Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 7 - St John of Beverley (died 721)
Summary: St John of Beverley; Beverley is a market town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, just north of Hull. It was recently named as the best place to live in Britain in a study by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
It has an impressive Minster that owes its origin to St John of Beverley, a holy man and monk and bishop whose bones lie under a plaque in the nave of the church.
Patrick Duffy tells John's story.
Early Life
John was born of noble parents at Harpham, Humberside. He studied under St Adrian at Canterbury (died 710 - see 9th January) and then became a monk at St Hilda's double monastery at Whitby. About 687 he was made bishop of Hexham. He was a mentor to St Bede the Venerable and ordained him deacon (692) and priest (703).
More Holy Man Than Bishop
John was more of a holy man and monk than bishop or administrator. He liked to withdraw to solitude across the Tyne, especially during Lent and he would take with him some poor person whom he would serve and care for.
Miracles of Speech Therapy and Healing
Once in the beginning of a Lent, he took with him a dumb youth, whose head was covered with hideous scabs and scales, without any hair. The saint had a cottage built for the sick boy within his enclosure, and often admitted him into his own cell. He carried out a kind of speech therapy getting the boy to repeat simple sounds after him, gradually building up into words and sentences until the boy was able to express his thoughts for the first time. John also prayed that the remedies applied to the boy's head would heal him, which they did and he began to grow hair (Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book V).
Archbishop of York and Retirement
In 705 John was translated to York and Wilfrid succeeded him at Hexham as a settlement of his dispute with the Northumbrian kings. As bishop of York he founded the monastery at Beverley and retired there in 717, four years before his death.
Memory and Cult
The cure of the dumb boy is just one of many miracles recorded by Bede about John. Others to write about or honour him were: Alcuin (735-804), King Athelstan (895-939), Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), King Henry V (1387-1422) and St John Fisher (1469-1535). John's cult became very popular in the north of England and his shrine at Beverley was a place of sanctuary throughout the Middle Ages.
It has an impressive Minster that owes its origin to St John of Beverley, a holy man and monk and bishop whose bones lie under a plaque in the nave of the church.
Patrick Duffy tells John's story.
Early Life
John was born of noble parents at Harpham, Humberside. He studied under St Adrian at Canterbury (died 710 - see 9th January) and then became a monk at St Hilda's double monastery at Whitby. About 687 he was made bishop of Hexham. He was a mentor to St Bede the Venerable and ordained him deacon (692) and priest (703).More Holy Man Than Bishop
John was more of a holy man and monk than bishop or administrator. He liked to withdraw to solitude across the Tyne, especially during Lent and he would take with him some poor person whom he would serve and care for.
Miracles of Speech Therapy and Healing
Once in the beginning of a Lent, he took with him a dumb youth, whose head was covered with hideous scabs and scales, without any hair. The saint had a cottage built for the sick boy within his enclosure, and often admitted him into his own cell. He carried out a kind of speech therapy getting the boy to repeat simple sounds after him, gradually building up into words and sentences until the boy was able to express his thoughts for the first time. John also prayed that the remedies applied to the boy's head would heal him, which they did and he began to grow hair (Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book V).
Archbishop of York and Retirement
In 705 John was translated to York and Wilfrid succeeded him at Hexham as a settlement of his dispute with the Northumbrian kings. As bishop of York he founded the monastery at Beverley and retired there in 717, four years before his death.
Memory and Cult
The cure of the dumb boy is just one of many miracles recorded by Bede about John. Others to write about or honour him were: Alcuin (735-804), King Athelstan (895-939), Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), King Henry V (1387-1422) and St John Fisher (1469-1535). John's cult became very popular in the north of England and his shrine at Beverley was a place of sanctuary throughout the Middle Ages.
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Memorable Saying for Today
When God doesn't grant your miracle,
Remember that you are the miracle he sent for someone else
~ Nick Vudicic~
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 7th May, 2026
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Jesus loves the disciples with the same gift of love as the Father has for Jesus.
FIRST READING Acts of the Apostles 15:7-21
I rule that we do not make it more difficult for pagans who turn to God.
After the discussion had gone on a long time, Peter stood up and addressed them.
'My brothers,' he said 'you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact God, who can read everyone's heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. It would only provoke God's anger now, surely, if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support? Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.'
This silenced the entire assembly, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and
wonders God had worked through them among the pagans. When they had finished it was James who spoke. 'My brothers,' he said 'listen to me. Simon has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the pagans. This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the scriptures say: 'After that I shall return and rebuild the fallen House of David; I shall rebuild it from its ruins and restore it. Then the rest of mankind, all the pagans who are consecrated to my name, will look for the Lord,'
says the Lord who made this known so long ago.
'I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95: 1-3. 10. R/.3
Response Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
Or Alleluia!
1. O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Response
2. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples. Response
3. Proclaim to the nations: 'God is king.' The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness. Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ has risen: he who created all things, and has granted his mercy to men.
Alleluia!
or Jn 10:27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord;
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew John 15:9-11 Glory to you, O Lord
Remain in my love and let your joy be complete.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Thursday, Fifth Week of Easter John 15:9-11
In today’s first reading Peter argues that the church, which was composed of Jews almost exclusively, should not make things more difficult for pagans who want to join the church than is necessary, by insisting they submit to the Jewish practice of circumcision. Peter seems to be touching on a good pastoral principal, namely, not to make it more difficult for people to come to the Lord than is necessary. The Lord is always drawing people to himself, sometimes in ways that may surprise us. Peter suggests that we must be careful not to get in the way of the Lord’s work of drawing people to himself by imposing conditions that the Lord himself would not impose. Very often, the best thing we can do is to get out of the Lord’s way and let the Lord work. People’s journey to faith is ultimately the Lord’s work. The Lord is always engaged in his work of drawing people to himself.
He wants to work through us but we have to be careful that we don’t become a hindrance to him rather than a help by complicating the Lord’s work. In the gospel reading, Jesus suggests that we serve his work best by remaining in his love, opening ourselves to the gift of his love, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you’. If we open ourselves to the Lord’s love we will begin to experience the Lord’s own joy, ‘I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete’. When we open ourselves to the Lord’s love and his joy fills our lives, then the Lord will be able to work through us more freely so as to draw others to himself.
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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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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 7th May, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 15:7-21
Is é mo bhreithiúnas-sa, gan aon chur isteach a dhéanamh ar na págánaigh atá ag iompú chun Dé.
Tar éis conspóide fada d’éirigh Peadar inasheasamh agus labhair sé leo:
“A bhráithre,” ar seisean, “tá a fhios agaibh féin go ndearna Dia rogha eadrainn i bhfad ó shin gur ó mo bhéalsa a chloisfeadh na págánaigh teachtaireacht an dea-scéil agus go gcreidfidís ann. Agus an Dia a léann croí an duine chuaigh sé i mbannaí ar na págánaigh nuair a bhronn sé orthu an Spiorad Naomh faoi mar a bhronn sé orainne é. Ní dhearna sé dealú ar bith idir sinne agus iad ach a gcroí a ghlanadh de bharr a gcreidimh. Más ea, cad ab áil libhse bheith ag tabhairt dúshláin faoi Dhia anois agus cuing a chur ar mhuineál na ndeisceabal nár fhéadamar féin ná ár sinsir a iompar? Ní hea go deimhin mar go gcreidimid gur trí ghrásta an Tiarna Íosa atá slánú le fáil againn agus acu sin mar an gcéanna.”
D’fhan an slua go léir ina dtost, agus d’éist siad le Barnabas agus le Pól ag cur síos ar na míorúiltí agus ar na héachtaí a bhí déanta tríothu ag Dia i measc na bpágánach.
Agus nuair a bhí deireadh ráite acu d’fhreagair Séamas agus dúirt:
“A bhráithre, éistigí liomsa. D’aithris Síomón daoibh mar a dheonaigh Dia don chéad uair pobal a bhailiú dó féin i measc na bpágánach. Is beart é sin a thagann le briathra na bhfáithe mar atá scríofa: ‘Tiocfaidh mé ar ais ina dhiaidh sin, agus atógfaidh mé both Dháiví atá ar lár.
Deiseoidh mé a fothracha agus cuirfidh mé ina seasamh arís í.
Ansin beidh na daoine eile go léir ag lorg an Tiarna agus na náisiúin uile arb é m’ainmse atá orthu.' Is é an Tiarna atá á rá seo, 'agus tá eolas orthu le fada an lá.’
“Is é mo bhreithiúnas-sa, dá bhrí sin, gan aon chur isteach a dhéanamh ar na págánaigh atá ag iompú chun Dé ach litir a chur chucu a rá leo staonadh ón mbia a thruaillítear ag na híola, agus ón bpósadh coil agus ó fheoil na n-ainmhithe a tachtadh agus ón bhfuil. Mar tá Maois á léamh sna sionagóga gach lá sabóide.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 95: 1-3. 10. R/.3
Freagra Insígí éachtaí an Tiarnai measc na náisiún.
Malairt le freagra Alleluia!
1. Canaigí amhrán úr don Tiarna; canaigí don Tiarna,a thíortha go léir.
Canaigí don Tiarna agus molaigí a ainm. Freagra
2. Fógraígí a shlánú ó lá go lá. Insígí a ghlóir i measc na gciníocha;
agus a éachtaí i measc na náisiún. Freagra
3. Fógraígí do na ciníocha: “Tá an Tiarna ina Rí.” shocraigh sé an domhan go daingean dochorraithe;
tabharfaidh sé breith chóir chothrom ar na náisiúin. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 15:9-11 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Fanaigí i mo ghrá agus go mbeadh bhur lúcháir-sé iomlán.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
'Faoi mar a thug an tAthair grá domsa, thug mise grá daoibhse chomh maith. Fanaigí i mo ghrá. Má choinníonn sibh m’aitheanta, fanfaidh sibh i mo ghrá, faoi mar a choinnigh mise aitheanta m’Athar, agus a fhanaim ina ghrá.
Dúirt mé na nithe seo libh chun go mbeadh mo lúcháir-sé ionaibh
agus go mbeadh bhur lúcháir-sé iomlán.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 10th May, 2026
Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A
Through baptism and confirmation we have all been given share in the life of God's Holy Spirit
which convinces us of the meaning of our Christian way
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8. 14-17
They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there, and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 65: 1-7. 16. 20. R/v 1
Response Cry out with joy to God all the earth.
Or Alleluia!
1. Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise. Say to God: 'How tremendous your deeds' Response
2. 'Before you all the earth shall bow; shall sing to you, sing to your name!'
Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among men. Response
3. He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him; he rules for ever by his might. Response
4. Come and hear, all who fear God. I will tell what he did for my soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer nor withhold his love from me. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 3:15-18
In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.
Reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience, so that those who slander you when you are living a good life in Christ may be proved wrong in the accusations that they bring.
And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong. Why, Christ himself, innocent though he was, had died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Jesus said:
'If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to John 14:15-21 Glory to you, O Lord
I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever, that Spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you.
In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O 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, 1967 and 1968 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, 10th May, 2026
An Séú Domnach den Cháisc
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 8:5-8. 14-17
Leag siad a lámha orthu agus fuair siad an Spiorad Naomh
Chuaigh Pilib go dtí cathair na Samáire agus thosaigh ag craobhscaoileadh dóibh i dtaobh Chríost. Thug na sluaite cluas ghéar dá raibh le rá ag Pilib mar ní hea amháin gur chuala siad a chuid cainte ach chonaic siad chomh maith na míorúiltí a bhí aige á ndéanamh. Mórán a raibh deamhain mhíghlana iontu, tháinig na deamhain amach astu agus iad ag screadadh de ghlór ard; agus leigheasadh mórán pairiliseach agus bacach, sa tslí go raibh áthas mór sa chathair sin.Nuair a chuala na haspail a bhí in Iarúsailéim go raibh an tSamáir tar éis glacadh le briathar Dé, sheol siad chucu Peadar agus Eoin. Ar theacht dóibhsean chucu, rinne siad guí ar a son go bhfaighidís an Spiorad Naomh, mar ní raibh an Spiorad tagtha fós ar dhuine ar bith acu mar ní raibh siad ach baiste in ainm an Tiarna Íosa. Ansin leag Peadar agus Eoin a lámha orthu agus fuair siad an Spiorad Naomh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 65: 1-7. 16. 20. R/v 1
Freagra Déanaigí gairdeas do Dhia, a thíortha uile.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia
1. Déanaigí gairdeas do Dhia, a thíortha uile canaigí clú a ainm.
Tugaigí moladh mórghlórach dó. Abraigí le Dia: 'Nach éachtach iad d'oibreacha.' Freagra
2. Adhrann an talamh uile thú, canann sí duit, canann sí do d'ainm.
Tagaigí agus féachaigí oibreacha Dé, na héachtaí a rinne sé i measc na ndaoine. Freagra
3. Chlaochlaigh sé an mhuir ina talamh thirim; chuathas de chois thar an abhainn.
Dá bhrí sin déanaimis lúcháir! Rialaíonn sé lena chumhacht go síoraí. Freagra
4. Sibhse uile ar a bhfuil eagla Dé, tagaigí, éistigí, is inseoidh mé daoibh faoina ndearna sé dom.
Go mba bheannaithe é Dianár thug an diúltú do mo ghuí,
is nár tharraing siar a bhuanghrá uaim. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 3:15-18
Básaíodh é sa cholainn, ach rinneadh beo é sa spiorad.
A clann ionúin, bíodh urraim in bhur gcroí istigh agaibh do Chríost mar Thiarna. Bígí réidh i gcónaí le cosaint a dhéanamh in aghaidh aon duine a iarrann oraibh bonn a thabhairt leis an dóchas atá ionaibh; ach déanaigí amhlaidh le cneastacht agus le hurraim, agus le coinsias glan, i dtreo, nuair a dhéantar tromaíocht oraibh go gcuirtear náire ar an muintir a dhéanann béadán ar bhur ndea-iompar i gCríost. Óir nach fearr fulaingt de chionn na maitheasa, más é toil Dé é, ná de chionn an oilc?
Óir fuair Críost bás an t-aon uair amháin i ngeall ar pheacaí, an fíréan thar ceann na neamhfhíréan, d’fhonn sinn a thabhairt i láthair Dé. Básaíodh é sa cholainn, ach rinneadh beo é sa spiorad.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 14:23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Má bhíonn grá ag duine dom, coinneoidh sé mo bhriathar,
agus beidh grá ag m'Athair dó, agus tiocfaimid chuige,' a deir an Tiarna.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:15-21 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Iarrfaidh mé ar m’Athair é, agus tabharfaidh sé Abhcóide eile daoibh
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
Má tá grá agaibh dom, coinneoidh sibh m’aitheanta.
Agus iarrfaidh mé ar m’Athair é, agus tabharfaidh sé Abhcóide eile
chun fanacht faraibh go deo – Spiorad na Fírinne,
nach féidir don saol a ghlacadh, mar ní fheiceann sé é ná ní aithníonn sé é. Ach aithníonn sibhse é mar fanann sé faraibh, agus beidh sé ionaibh. Ní fhágfaidh mé in bhur ndílleachtaí sibh; tiocfaidh mé ar ais chugaibh.
Tamall beag eile agus siúd é an saol agus gan radharc aige ormsa feasta; ach tá radharc agaibhse orm, óir táimse beo agus beidh sibhse beo chomh maith. An lá sin aithneoidh sibh go bhfuilimse i m’Athair, agus go bhfuil sibhse ionamsa, agus mise ionaibh.
An té a bhfuil m’aitheantasa aige agus a choinníonn iad, sin é an té a bhfuil grá aige dom.
An té a bhfuil grá aige dom, beidh grá ag m’Athair dó, agus beidh grá agam dó, agus taispeánfaidh mé mé féin dó.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
