Churches of the Day

Jan 16 - St Fursa (d. 650) abbot, missionary

Summary: St Fursa, (or Fursey) Abbot and Missionary
Fursa was born in Ireland, he went first with his brothers Foillan and Ultan to live the monastic life in East Anglia. But as large numbers continued to visit him there he left his brother Foillan as abbot, and sought refuge in France around 644. A patron gave him a hermitage at Lagny on the Marne. He died about 650 at Mezerolles while on a journey. His body was buried in Peronne, which became a centre of devotion to him.

Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.

Fursey was born on the small island of Inchiquin in Lough Corrib, Co Galway. The parish of Headfort, Co Galway, in Tuam archdiocese has a section called Killursa (Cill Fhursa = the cell or church of Fursey). Pádraig Ó Riain, however, in his new Dictionary of Irish Saints (2011) says this may have been a propaganda tradition developed in the twelfth century or later to legitimate the relationship between the O'Duffys and the episcopal see of Annaghdown in that area. He thinks Fursey could be linked to Co Down and the offspring of St Brónach of Kilbroney.

In Norfolk (East Anglia): Relations with the Roman Mission?
According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English nation, Fursey founded a monastery at Rathmat, probably in Ireland, and then went with two companions St Foillan and St Ultan as a pilgrim for Christ (peregrinus pro Christo) to East Anglia. King Sigbert II of the East Anglians, who had been an exile in Gaul, received the pilgrims courteously and gave them land at Burgh Castle, near modern Yarmouth, where Fursey founded a monastery.

Felix of Felixstowe
This would have been around the same time as the Roman mission to England under St Augustine arrived in Kent (597). However, neither the Roman mission nor the mission from Lindisfarne seems to have reached East Anglia by the time Fursey arrived. King Sigbert must have been aware of the differences between Celtic and Roman practices, because he also welcomed a Burgundian bishop named Felix, who died in 647. Felix established a Roman diocese named Dunwich, but this has now disappeared under the North Sea as a result of coastal erosion. All the records were lost, and the only remaining trace of his mission is the name of the port of Felixstowe. Sigbert seems to have thought that there was room for both Celtic and Roman missioners in his large, predominantly pagan, kingdom.

Famed for His Asceticism
Fursey and his community stayed around Yarmouth for about twelve years, following the Celtic Rite. Felix was a faithful missionary, and evidently tolerant of the Celtic monks and their ways. The Roman clergy who came to the area respected Fursey for his devotion and his visions: he was given to sitting out in the biting East Anglian winds wearing only a thin shirt, and sweating with the power of his spiritual experiences.

Bede the Venerable writes of Fursey:
There came out of Ireland a holy man called Fursa, renowned both for his words and actions, and remarkable for his singular virtues, being desirous to live like a stranger for our Lord, wherever an opportunity should offer... he saw the angels chanting in heaven, and a vision of hell in which he saw four fires - the fire of falsehood, the fire of covetousness, the fire of discord and the fire of iniquity.

To the Frankish Kingdom of Neustria
When Sigbert was killed by the pagan Penda of Mercia, Fursey and some of his monks went to the Frankish kingdom of Neustria. He left one of his brothers, Foillan, in charge of the Norfolk monastery, and at least one other Irish monk, Ultan (not Ultan of Arbraccan), went with him to Gaul.

Here King Clovis II ( 636-657) authorised Fursey to found a monastery east of Paris at Lagny-sur-Marne (Latinacium or Lagny-en-Brie) in the territory of Neustria (648). In the monastery he created three chapels. He was protected here by Echinoald, the administrator of Clovis II.

Death and Influence
After Fursey's death while on a journey at Mezerolles in 650, Echinoald had his body translated to Péronne, which became known as Perrona Scottorum (Péronne of the Irish). His tomb became a place of pilgrimage and the monastery became an Irish centre. Ultan went there, and became abbot. Fursey's shrine is said to have been the work of St Eloi (Eligius, c. 588-660), a celebrated metalworker who also made the shrines of St Denys of Paris and St Martin of Tours.

The entry for Fursey in the Félire of St Oengus seems to make reference to his friendship with kings:
'Cráibdig i féil Fursai
fris-rocabsat ríge,
nói míli, méit búadae,
for fichit már míle.'
Fursey's Companions in England
Two other companions of Fursey were said to have accompanied him to England, Dicul and Maeldubh.

Dicul went on to evangelise the South Saxons, and founded a monastery at Bosham, near Chichester, with five or six monks. Later Wilfrid of Ripon, during his travels, discovered this small group of Celtic monks still keeping to their old ways in what by then was solidly Romanized territory. Maeldubh went to Wessex, and founded a monastery at Malmesbury, where St Aldhelm (639-709) is said to have studied for a time.

Though little seems to be known about the work of these small Celtic groups in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, their existence does suggest that there was a significant movement of evangelising from Ireland into England in the early seventh century, and that the Roman clergy in England may have encountered Celtic monks quite early in their own mission.

The name of 'Fursa' is a translation of the old irish words 'model of virtue'.

******************************

Memorable Proverbs for today

To live a life of virtue,
one must match up your thoughts, words, and deeds.

~ Epictetus ~

**********************************

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 16th January, 2026

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2

Saint of the Day; Jan 16; St Fursa ; abbot and missionary
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.

FIRST READING

A reading from the first book of Samuel. 8: 4-7,10-22a
You will cry out on account of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but on that day God will not answer you.'

All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 'Look,' they said to him 'you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. So give us a king to rule over us, like the other nations.'
It displeased Samuel that they should say,
'Let us have a king to rule us', so he prayed to the Lord.
But the Lord said to Samuel,
'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you they have rejected; they have rejected me from ruling over them.’

All that the Lord had said Samuel repeated to the people who were asking him for a king He said,
'These will be the rights of the king who is to reign over you.
He will take your sons and assign them to his chariotry and cavalry, and they will run in front of his chariot. He will use them as leaders of a thousand and leaders of fifty;
He will make them plough his ploughland and harvest his harvest and make his weapons of war and the gear for his chariots.
He will also take your daughters as perfumers, cooks and bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, of your vineyards and olive groves and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and vineyards to provide for his eunuchs and his officials.
He will take the best of your man servants and maidservants, of your cattle and your donkeys,
and make them work for him.
He will tithe your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When that day comes, you will cry out on account of the king you have chosen for yourselves,
but on that day God will not answer you.'

The people refused to listen to the words of Samuel. They said,
'No! We want a king, so that we in our turn can be like the other nations;
our king shall rule us and be our leader and fight our battles.'
Samuel listened to all that the people had to say and repeated it in the ears of the Lord.
The Lord then said to Samuel, 'Obey their voice and give them a king'.

The Word of the Lord.            Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88: 16-17, 18-19 R/v 2
Response I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

1. Happy the people who acclaim such a king, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice the source of their bliss.      Response

2. For it is you, O Lord, who are the glory of their strength; it is by your favour that our might is exalted:
for our ruler is in the keeping of the Lord;
our king in the keeping of the Holy One of Israel. Response

Gospel Acclamation   Eph 1: 17. 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!

or Mt 4: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.                           And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 2: 1-12          Glory to you, O Lord.
The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum some time later, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door.

He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'My child, your sins are forgiven'.
Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves,
'How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?'

Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them,
'Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic,
"Your sins are forgiven" or to say, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk"?
But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' - he said to the paralytic -
I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.'

And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, 'We have never seen anything like this'.

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

*****************************

Gospel Reflection Friday, First Week in Ordinary Time Mark 2:1-12

We often pray that eternal rest would be granted to those who have died. ‘Rest’ in that sense is not just the absence of activity, but a renewal of our spirit. The psalm, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’, says of the Lord, ‘near restful waters he leads me to revive my drooping spirit’, The Lord wants us to experience such ‘rest’ not just beyond this earthly life but during our earthly lives. He is always at work to revive our drooping spirits and he wants to work through us to revive the drooping spirits of others.

In today’s gospel reading, a very concerned group stop at nothing to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, even going as far as making a hole in the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching. They wanted their friend to reach a place of rest; they brought him to Jesus so that he would revive their friend’s drooping spirits by healing him of his paralysis. A group of men making a hole in the roof above would normally be experienced by a teacher as an unwelcome interruption to a lesson. However, Jesus saw the faith which drove these men to take such desperate measures and he immediately responds to the plight of the paralytic. He not only heals him physically, but assures him that he is loved by God, by declaring his sins forgiven. Jesus heals the whole person, physically and spiritually. He brings him to a place of rest. The Lord works in the same healing way in all our lives. He also wants to work through us for the holistic healing of others. The Lord needs us to play the role of the paralytic’s friends today, so that the broken in body, mind and spirit can experience his healing power to the full.

________________________________

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 /

________________

Saint of the Day; Jan 16; St Fursa ; abbot and missionary
Fursa was born in Ireland, he went first with his brothers Foillan and Ultan to live the monastic life in East Anglia. But as large numbers continued to visit him there he left his brother Foillan as abbot, and sought refuge in France around 644. A patron gave him a hermitage at Lagny on the Marne. He died about 650 at Mezerolles while on a journey. His body was buried in Peronne, which became a centre of devotion to him.

Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.

Fursey was born on the small island of Inchiquin in Lough Corrib, Co Galway. The parish of Headfort, Co Galway, in Tuam archdiocese has a section called Killursa (Cill Fhursa = the cell or church of Fursey). Pádraig Ó Riain, however, in his new Dictionary of Irish Saints (2011) says this may have been a propaganda tradition developed in the twelfth century or later to legitimate the relationship between the O'Duffys and the episcopal see of Annaghdown in that area. He thinks Fursey could be linked to Co Down and the offspring of St Brónach of Kilbroney.

In Norfolk (East Anglia): Relations with the Roman Mission?
According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English nation, Fursey founded a monastery at Rathmat, probably in Ireland, and then went with two companions St Foillan and St Ultan as a pilgrim for Christ (peregrinus pro Christo) to East Anglia. King Sigbert II of the East Anglians, who had been an exile in Gaul, received the pilgrims courteously and gave them land at Burgh Castle, near modern Yarmouth, where Fursey founded a monastery.

Felix of Felixstowe
This would have been around the same time as the Roman mission to England under St Augustine arrived in Kent (597). However, neither the Roman mission nor the mission from Lindisfarne seems to have reached East Anglia by the time Fursey arrived. King Sigbert must have been aware of the differences between Celtic and Roman practices, because he also welcomed a Burgundian bishop named Felix, who died in 647. Felix established a Roman diocese named Dunwich, but this has now disappeared under the North Sea as a result of coastal erosion. All the records were lost, and the only remaining

trace of his mission is the name of the port of Felixstowe. Sigbert seems to have thought that there was room for both Celtic and Roman missioners in his large, predominantly pagan, kingdom.

Famed for His Asceticism
Fursey and his community stayed around Yarmouth for about twelve years, following the Celtic Rite. Felix was a faithful missionary, and evidently tolerant of the Celtic monks and their ways. The Roman clergy who came to the area respected Fursey for his devotion and his visions: he was given to sitting out in the biting East Anglian winds wearing only a thin shirt, and sweating with the power of his spiritual experiences.

Bede the Venerable writes of Fursey: There came out of Ireland a holy man called Fursa, renowned both for his words and actions, and remarkable for his singular virtues, being desirous to live like a stranger for our Lord, wherever an opportunity should offer... he saw the angels chanting in heaven, and a vision of hell in which he saw four fires - the fire of falsehood, the fire of covetousness, the fire of discord and the fire of iniquity.

To the Frankish Kingdom of Neustria
When Sigbert was killed by the pagan Penda of Mercia, Fursey and some of his monks went to the Frankish kingdom of Neustria. He left one of his brothers, Foillan, in charge of the Norfolk monastery, and at least one other Irish monk, Ultan (not Ultan of Arbraccan), went with him to Gaul.

Here King Clovis II ( 636-657) authorised Fursey to found a monastery east of Paris at Lagny-sur-Marne (Latinacium or Lagny-en-Brie) in the territory of Neustria (648). In the monastery he created three chapels. He was protected here by Echinoald, the administrator of Clovis II.

Death and Influence
After Fursey's death while on a journey at Mezerolles in 650, Echinoald had his body translated to Péronne, which became known as Perrona Scottorum (Péronne of the Irish). His tomb became a place of pilgrimage and the monastery became an Irish centre. Ultan went there, and became abbot. Fursey's shrine is said to have been the work of St Eloi (Eligius, c. 588-660), a celebrated metalworker who also made the shrines of St Denys of Paris and St Martin of Tours.

The entry for Fursey in the Félire of St Oengus seems to make reference to his friendship with kings:
'Cráibdig i féil Fursai
fris-rocabsat ríge,
nói míli, méit búadae,
for fichit már míle.'
Fursey's Companions in England
Two other companions of Fursey were said to have accompanied him to England, Dicul and Maeldubh. Dicul went on to evangelise the South Saxons, and founded a monastery at Bosham, near Chichester, with five or six monks. Later Wilfrid of Ripon, during his travels, discovered this small group of Celtic monks still keeping to their old ways in what by then was solidly Romanized territory. Maeldubh went to Wessex, and founded a monastery at Malmesbury, where St Aldhelm (639-709) is said to have studied for a time.

Though little seems to be known about the work of these small Celtic groups in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, their existence does suggest that there was a significant movement of evangelising from Ireland into England in the early seventh century, and that the Roman clergy in England may have encountered Celtic monks quite early in their own mission.

The name of 'Fursa' is a translation of the old irish words 'model of virtue'.

******************************

Memorable Proverb for today

To live a life of virtue,
one must match up your thoughts, words, and deeds.

~ Epictetus ~

**********************************

Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 16th January, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an céad leabhar Samúéil 8: 4-7, 10-22
Glaofaidh sibh amach os ard mar gheall ar an rí a thoghfaidh sibh daoibh féin, ach ní éisteoidh an Tiarna libh an lá sin.”

Chruinnigh seanóirí uile Iosrael i gceann a chéile agus tháinig siad go dtí Samúéil i Rámá. “Féach,” ar siad leis, “tá tusa sean, agus ní leanann do chlann mhac i do choiscéimeanna. Déan rí a cheapadh dúinn chun sinn a rialú ar nós na gciníocha go léir.”
Níor thaitin sé le Samúéil go ndúirt siad:“Tabhair rí dúinn chun sinn a rialú,” agus ghuigh sé chun an Tiarna.
Ach dúirt an Tiarna le Samúéil: “Tabhair aird ar ghlór na ndaoine agus ar a ndeir siad leat. Óir ní duitse a dhiúltaigh siad, ach domsa a bheith i mo rí orthu.

D’inis Samúéil a raibh ráite ag an Tiarna do na daoine a bhí ag iarraidh rí air. Dúirt sé:
“Seo iad na bealaí a bheidh ag an té a bheidh ina rí oraibh:
tógfaidh sé bhur gclann mhac agus
ceapfaidh sé iad mar charbadóirí agus mar mharcshlua aige féin, agus
ceapfaidh sé iad le rith os comhair a charbaid amach.
Ceapfaidh sé taoisigh míle, agus taoisigh leathchéad, agus cuirfidh sé cuid díobh a threabhadh a chuid gort agus a bhaint a fhómhair, a dhéanamh a threalamh cogaidh agus trealamh a charbad.
Tógfaidh sé bhur n-iníonacha le bheith ina gcumhránaithe agus ina gcócairí, agus ina mbáicéirí.
Tógfaidh sé togha bhur ngort agus bhur bhfíonghort agus bhur ngort ológ, agus tabharfaidh sé dá sheirbhísigh iad. Tógfaidh sé deachú de bhur ngrán agus de bhur bhfíonghoirt agus tabharfaidh sé í dá mhaoir agus dá oifigigh. Tógfaidh sé bhur searbhóntaí fear agus ban, agus togha bhur n-eallaigh agus bhur n-asal, agus cuirfidh sé i mbun oibre dó féin iad.
Tógfaidh sé deachú de bhur gcaoirigh agus beidh sibhse in bhur ndaoir aige.
An lá sin glaofaidh sibh amach os ard mar gheall ar an rí a thoghfaidh sibh daoibh féin,
ach ní éisteoidh an Tiarna libh an lá sin.”

Ach dhiúltaigh an pobal aon aird a thabhairt ar a raibh á rá ag Samúéil, agus dúirt siad:
“Ní hea! Teastaíonn uainn rí a bheith orainn, i dtreo go mbeimidne cosúil leis na ciníocha eile go léir agus go mbeidh ár rí dár rialú agus ina thaoiseach orainn ag troid ár gcathanna dúinn.”
D’éist Samúéil lena raibh le rá ag an bpobal agus d’aithris sé i gcluasa an Tiarna é.
Agus dúirt an Tiarna le Samúéil: “Tabhair aird ar a nglór agus dean rí a cheapadh dóibh.”

Briathar an Tiarna                Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra                Sm 88: 16-19 R/v 2
Freagra Canfaidh mé de shíor faoi do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna.

Is aoibhinn don phobal arb eol dóibh an gháir áthais; siúlann siad faoi sholas do ghnúise, a Thiarna.
Déanann siad gairdeas i d’ainm feadh an lae; agus déantar a móradh as ucht d’fhíréantachta. Freagra

Is tú, a Thiarna, dealramh a gcumhachta; agus is trí do chaoinchineáltas a ardaítear ár neart.
Óir is é an Tiarna is sciath dár gcosaint; agus is é Neach Naofa Iosrael is rí orainn.                      Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.                 Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas      2: 1-12
Tá údarás ag Mac an Duine ar an talamh peacaí a mhaitheamh.

Roinnt laethanta ina dhiaidh sin, ar theacht ar ais go Cafarnáum d’Íosa, fuarthas fios go raibh sé sa teach, agus bhí an oiread sin daoine cruinnithe ann nach raibh slí ann fiú amháin timpeall an dorais, agus bhí sé ag labhairt an bhriathair leo. Tháinig daoine ag tabhairt pairilisigh chuige ar iompar idir ceathrar. Nuair nárbh fhéidir leo teacht ina ghar mar gheall ar an slua, nocht siad an díon os a chionn, agus tar éis dóibh poll a dhéanamh, lig siad síos an tsráideog a raibh an pairiliseach ina luí inti. Nuair a chonaic Íosa an creideamh a bhí acu, dúirt sé leis an bpairiliseach: “A mhic, tá do pheacaí maite.”
Bhí cuid de na scríobhaithe ina suí ansiúd ag smaoineamh ina gcroí:
“Cad a bheir dó seo labhairt mar sin? Is diamhasla dó é.
Cé fhéadann peacaí a mhaitheamh ach amháin Dia?”

Ach thuig Íosa láithreach ina spiorad go raibh an smaoineamh sin ina n-aigne agus dúirt sé leo:
“Cad a bheir na smaointe sin in bhur gcroí? Cé acu is fusa, a rá leis an bpairiliseach: ‘Tá do pheacaí maite,’ nó a rá: ‘Éirigh, tóg do shráideog, agus siúil’? Ach chun go mbeadh a fhios agaibh go bhfuil údarás ag Mac an Duine ar an talamh peacaí a mhaitheamh” – dúirt sé leis an bpairiliseach:
Deirim leat, éirigh, tóg do shráideog agus gabh abhaile.”
D’éirigh seisean agus thóg an tsráideog láithreach, agus d’imigh amach os comhair cách, ionas go raibh alltacht orthu uile agus gur thug siad glóir do Dhia á rá: “Ní fhacamar a leithéid seo riamh.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna.                Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th January, 2026

-18-1-2026-

Second Sunday in Ordinary time

This week choices are the key; for Jesus; the Spirit, for Paul: apostleship,
for us: baptism. All are called to holiness and witness.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 49:3.5-6
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The Lord said to me,
'You are my servant Israel in whom I shall be glorified'; GOD IS LIGHT

I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength.
And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him:

'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm Ps 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Response Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

1. I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God. Response

2. You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim Instead, here am I. Response

3. In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will.
My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart. Response

4. Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:1-3
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!

or Jn 1: 14. 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 1:29-34 Glory to you, O Lord
Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.'

John also declared,
'I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit."

Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.'

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/

The scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
______________

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th January, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia 49:3.5-6
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha, chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.

Dúirt an Tiarna liom,
“Is tú mo ghiolla Iosrael trína saothróidh mé glóir dom féin.”
Bhí maise orm i súile an Tiarna, ba é mo Dhia mo neart. light-of-the-ntions

Agus anois tá an Tiarna tar éis labhairt,
an té a dhealbhaigh mé ón mbroinn i leith i mo ghiolla dó,
le go mbailínn Iacób ar ais chuige,
le go gcruinnínn Iosrael le chéile dó:

“Is fánach an mhaise duit a bheith i do ghiolla agam
chun treibheanna Iacóib amháin a thabhairt chucu féin,
chun ar slánaíodh d’Iosrael a thabhairt ar ais.
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha,chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.”

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra   Sm 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Freagra Féach, táim ag teacht, a Thiarna, chun do thoil a dhéanamh

1. Bhí dóchas agam, bhí dóchas agam sa Tiarna, agus chlaon sé a chluas chugam
agus d'éist le m'éamh.
Chuir sé amhrán nua i mo bhéal, amhrán molta dár nDia.          Freagra

2. Íobairt ná ofráil níor thoil leat ach d'oscail tú cluasa dom.
loseadh níor theastaigh uait, ná íobairt in éiric an pheaca.
Ansin dúirt mé: 'Féach, táim ag teacht.' Freagra

3. 'I rolla an leabhair tá scríofa i mo thaobh: is ail liom do thoil a dhéanamh, a Dhia,
agus tá do dhlí go domhain i mo chroí.' Freagra

4. D'fhoilsigh mé d'fhíréantaeht sa mhórdhail. Feach, níor chuir mé cosc le mo bheola:
is eol duitse é, a Thiarna. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh   1:1-3
An té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.

Mise Pól, a bhfuil glaoite air de dheoin Dé chun bheith ina aspal ag Íosa Críost, agus an bráthair Sóstainéas in éineacht liom, chuig eaglais Dé i gCorant, chucu sin atá coisricthe in Íosa Críost agus a bhfuil glaoite ina naoimh orthu mar aon leis an uile dhuine a ghlaonn i ngach áit ar ainm ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, an té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Alleluia Véarsa Eoin: 1:14. 12
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh.
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 1:29-34 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain.

San am sin chonaic Eoin Íosa ag teacht chuige agus dúirt sé:

“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain. Eisean an té a ndúirt mé faoi:
‘Tá duine ag teacht i mo dhiaidh a bhfuil tosach aige orm, mar bhí sé ann romham.’ Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach is chun, go nochtfaí d’Iosrael é a tháinig mé ag baisteadh le huisce.”

Agus thug Eoin fianaise:
“Chonaic mé,” ar sé, “an Spiorad, mar cholm, ag tuirlingt air ó na flaithis agus ag fanacht air. Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach an té a sheol mé ag baisteadh le huisce, dúirt seisean liom:

‘An té ar a bhfeicfidh tú an Spiorad ag tuirlingt agus ag fanacht air, eisean an té a bhaisteann leis an Spiorad Naomh.’ Chonaic mé agus is finné mé gurb é seo Mac Dé.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

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Pictorial Thought for Today

Jan 16 - St Fursa (d. 650) abbot, missionary