Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jun 8 - St William of York (d. 1154) archbishop
Summary : St William of York, the "on and off" archbishop of York twice in the period of England's history known as the Anarchy (1135-54), when the armies of two cousins - Stephen of Blois and Empress Matilda - were fighting for the monarchy. He is commemorated in both the crypt and one of the huge windows of the York Minster. (The image below left )- is taken from that window - shows William crossing over the Ouse bridge.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Political Football
William Fitzherbert had a turbulent ecclesiastical career. He became a political football between two factions squabbling for the throne of England during a period the 12th century known as the Anarchy (1135-54).
Context of the Anarchy
William's mother Emma was half-sister of Stephen of Blois, who claimed the throne of England after the death of Henry I in 1135, even though Henry had named his daughter, the Empress Matilda, (also Stephen’s first cousin) as his successor. Both contestants were grandchildren of William the Conqueror. The English barons and Pope Innocent II favoured Stephen, while the Normans - largely based in France, but also now in England - favoured Matilda.
Eventual outcome of the Anarchy
(Matilda had been married to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. He died and she later married Geoffrey of Anjou, by whom she had three sons, the eldest of whom eventually - 1154 - became Henry II of England).
First period as Archbishop (1143-47)
William was treasurer of York Minster when the archbishop died there in 1141. He had the majority of the chapter vote, along with Stephen’s support, in the election for archbishop. However, the archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald of Bec, a supporter of the claims of the Empress Matilda, refused to recognise William's election or to consecrate him. So Stephen's brother, Henry of Winchester, did so, without papal approval. The clergy of York, however, were quite happy with him, seeing him as kind-hearted, generous to the poor and personally austere.
Election Disputed and a rival Appointed
The disappointed minority in the election had supported the Cistercian abbot of Fountains, Henry Murdac. The Yorkshire Cistercians, with the help of Bernard of Clairvaux, accused William of simony, unchastity and intrusion, and appealed to the Pope.
Cistercian and Papal Interference
The papacy itself was in dispute at the time and when it was resolved, the new pope, a Cistercian, Eugenius III, suspended William, deposed him, and appointed Henry Murdac. But when Henry Murdac tried to take possession of the see, the clergy of York refused to admit him. So although he was nominally archbishop from 1147-53 he retired to Beverley.
William in Sicily and at Winchester
During this time, William first took refuge with his friend the King of Sicily. He later came back to England and went to Winchester where his uncle was bishop. Here he lived devoutly as a monk until 1153. By then the civil war was settled and Bernard of Clairvaux, Pope Eugenius and Henry Murdac had all died.
The Anarchy (1135-54)
In the meantime, battles were being waged on the ground as well as for the Pope's influence between Stephen and Matilda. In 1141, Matilda's forces defeated and captured Stephen at the battle of Lincoln. But Stephen escaped and Matilda eventually went back to France. Stephen remained as king but eventually at the Treaty of Wallingford (1153) he relinquished the kingdom to Matilda's son, the 20-year old Henry II.
William's re-installation as Archbishop
In 1153 when the war was over, a new pope, Anastasius IV, conferred the archbishop's pallium on William and he entered York in triumph in April 1154. So many people turned out to greet him that the bridge over the Ouse collapsed under their weight. The fact that no one was killed was seen as a miracle.
Death and Veneration
On Trinity Sunday, William was celebrating Mass when he was taken ill. His archdeacon Osbert was suspected of putting poison in his chalice, but this was never proved. He died on 8 June. Miracles took place at his tomb, and in 1227 he was canonised by Pope Honorius III.
His remains lie in a sarcophus under the altar in the western crypt of York Minster. A mosaic pavement, created by the students from York College of Art in 1980, represent the waters of the Ouse, recalling the miracle that accompanied his installation. The great 15th century north choir transept window in York Minster commemorates his life and the miracles attributed to him in 110 panels.
St William's College
William's feast day is 8th June and his veneration is largely local to York. St William's College, next to the Minster, is the home for chancery priests of the cathedral.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Political Football
William Fitzherbert had a turbulent ecclesiastical career. He became a political football between two factions squabbling for the throne of England during a period the 12th century known as the Anarchy (1135-54).Context of the Anarchy
William's mother Emma was half-sister of Stephen of Blois, who claimed the throne of England after the death of Henry I in 1135, even though Henry had named his daughter, the Empress Matilda, (also Stephen’s first cousin) as his successor. Both contestants were grandchildren of William the Conqueror. The English barons and Pope Innocent II favoured Stephen, while the Normans - largely based in France, but also now in England - favoured Matilda.
Eventual outcome of the Anarchy
(Matilda had been married to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. He died and she later married Geoffrey of Anjou, by whom she had three sons, the eldest of whom eventually - 1154 - became Henry II of England).
First period as Archbishop (1143-47)
William was treasurer of York Minster when the archbishop died there in 1141. He had the majority of the chapter vote, along with Stephen’s support, in the election for archbishop. However, the archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald of Bec, a supporter of the claims of the Empress Matilda, refused to recognise William's election or to consecrate him. So Stephen's brother, Henry of Winchester, did so, without papal approval. The clergy of York, however, were quite happy with him, seeing him as kind-hearted, generous to the poor and personally austere.
Election Disputed and a rival Appointed
The disappointed minority in the election had supported the Cistercian abbot of Fountains, Henry Murdac. The Yorkshire Cistercians, with the help of Bernard of Clairvaux, accused William of simony, unchastity and intrusion, and appealed to the Pope.
Cistercian and Papal Interference
The papacy itself was in dispute at the time and when it was resolved, the new pope, a Cistercian, Eugenius III, suspended William, deposed him, and appointed Henry Murdac. But when Henry Murdac tried to take possession of the see, the clergy of York refused to admit him. So although he was nominally archbishop from 1147-53 he retired to Beverley.
William in Sicily and at Winchester
During this time, William first took refuge with his friend the King of Sicily. He later came back to England and went to Winchester where his uncle was bishop. Here he lived devoutly as a monk until 1153. By then the civil war was settled and Bernard of Clairvaux, Pope Eugenius and Henry Murdac had all died.
The Anarchy (1135-54)
In the meantime, battles were being waged on the ground as well as for the Pope's influence between Stephen and Matilda. In 1141, Matilda's forces defeated and captured Stephen at the battle of Lincoln. But Stephen escaped and Matilda eventually went back to France. Stephen remained as king but eventually at the Treaty of Wallingford (1153) he relinquished the kingdom to Matilda's son, the 20-year old Henry II.
William's re-installation as Archbishop
In 1153 when the war was over, a new pope, Anastasius IV, conferred the archbishop's pallium on William and he entered York in triumph in April 1154. So many people turned out to greet him that the bridge over the Ouse collapsed under their weight. The fact that no one was killed was seen as a miracle.
Death and Veneration
On Trinity Sunday, William was celebrating Mass when he was taken ill. His archdeacon Osbert was suspected of putting poison in his chalice, but this was never proved. He died on 8 June. Miracles took place at his tomb, and in 1227 he was canonised by Pope Honorius III.
His remains lie in a sarcophus under the altar in the western crypt of York Minster. A mosaic pavement, created by the students from York College of Art in 1980, represent the waters of the Ouse, recalling the miracle that accompanied his installation. The great 15th century north choir transept window in York Minster commemorates his life and the miracles attributed to him in 110 panels.
St William's College
William's feast day is 8th June and his veneration is largely local to York. St William's College, next to the Minster, is the home for chancery priests of the cathedral.
____________________________
******************************
Memorable Saying for Today
When I pray, coincidences happen,
and when I don't, they don't.
~ William Temple ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 8th June, 2026
Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the first Book of Kings 17:1-6
Elijah served the Lord God of Israel.
Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab,
'As thee Lord lives, the God of Israel whom I serve,there shall be neither dew nor rain these years except at my order.'
The word of the Lord came to him,
'Go away from here, go eastwards, and hide yourself in the wadi Cherith which lies east of Jordan. You can drink from the stream, and I have ordered the ravens to bring you food there.'
He did as the Lord had said; he went and stayed in the wadi Cherith which lies east of Jordan. The ravens brought him bread in the morning and meat in the evening, and he quenched his thirst at the stream.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 120: 1-8 c/f R/v 2
Response Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
1. I lift up my eyes to the mountains: from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Response
2. May he never allow you to stumble! Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israel's guard. Response
3. The Lord is your guard and your shade; at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you nor the moon in the night. Response
4. The Lord will guard you from evil, he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming both now and for ever. Response
Gospel Acclamation 2 Thess 2: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News that we brought he called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Or Mt 5: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:1-12 Glory to you, O Lord
How happy are the poor in spirit.
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
'How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you. '
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
********************
Gospel Reflection Monday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 5:1-12
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus declares blessed or fortunate those who embrace a certain way of life. He is saying that those who live according to these values and attitudes are blessed not primarily because of their present situation but because of a future situation that will come about for them through the power and fidelity of God. Those who live according to these values are blessed because of the future that God has in store for them. In the present they may not seem blessed to others. How can it be said that those who mourn are fortunate or blessed? Jesus is saying that those who experience sadness because of the present state of the world and who, as a result, have a passionate commitment to justice, who hunger and thirst for what is right, and are prepared to be persecuted in the cause of right, will be comforted, will be satisfied, in the kingdom of heaven.
The attitudes and values that Jesus espouses in the beatitudes make people vulnerable in the eyes of the world, such as being poor in spirit, gentle, merciful to others, pure in heart. They are not a recipe for getting on in the world. They are the opposite of the competitive and grasping spirit that stops at nothing to get ahead, that will allow no one to stand in the way of reaching the top. Yet, these are all attitudes and value that give space to God in one’s life and, thereby, promote the coming of God’s kingdom, the doing of God’s will, in the world. God in Jesus looks upon such people and says to them, ‘Congratulation! You are indeed blessed, because you are living as I intended, as sons and daughters of God, and you will know a happiness that this world cannot give’. Jesus is saying that this is the path to happiness not just in the next life but in this life too.
________________
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 2022/23, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
____________________________________________________
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 8th June, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an céad Leabhar na Ríthe 17:1-6
Rinne Éilias mar a dúirt an Tiarna leis.
Dúirt Éilias an Tisbíoch ó Thisbé i nGileád le hAcháb:
“Dar an Tiarna beo, Dia Iosrael, dá ndéanaim seirbhís, ní thiocfaidh drúcht ná fearthainn sna blianta beaga romhainn, ach de réir mar ordóidh mise.”Tháinig briathar an Tiarna chuige á rá:
“Imigh leat as an áit seo, gabh soir agus téigh i bhfolach i nGleann Chéirít atá taobh thoir den Iordáin. Bí ag ól as an sruthán agus thug mé ordú do na fiacha bia a sholáthar duit ansin.”
Rinne sé mar a dúirt an Tiarna leis; d’imigh sé agus d’fhan sé i nGleann Chéirít atá taobh thoir den Iordáin. Thugadh na fiacha arán chuige ar maidin agus feoil um thráthnóna, agus d’óladh sé uisce an tsrutháin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 120: 1-8 c/f R/v 2
Freagra Is ón Tiarna féin atá mo chúnamh, a rinne neamh agus talamh.
1. Tógaim mo shúile chun na sléibhte. Cad as do mo chúnamh?
Is ón Tiarna féin atá mo chúnamh, a rinne neamh agus talamh. Freagra
2. Nár lige sé duit tuisliú go deo; nár dhéana do gharda codladh.
Féach! ní thitfidh sámhchodladh ná suan ar gharda Iosrael. Freagra
3. Is é an Tiarna do gharda is do dhídean, agus é ar do dheis.
Ní bhuailfidh an ghrian thú i rith an lae, ná an ré istoíche. Freagra
4. Coimeádfaidh an Tiarna ón uile olc thú; coimeádfaidh sé d’anam.
Coimeádfaidh an Tiarna thú ag imeacht is ag teacht duit, anois agus choíche. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:1-12 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is méanar dóibh seo atá bocht ó spiorad.
San am sin nuair a chonaic Íosa na sluaite, chuaigh sé an sliabh suas.
Shuigh sé síos agus tháinig a dheisceabail chuige. Thosaigh sé ag caint leo á dteagasc agus dúirt:
“Is méanar dóibh seo atá bocht ó spiorad, óir is leo ríocht na bhflaitheas.
“Is méanar do lucht an dobróin, óir sólásófar iad.
“Is méanar dóibh seo atá ceansa, óir gheobhaidh siad an talamh mar oidhreacht.
“Is méanar dóibh seo a bhfuil ocras agus tart chun na fíréantachta orthu, óir sásófar iad.
“Is méanar do lucht na trócaire, óir déanfar trócaire orthu.
“Is méanar dóibh seo atá glan ó chroí, óir feicfidh siad Dia.
“Is méanar do lucht síochána a dhéanamh, óir glaofar clann Dé orthu.
“Is méanar dóibh seo a d’fhulaing géarleanúint mar gheall ar an bhfíréantacht,
óir is leo ríocht na bhflaitheas.
“Is méanar daoibh féin nuair a thabharfar aithis daoibh agus a ghéarleanfar sibh, agus
nuair a chuirfear gach sórt drochrud in bhur leith go bréagach mar gheall ormsa.
“Bíodh áthas oraibh agus gairdeas, mar is mór é bhur dtuarastal ar neamh; óir is mar
sin a rinneadh géarleanúint ar na fáithe a chuaigh romhaibh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 14th June, 2026
Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Exodus 19:2-6
I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation."
From Rephidim they set out again; and when they reached the wilderness of Sinai, there in the wilderness they pitched their camp; there facing the mountain Israel pitched camp.Moses then went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying,
'Say this to the House of Jacob, declare this to the sons of Israel,
"You yourselves have seen what I did with the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. From this you know that now, if you obey my voice and hold fast to my covenant, you of all the nations shall be my very own for all the earth is mine. I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation."
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 99: 2-3. 5. R/v 3
Response We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
1. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. Response
2. Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Response
3. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:6-11
Now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son?
We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God's anger?When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 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!
or Mk 1:15
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Kingdom of God is close at hand, Repent and believe the good news.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 9:36-10:8 Glory to you, O Lord
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.
When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest'.
He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him.These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
'Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.
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/
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, 14th June, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Leabhar Exodus 19:2-6
Beidh sibh agamsa in bhur ríocht sagart, in bhur náisiún coisricthe.’
Chuireadar chun siúil arís ó Reifídím agus nuair a shroicheadar fásach Shíonái, shuíodar a gcampa ansiúd san fhásach os comhair an tsléibhe. Ansin chuaigh Maois suas chun Dé agus ghlaoigh an Tiarna air ón sliabh á rá:“Abair é seo le teaghlach Iacóib agus fógair é do chlann Iosrael:
‘Chonaic sibh féin a ndearna mé leis na hÉigiptigh, agus conas mar a thóg mé liom sibh ar eití iolair agus a thug mé chugam féin sibh. Uime sin má ghéilleann sibh do mo ghlór agus cloí le mo chonradh beidh sibhse, thar na ciníocha go léir, i mo sheilbhse ar leithrigh, óir is liomsa an domhan ar fad. Beidh sibh agamsa in bhur ríocht sagart, in bhur náisiún coisricthe.’
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
SALM LE FREAGRA. Sm 99: 2-3. 5. R/v 3
Freagra Sinne a phobal agus caoirigh a pháirce.
1. Fónaigí don Tiarna go lúcháireach. tagaigí ina láthair le hamhráin áthais. Freagra
2. Bíodh a fhios agaibh gurb é an Tiarna is Dia ann. Eisean a rinne sinn; is leis féin sinn;
sinne a phobal agus caoirigh a pháirce. Freagra
3. Á, nach maith égo deimhin an Tiarna, nach marthanach a thrócaire ghrámhar!
Is dílis é ó ghlúin go chéile. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 5:6-11
Agus má rinneadh athmhuintearas idir sinn agus Dia trí bhás a Mhic
A bhráithre, nuair a bhíomar fós lag, fuair Críost bás I dtráth ar son drochdhaoine. Is ar éigean a gheobhadh fear bás ar son duine chóir féin – is ea, b’fhéidir go mbeadh sé de chroí aige bás a fháil ar son dea-dhuine. Ach cruthaíonn Dia an grá atá aige dúinn trí Chríost a fháil bháis ar ár son agus sinn fós inár bpeacaigh. Ó táimid fíréanaithe anois trína chuid fola, nach móide go mór go saorfar sinn tríd ó fhearg Dé? Agus má rinneadh athmhuintearas idir sinn agus Dia trí bhás a Mhic agus sinn inár naimhde dó, nach móide go mór anois agus an t-athmhuintearas déanta go saorfar sinn trína bheatha? Agus ní hé sin amháin é, ach táimid mórálach as Dia trínár dTiarna Íosa Críost, an té a ghnóthaigh an t-athmhuintearas sin anois dúinn.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór, agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha, 9:36-10:8 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
San am sin nuair a chonaic Íosa na sluaite, ghlac sé trua dóibh, mar go raibh siad ina luí go tréith mar a bheadh caoirigh gan aoire. Ansin dúirt sé lena dheisceabail: “Tá an fómhar fairsing ach níl ann ach meitheal bheag. Dá bhrí sin guígí Máistir an fhómhair go gcuireadh sé meitheal uaidh isteach ina fhómhar.”
Ghlaoigh sé chuige a dháréag deisceabal agus thug dóibh údarás ar na spioraid mhíghlana chun go gcaithfidís amach iad agus go leigheasfaidís gach galar agus gach éagruas.Is iad seo ainmneacha an dá aspal déag: Síomón ar dtús, ar a dtugtar Peadar, agus Aindrías a dheartháir, Séamas mac Zeibidé agus Eoin a dheartháir, Pilib agus Parthalán, Tomás agus Matha poibleacánach, Séamas mac Ailfáias agus Tadáias, Síomón Díograiseach agus Iúdás Isceiriót, an fear a bhraith é.
Chuir Íosa uaidh an dáréag sin leis na horduithe seo leanas:
“Ná gabhaigí an bóthar chun na ngintlithe agus ná téigí isteach i gcathair Shamárach ar bith; ní hea, ach téigí faoi dhéin chaoirigh caillte theaghlach Iosrael. Agus in bhur mbóthar daoibh, bígí á fhógairt go bhfuil ríocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht. Leigheasaigí lucht tinnis, tógaigí na mairbh, glanaigí na lobhair, caithigí amach na deamhain. In aisce a fuair sibh; tugaigí uaibh in aisce.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
