Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Dec 20 - St Thorlac of Skalholt (1133-93) patron of Iceland
Summary: St Thorlac Thorhallson (1133-93), patron saint of Iceland, travelled to study at Paris, France, and Lincoln, England, before returning to Iceland to become bishop of Skalholt from 1178. He cared for the poor and needy.
Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
Christianised from an Early Date
Iceland was Christianised from a relatively early date and may have been a staging post for the bringing of Christianity via Greenland to Viking colonies on the eastern shores of North America many centuries before Columbus and the Spanish missionaries reached it at a more southerly point. There is also evidence of some influence from Irish monks. The first diocese, Skalholt, was established in 1056, and the second, Holar, in 1102. In 1152 both were made suffragan bishoprics of Trondheim in Norway (as were the Western Isles of Scotland and the Isle of Man).
Thorlac, Bishop of Skalholt
Thorlac came from a poor family but with aristocratic connections. He was ordained a deacon before he was fifteen and a priest at eighteen. He studied at Paris and at Lincoln for about six years. He may also have visited London. Returning to Iceland in 1161, Thorlac surprised his friends by refusing to marry a rich widow (many other Icelandic priests were married). Instead he founded a monastery of Augustinian canons at Þykkvibær, where he devoted himself to a strictly religious life. In 1178 he was consecrated bishop of Skalholt by Augustine of Nidaros and worked to regulate the Augustinian Rule in Iceland.
Care of the Poor
He was more popular with the people than he was with the chieftains; he cared for the poor and needy and was firm and patient in administering justice. He also strove, not always successfully, to eradicate simony, lay patronage in the appointment of priests and the consecration of churches, and clerical marriage.
Death and Influence
Thorlac died on 23rd December 1193. Five years after his death, the Althing - a mixture of a parliament and church synod - proclaimed him a saint. In 1984 Pope John Paul II confirmed this and declared him patron of Iceland.
Þorláksmessa (St. Thorlac's Day)
Þorláksmessa (Thorlac's Mass) is celebrated on the date of his death, December 23. It is considered the last day of preparations before Christmas. Therefore, on St. Thorlac's Day, the house is cleaned and preparations for the Christmas meal are begun.
Most people in Reykjavík go into town in the night to meet others and do the last shopping before Christmas. Fish is usually eaten on Þorláksmessa since December 23 is the last day of the Catholic Christmas fast.
(In western Iceland, it is customary to eat cured skate on this day; this custom spread to the whole of Iceland. The skate is usually served with boiled or mashed potatoes, accompanied by a shot of Brennivín, the Icelandic schnapps.)
~Mehmet Murat Ildan~
Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
Christianised from an Early Date
Iceland was Christianised from a relatively early date and may have been a staging post for the bringing of Christianity via Greenland to Viking colonies on the eastern shores of North America many centuries before Columbus and the Spanish missionaries reached it at a more southerly point. There is also evidence of some influence from Irish monks. The first diocese, Skalholt, was established in 1056, and the second, Holar, in 1102. In 1152 both were made suffragan bishoprics of Trondheim in Norway (as were the Western Isles of Scotland and the Isle of Man).Thorlac, Bishop of Skalholt
Thorlac came from a poor family but with aristocratic connections. He was ordained a deacon before he was fifteen and a priest at eighteen. He studied at Paris and at Lincoln for about six years. He may also have visited London. Returning to Iceland in 1161, Thorlac surprised his friends by refusing to marry a rich widow (many other Icelandic priests were married). Instead he founded a monastery of Augustinian canons at Þykkvibær, where he devoted himself to a strictly religious life. In 1178 he was consecrated bishop of Skalholt by Augustine of Nidaros and worked to regulate the Augustinian Rule in Iceland.
Care of the Poor
He was more popular with the people than he was with the chieftains; he cared for the poor and needy and was firm and patient in administering justice. He also strove, not always successfully, to eradicate simony, lay patronage in the appointment of priests and the consecration of churches, and clerical marriage.
Death and Influence
Thorlac died on 23rd December 1193. Five years after his death, the Althing - a mixture of a parliament and church synod - proclaimed him a saint. In 1984 Pope John Paul II confirmed this and declared him patron of Iceland.
Þorláksmessa (St. Thorlac's Day)
Þorláksmessa (Thorlac's Mass) is celebrated on the date of his death, December 23. It is considered the last day of preparations before Christmas. Therefore, on St. Thorlac's Day, the house is cleaned and preparations for the Christmas meal are begun.
Most people in Reykjavík go into town in the night to meet others and do the last shopping before Christmas. Fish is usually eaten on Þorláksmessa since December 23 is the last day of the Catholic Christmas fast.
(In western Iceland, it is customary to eat cured skate on this day; this custom spread to the whole of Iceland. The skate is usually served with boiled or mashed potatoes, accompanied by a shot of Brennivín, the Icelandic schnapps.)
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Memorable Quote of the Day
The day you start giving importance
to the life of even a little fly,
you turn into a holy man!
~Mehmet Murat Ildan~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 20th December, 2025
12-20: Day 5; Octave Days before Christmas -(O Clavis David- Key of David)
We are all called to follow Mary's example in welcoming the Lord.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14
The maiden is with child.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz again and said: Ask the Lord your God for a sign, either in the depths of Sheol or in the heights above
But Ahaz said, 'No', I will not put the Lord to the test.
Then Isaiah said:
Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying human patience without trying
the patience of God' too? The Lord himself will give you a sign in any case:
It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call
'Emmanuel', - a name which means "God with us".
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-6. Rv 7. 10-14.
Response Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory
1.The Lord's is the earth and its fulness, the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas: on the waters he made it firm Response
2. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart who desires not worthless things. Response
3. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him seek the face of the God of Jacob Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, come and save us, Lord our God.
Alleluia!
or
Alleluia, alleluia!
Key of David, who open the gates of the eternal kingdom,
Come to liberate from prison the captive who lives in darkness.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1: 26-38 Glory to you, O Lord.
Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her,
‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’
She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her,
‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour.
Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’
Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?'
‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered, ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God
‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’
And the angel left her.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection 20 December Advent Octave Luke 1:26-38
As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus, today’s gospel reading reminds us that prior to the moment of birth there was a moment of consent. Mary consented to God’s request through Gabriel that she would become the mother of God’s Son, ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me’. Because of her consent, God could send his Son into the world for all humanity, for all of us gathered here today. Mary’s consent had the most significant consequences for us all. Our own ‘yes’ to God’s purpose for our lives,
God’s call to us, will always have consequences for the lives of others. Our consent to God’s call creates a space for God to touch the lives of others. Mary was unique in being the mother of Jesus, God’s Son. However, the pattern of her consent creating an opening for the Lord to come to others is one that can apply to us all.
We all will have our own annunciation moments, when the Lord calls us to take a certain path, perhaps through the mediation of some messenger, a Gabriel figure. Like Mary, we can hesitate before the call initially, wondering what it could mean for us, asking questions that trouble us. If, like her, we can eventually give ourselves over to God’s call to us, God’s desire for our lives, then the lives of others will be blessed and graced because of us. Our faithful response to the Lord will help others to come to faith or, if they are already people of faith, help them to remain faithful. Mary brought the Lord to us and made it possible for us to meet the Lord. We all have a role to play in bringing the Lord to others and in making it possible for others to meet the Lord
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from Fr Martin Hogan's book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is Near to You, on your lips and in your heart published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 20th December, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia, fáidh.
Labhair an Tiarna le hÁchaz arís agus dúirt:
“Iarr comhartha duit féin ar anTiarna do Dhia, as duibheagáin Sheól aníos nó thuas in arda na spéartha.”
D’fhreagair Áchaz:
“Ní iarrfaidh, níl mé chun dúshlán an Tiarna a thabhairt.”Ansin dúirt Íseáia
“Éistigí mar sin, a theaghlach Dháiví,an é nach beag daoibh sárú ar dhaoine
go gcaithfidh sibh mo Dhia a shárú ina theannta sin?
Is é an Tiarna féin mar sin a thabharfaidh comhartha daoibh.
Seo, tá an ógbhean ag iomparagus ar tí mac a shaolú,
agus tabharfaidh sí Ímeánuéil mar ainm air.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás, 1:26-38 Glóir duit a Thiarna.
Sa séú mí, cuireadh an t-aingeal Gaibriéil ó Dhia go dtí cathair sa Ghailíl darbh ainm Nazarat chun maighdine
a bhí luaite le fear de theaghlach Dháiví darbh ainm Iósaef, agus b’é ab ainm don mhaighdean, Muire.
Agus ar a theacht isteach chuici dúirt:
“Sé do bheatha, atá lán de ghrásta, tá an Tiarna leat; is beannaithe tú idir mná.”
Ach bhí buaireamh uirthi de chionn na cainte, agus bhí sí ag machnamh cén sort beannachadh é seo.
Ach dúirt an t-aingeal léi:
“Ná bíodh eagla ort, a Mhuire, óir fuair tú gean ó Dhia. Agus féach, gabhfaidh tú gin agus béarfaidh tú mac agus tabharfaidh tú Íosa mar ainm air.
Beidh sé mór, agus glaofar Mac an Té is airde air, agus tabharfaidh an Tiarna Dia
dó ríchathaoir Dháiví a athair, agus beidh sé ina Rí ar theaghlach Iacóib go brách, agus
ní bheidh deireadh lena ríocht.”
Dúirt Muire leis an aingeal: “Conas a bheidh seo amhlaidh, agus gan cuid agam d’fhear chéile?”
Agus dúirt an t-aingeal á freagairt:
“Tuirlingeoidh an Spiorad Naomh ort, agus beidh cumhacht an té is airde ina scáil anuas ort, agus sin é an fáth a mbeidh an leanbh naofa; glaofar Mac Dé air.
Agus féach, Eiliosaibeit do bhean ghaoil, ghabh sise mac freisin ina seanaois, agus is é seo an séú mí aici siúd a dúradh a bheith aimrid. Óir níl ní ar bith dodhéanta ag Dia.”
Dúirt Muire: “Féach, mise banóglach an Tiarna; déantar liom de réir d’fhocail.”
Agus d’imigh an t-aingeal uaithi.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 21st December, 2025
- 21-12-2025 -
Fourth Sunday of Advent - O Oriens
Our attention this final Week of Advent is directed fully to the coming of Christ in the Christmas mystery.
The Preface calls us to wonder at this great happening, to prepare for Christmas in prayer and praise.
he psalm tells us to purify our hearts, prayer and reconciliation are the tools for these days.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14
The maiden is with child.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said,
'Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above'.
'No,' Ahaz answered 'I will not put the Lord to the test.'
Then Isaiah said:
Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call 'Emmanuel, ' a name which means “God is with us.”
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-6 R/v. 7. 10
Response Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
1. The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Response
2. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things. Response
3. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 1:1-7
Jesus Christ, descendant of David, Son of God.
From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant
of David:it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead.
Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ.
To you all, then, who are God's beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 1:23
Alleluia, alleluia!
'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him
Emmanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'.
Alleluia
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-24 Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus is born of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.'
Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him 'Emmanuel,' a name which means 'God-is-with-us'.
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
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, 21st December, 2025
-21-12- 2025-
AN CEATHRÚ DOMNACH DEN AIDBHINT, Blian A
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia 7:10-14
Ta an óghbhean ag iompar.
Labhair an Tiarna le hÁchaz arís agus dúirt: “Iarr comhartha duit féin ar an Tiarna do Dhia, as duibheagáin Sheól aníos nó thuas in arda na spéartha.”
D’fhreagair Áchaz: “Ní iarrfaidh, níl mé chun dúshlán an Tiarna a thabhairt.”
Ansin dúirt sé:
“Éistigí mar sin, a theaghlach Dháiví, an é nach beag daoibh sárú ar dhaoinego gcaithfidh sibh mo Dhia a shárú ina theannta sin?
Is é an Tiarna féin mar sin a thabharfaidh comhartha daoibh.
Seo, tá an ógbhean ag iompar agus ar tí mac a shaolú,
agus tabharfaidh sí Ímeánuéil mar ainm air. is é sin, “Tá Dia-linn.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 23:1-6 R/v. 7. 10
Freagra Tagadh an Tiarna isteach! Is e Rí na glóire é.
I. Leis an Tiarna an chruinne agus a bhfuil inti: an domhan go léir agus a maireann ann.
Is é féin a bhunaigh ar an aigéan é, agus a dhaingnigh ar an bhfarraige íochtarach é. Freagra
2. Cé a rachaidh suas ar chnoc an Tiarna? Cé a bheidh ina sheasamh ar a láthair naofa?
An té a bhfuil lámha gan smál agus croí glan aige, an té ar beag air nithe gan tairbhe. Freagra
3. Beidh beannacht an Tiarna ar an té sin agus luach saothair ó Dhia a shlánaitheoir.
A leithéid siúd a bhíonn á lorg, a bhíonn ar thóir Dhia Iácób. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 1:1-7
Íosa Críost, de shliocht Dháivi, Mac Dé.
Mise Pól, searbhónta Íosa Críost, a bhfuil glaoite air chun bheith ina aspal atá dealaithe amach chun dea-scéal Dé. An dea-scéal seo, a gheall Dia roimh ré trína chuid fáithe sna scríbhinní naofa,
is faoina Mhac féin é, ár dTiarna Íosa Críost. Rugadh eisean sa mhéid gur duine é de shliocht Dháiví: ach sa mhéid gur spiorad na naofachta é tá sé oirnithe i gcumhacht mar Mhac do Dhia ó aiséirí dó ó mhairbh. Is trídsean a fuair mise grásta an aspail chun géillsine an chreidimh a leathadh ar son a ainm i measc na náisiún uile. Orthusan chomh maith tá sibhse a bhfuil glaoite oraibh chun bheith ina sheilbh ag Íosa Críost. Chugaibhse go léir sa Róimh, más ea, a bhfuil grá ag Dia daoibh agus a bhfuil glaoite oraibh chun bheith in bhur bpobal naofa aige, guím grásta agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón TiarnaÍosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia.
Alleluia! Mth 1:23
Alleluia, alleluia!
Beidh an mhaighdean torrach agus béarfaidh si mac agus bhéarfar
Emmanúél mar ainm air -ainm a chiallaionn 'Tá-Dia-linn'.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 1:18-24 Glóir duit a Thiarna.
Seasfaidh flaitheas Dháivi go daingean i la’thair an Tiarna.
Seo mar a tharla Íosa Críost a shaolú.
Bhí Muire, a mháthair, luaite le Iósaef, agus sula ndearnadar aontíos, fuarthas torrach í ón Spiorad Naomh. Dhuine cóir a fear céile Iósaef, ach níorbh áil leis go dtabharfaí míchlú di, agus chinn sé í a scaoileadh uaidh os íseal. Ag machnamh ar an méid sin dó, áfach, thaispeáin aingeal ón Tiarna é féin do I mbrionglóid agus dúirt:
“A Iósaef, a mhic Dháiví, ná bíodh eagla ort do bhean chéile Muire a thabhairt abhaile leat, óir, an leanbh atá gafa aici, is ón Spiorad Naomh é. Béarfaidh sí mac, agus tabharfaidh tú Íosa mar ainm air, óir slánóidh sé a phobal óna bpeacaí.”
Thit an méid sin go léir amach chun go gcomhlíonfaí a ndúirt an Tiarna tríd an bhfáidh:
“Beidh an mhaighdean torrach agus béarfaidh sí mac
agus tabharfar 'Imeánuéil' mar ainm air”– ainm a chiallaíonn:'Tá Dia linn.'
Dhúisigh Iósaef agus d’éirigh, agus rinne mar d’ordaigh aingeal an Tiarna dó: a bhean a thabhairt abhaile leis. Ach ní raibh cuid aige di nó gur rug sí mac, agus thug sé Íosa mar ainm air.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
