and recurrent fits of melancholy, until he understood that he was dying. Then summoning all his friends, he said to them,'Sleep evades my eyes, and my heart is cowed by anxiety. I have been asking myself how I could have come to such a pitch of distress, so great a flood as that which now engulfs me-I who was so generous and well-loved in my heyday.
But now I remember the wrong I did in Jerusalem when I seized all the vessels of silver and gold there, and ordered the extermination of the inhabitants of Judah for no reason at all.
This, I am convinced, is why these misfortunes have over-taken me, and why I am dying of melancholy in a foreign land.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 9: 2-4, 6, 16. 19. R/v 16
Response I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord.
1. I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will recount all your wonders.
I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High. Response
2.See how my enemies turn back, how they stumble and perish before you.
You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked;
you have wiped out their name for ever and ever. Response
3.The nations' feet have been caught in the snare they laid;
for the needy shall not always be forgotten nor the hopes of the poor be in vain. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 9:2-4. 6. 16-19. Rv v 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God
to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
Or 2 Tim 1:10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death, and he has proclaimed life through the Gospels.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 20:27-40 Glory to you, O Lord.
He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
Some Sadducees-those who say that there is no resurrection-approached Jesus and they put this question to him,
'Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man's married brother dies childless,
the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers.
The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow.
And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children.
Finally the woman herself died Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?'
Jesus replied,'The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and if' the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God.
And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob
Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.'
Some scribes then spoke up. 'Well put, Master' they said- because they would not dare to ask him any more questions.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Saturday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Luke 20:27–40
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus’ opponents, the Sadducees, who did not believe in life after death, present a scenario to Jesus which seeks to make belief in life after death look ridiculous. It is obvious they understand that Jesus himself teaches the reality of life after death. Their challenge to Jesus is based on the false assumption that if there is life after death it will simply be a kind of continuation of this earthly life.
In his reply Jesus challenges this false assumption. He declares that those who belong to the ‘other world’ beyond this earthly life ‘no longer die’. They live with a life that is eternal. Therefore, there is no need for procreation or for marriage that is the basis of procreation.
In other words, because the life that we enter after death is eternal life, the way we will relate to each other in this life to come will be fundamentally different to how we relate to each other now. Jesus does not elaborate on how we will relate to each other in the next life; he simply states that this new way of relating to each other will be qualitatively different to how we relate to each other in this earthly life.
When Jesus does speak about the life beyond this life, however, he uses images that suggest some form of communal life, such as the image of the great banquet at which people gather. He invites us to imagine a life in which we are in a new relationship with himself, with God, and with each other. Jesus’ earthly ministry was about gathering people together around himself, forming a new kind of community. He understood this community, which was soon called the church, to be a sign of the life to come; it pointed ahead to life in God’s kingdom. Yet, Jesus suggests that the life of heaven is so totally new that no earthly experience can compare with it.
________________
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 Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: 22 Nov; St Cecilia, virgin, a second/third century martyr,
Though a late fourth century church in Rome was named after Cecilia, nothing is known of her life or death. Popular legends were written about her in the late 5th century. Liturgically she is honoured by the Church as a holy person, martyred for the faith, her name is included in t Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon). In the 16th century she was named the patron of music and musicians.
St Cecilia is one of the seven women saints, besides Mary, mentioned in the old Roman Canon (First Eucharistic Prayer) of the Mass, showing that these saints were venerated in 5th century Rome. Patrick Duffy tries to unravel what the stories say about St Cecilia and how she became patron of music and musicians.
The Acts of St Cecilia describe her martyrdom
The 5th century 'Acta of St Cecilia' tell of events in the early 3rd century. A Christian Roman maiden from a patrician family wanted to totally dedicate herself to God, but her father had arranged her marriage to a young man named Valerian. After the marriage ceremony, she told Valerian about Jesus, adding that her virginity was protected by an angel. She said he could choose between serving the angel if he respected it and or being punished by the angel if he tried to consummate the marriage.
Perplexed, Valerian went off to find Pope Urban I (222-230), who was living among the poor along the Appian Way, and asked to be baptised. On his return, he found the angel standing beside his wife, and they both received a crown of flowers. Then his brother Tiburtius arrived, was told the story, and also went off to be baptised. The two then devoted themselves to good works and were arrested for burying bodies of martyred Christians. Refusing to recant, they were beheaded outside Rome, together with an official named Maximus, who was converted by their example. Cecilia then buried their bodies.
A crowd then gathered at her house, and Pope Urban baptised some 400 people there, one of whom established that house as a church - the detail of which probably accounts for the origin of the story. Cecilia was condemned to be suffocated in her bathroom. The attempt failed. Then she was beheaded, but this was bungled, so she lingered for three days. She was buried in the catacomb of San Callisto.The Church of St Cecilia in Trastevere
Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus were actual martyrs, historically identifiable and buried in the catacomb of Praetextatus. Mention is made of an ancient Church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere in the fifth century, where Pope Symmachus held a council in the year 500.
In 821 Pope Paschal I wished to restore this church which had fallen into decay, and had their remains moved there to be together with her supposed body, which he had been told in a dream was there and not in San Callisto. He had this enclosed in a cypress coffin in a marble tomb. Pope Paschal founded a monastery in honour of these saints, near the Church of St. Cecilia, that the monks might perform the office day and night.
Restoration of 1595
Another restoration under Cardinal Sfondrati in 1595 led to their tombs being opened. Cecilia's body was found to be incorrupt, and remained so for some days, long enough for a graphic altar sculpture of St. Cecilia to be made by the late-Renaissance sculptor Stefano Maderno (1600), before contact with the air caused the body to disintegrate. It was seen by many people, and full descriptions were written of it by the reputable historian Cardinal Baronius. The statue depicts evidence of decapitation, thus helping to confirm the identity of the saint. Incorrupt bodies are not a feature of earlier stories of saints, and no mention was made of it in 821; by the 16th century they had become quite "fashionable", and this discovery was seen as a great coup for the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
Patron Saint of Music and Musicians?
Up to this stage there had been no association between Cecilia and music. Till then, those regarded as the patron saints of music were: Pope St Gregory I, credited with originating the style of liturgical singing known as Gregorian chant; from the Old Testament, King David, a fabled harpist and a composer of psalm tunes and texts and Job, who in Job 30:31 says:
''My harp is turned to mourning, my flute to the sound of weepers.''
The 'Acta of St Cecilia' telling how she converted her husband Valerian, her brother-in-law Tiburtius and the Roman official Maximus and her death set out the basis for her sainthood (canonisation). How she became the patroness of music and musicians can be traced to a misunderstanding of the account of Cecilia's prayer during her wedding as reported in the Acta. What the Acta say is: "So at the ceremony, while musical instruments played around her, she prayed that she might remain as pure in body as she was in spirit". Her prayers were answered when she converted Valerian to Christianity.But by the 15th century the Vespers antiphon for her feast day highlighted the words: Cantantibus organis, Caecilia Domino leaving out the words in corde suo (in her heart) and the content of her prayer from the Acta account of the wedding. This led to an interpretation of Cecilia as actually herself singing and playing the organ. By Handel's time, Cecilia, as well as being a virtuoso performer, had become a great appreciator of music!
Popularity
Soon Cecilia is depicted in paintings as singing and playing the organ and is declared as the patron of music by musicians’ guilds. This led to an extraordinary growth in her popularity, especially when Palestrina helped set up the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1584. She was even said to have invented the organ.
A total fabrication?
There are a many twists and turns to the story of Cecilia as patroness of music. There are many difficulties in writing off the story of Cecilia as a total fabrication, not least of them is the need for the ideals that myths express and that serve to guide and motivate us to high achievements. As the Italians say: Se non è vero, è ben trovato. "If it's not true, it's still a good story".
St Cecilia was first buried in the Catecombs of St Calistas.
____________________________________________________
******************************
Memorable Quotation for Today
Talent is God-given; be humble.
Fame is man-given; be thankful.
Conceit is self-given; be careful.
~Harvey Mackay~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 22nd November, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as chéad leabhar Macabéach 6:1-13
Seo mé ag fáil bháis go dobrónach ar an gcoigcrích.”
Bhí an rí Aintíochas ar a bhealach trasna na gcúigí uachtaracha. Chuala sé go raibh cathair darbh ainm Ealumaes sa Pheirs a raibh cáil uirthi mar gheall ar a cuid saibhris, a cuid airgid agus a cuid óir, agus mar gheall ar an teampall sárshaibhir lena chathéidí óir, a lúireacha, agus a airm a d’fhág Alastar mac Philib rí na Macadóine ann; eisean an chéad rí a fuair ceannas ar na Gréagaigh. Chuaigh sé chun na háite agus rinne iarracht an chathair a ghabháil agus a chreachadh. Ach theip air de bhrí go bhfuair lucht na cathrach amach cad a bhí ar intinn aige agus chuir siad go tréan ina aghaidh. Leis sin thiontaigh sé agus chúlaigh go brónach i dtreo na Bablóine.
L
e linn dó bheith fós sa Pheirs tháinig scéala chuige gur briseadh ar na hairm a rinne ionradh ar chríocha Iúdá. Chuala sé go ndeachaigh Lisias le neart slua ar dtús ach gurbh éigean dó iompú agus gur chuir [na Giúdaigh] an ruaig air; gur mhór an méadú nirt dóibh seo na hairm agus an trealamh agus an chreach líonmhar a bhain siad de na fórsaí a bhí treascartha acu. An ghráiniúlacht a thóg seisean os cionn na haltóra in Iarúsailéim, gur leag siad anuas í, agus gur thóg siad ballaí arda timpeall an tsanctóra mar a bhí roimhe sin, agus gur dhaingnigh siad Béit Zúr, cathair dá chuid. Nuair a chuala an rí an scéala sin cuireadh alltacht agus uafás as cuimse air; chaith sé é féin ar a leaba agus tháinig tinneas air le barr díomá mar ní faoi mar a bheartaigh sé a bhí críoch ar a chúrsaí. D’fhan sé ansiúd ar feadh mórán laethanta agus é ag titim go minic i ndroim dubhach trom go dtí gur tuigeadh dó go raibh an bás aige. Chuir sé fios ar a chairde go léir agus dúirt sé leo:“Tá mo shúile gan codladh agus mo chroí scanraithe le himní. Bhí mé á rá liom féín cad é mar chruachás mór é seo inar thit mé agus cad é mar thuile atá ar tí mé a bhá – mise a bhí chomh fial geanúil sin i mbláth mo nirt. Ach cuimhním anois ar an éagóir a rinne mé in Iarúsailéim nuair a ghabh mé na soithí óir agus airgid go léir a bhí ann, agus a d’ordaigh mé muintir Iúdá a dhíothú gan fáth ar bith.
Tá mé cinnte dearfa gurb é sin is cúis le mo mhí-ádh agus seo mé ag fáil bháis go dobrónach ar an gcoigcrích.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 9: 2-4, 6, 16. 19. R/v 16
Freagra Déanfaidh mé lúcháir I do chúnamh, a Thiarna
1.Béarfaidh mé buíochas duit, a Thiarna, ó mo chroí, go hiomlán, inseoidh mé do mhóréachtaí go léir.
Déanfaidh mé lúcháir agus gairdeas ionat, canfaidh mé Salm do d’ainm, a Neach is Airde, Freagra
2.Toisc gur cuireadh mo naimhde ar gcúl; thuisligh siad agus cailleadh iad i d’fhianaise.
Lochtaigh tú na ciníocha, dhamnaigh tú na héagráifigh; scrios tú a n-ainm go brách na breithe. Freagra
3. Tá na ciníocha slogtha síos sa chlais a rinneadar féin: sa líon a d’fholaigh siad féin a gabhadh a gcosa.
Óir ní dhéanfar dearmad de lucht an ghátair i gcónaí; ní go deo a rachaidh dóchas na mbocht in éag. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 20:27-40 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Ní hé Dia na marbh é, ach na mbeo.
San am sin tháinig chuig Íosa cuid de na Sadúcaigh – iad seo a shéanann aiséirí a bheith ann –agus chuir siad ceist air:
“A Mháistir,” ar siad, “seo mar a d’ordaigh Maois dúinn sa scríbhinn:
‘Má bhíonn ag duine deartháir pósta a gheobhadh bás gan chlann, é féin a ghabháil na baintrí chun gin sleachta a thógáil dá dheartháir.’ Sea: bhí seachtar dearthár ann: phós an chéad duine agus fuair bás gan chlann. An dara duine ansin, agus an tríú duine, ghabh siad an bhaintreach, agus an seachtar ar fad mar an gcéanna; níor fhág said sliocht agus fuair bás. Sa deireadh, fuair an bhean féin bás. San aiséirí, más ea, cé acu a mbeidh an bhean ina bean chéile aige? Óir bhí sí ina bean chéile ag an seachtar.”
Dúirt Íosa leo:“Gabhann clann an tsaoil seo fear céile nó bean chéile, ach iad seo a mheasfar gur fiú iad an saol úd eile a shroicheadh agus an aiséirí ó mhairbh, ní ghabhann siad fear céile ná bean chéile; óir ní fhéadann siad bás a fháil níos mó, mar is geall le haingil iad; agus is clann iad do Dhia ós clann iad don aiséirí. Ach thug Maois féin le tuiscint na mairbh a éirí, sa dréacht úd faoin tor, mar a dtugann ar an Tiarna, Dia Abrahám agus Dia Íosác agus Dia Iacóib.
Ní hé Dia na marbh é, ach na mbeo; óir is dó is beo cách.”
Dúirt cuid de na scríobhaithe á fhreagairt: “A Mháistir, is maith a dúirt tú é!”
Óir níor leomh siad as sin amach ceist ar bith a chur air.
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
