Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 17 - St Paschal Baylon (1540-92)
Summary: St Paschal Baylon, a Franciscan lay brother who became famous for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In 1897 Pope Leo XIII declared him patron saint of eucharistic congresses and associations.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Franciscan Lay Brother
Born in Torre Hermosa on the borders of Castile and Arragon of a poor shepherd family, Paschal tended flocks as well as getting an elementary and religious education. In his early twenties he joined the reformed Friars Minor of Peter of Alcantara as a lay brother. In his capacity as porter, he had ample opportunity to care for the sick and be generous to the poor.
Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament
Once he locked himself in the refectory and did an elaborate dance before a statue of Our Lady. But he is especially known for his devotion to serving one Mass after another and his deep mystical prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Mission to France and his Death
Once he was entrusted with a mission as a courier to bring letters from the Spanish Minister of the Friars Minor to the Breton Minister-General. On the way he was attacked by Huegenots, who stoned and seriously injured him. However, he succeeded in the mission on which he was sent and returned to Villareal where he died aged fifty-two. Many cures and miracles were reported at his tomb. He was beatified in 1612 and canonised in 1690.
Influence
In 1897 Pope Leo XIII declared St Paschal Baylon patron of Eucharistic congresses and associations. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) his relics were burned by the Red Terror.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Franciscan Lay Brother
Born in Torre Hermosa on the borders of Castile and Arragon of a poor shepherd family, Paschal tended flocks as well as getting an elementary and religious education. In his early twenties he joined the reformed Friars Minor of Peter of Alcantara as a lay brother. In his capacity as porter, he had ample opportunity to care for the sick and be generous to the poor.Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament
Once he locked himself in the refectory and did an elaborate dance before a statue of Our Lady. But he is especially known for his devotion to serving one Mass after another and his deep mystical prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Mission to France and his DeathOnce he was entrusted with a mission as a courier to bring letters from the Spanish Minister of the Friars Minor to the Breton Minister-General. On the way he was attacked by Huegenots, who stoned and seriously injured him. However, he succeeded in the mission on which he was sent and returned to Villareal where he died aged fifty-two. Many cures and miracles were reported at his tomb. He was beatified in 1612 and canonised in 1690.
Influence
In 1897 Pope Leo XIII declared St Paschal Baylon patron of Eucharistic congresses and associations. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) his relics were burned by the Red Terror.
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Memorable Saying for Today
“If angels could be jealous of men,
they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”
~St Maximilian Kolbe ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th May, 2025
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Prayer in the name of Jesus draws us closer to his ways, thoughts and desires.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52
We must turn to the nations.
The next sabbath almost the whole town of Antioch assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds,
the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said.
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly.
'We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:
I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth."
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97
Response All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Or Alleluia!
1. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation. Response
2. The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. Response
3. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. Response
Gospel Acclamation Rom 6:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. Death has no power over him any more.
Alleluia!
or Jn 8:31.32
Alleluia, alleluia!
If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples,
and you will learn the truth, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14:7-14 Glory to you, O Lord
To have seen me is to have seen the Father.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'
Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.'
'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me?'
'To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Reflection Saturday, Fourth Week of Easter John 14:7-14
You often hear parents say to children, ‘you are never satisfied’. There is a sense in which that is probably true of all of us. We are never satisfied. Saint Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. In today’s gospel reading, Philip is clearly not satisfied. He says to Jesus, ‘Lord, let us see the Father, and then we shall be satisfied’. He understood that it is only in seeing God that all the longings of his heart would be satisfied. Jesus replies to Philip’s words with the statement, ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father’. Jesus reveals the Father; he is the way to the Father.
We won’t see God the Father in this life, but God has sent us his Son. Although we cannot see Jesus in the way Philip and the other disciples saw him, we can see him with the eyes of faith in this life. We can see him in his Word, in the Eucharist, in the other Sacraments, and in each other. Such ‘seeing’ of the Lord won’t fully satisfy us but it gives us a glimpse of what awaits us. As we journey towards our seeing of the Lord ‘face to face’, we try to heed the invitation of the letter to the Hebrews, ‘let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith’.
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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 2022/23, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th May, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:44-52
Táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach.
Ar an tsabóid dár gcionn tháinig an chathair ar fad beagnach le chéile ag éisteacht le briathar Dé. Nuair a chonaic na Giúdaigh na sluaite daoine, bhí siad lán d’fhormad agus bhréagnaigh siad go tarcaisniúil gach a raibh á rá ag Pól. Ach dúirt Pól agus Barnabas leo go neamhbhalbh: “Is daoibhse ab éigean briathar Dé a labhairt ar dtús; ach ós rud é go bhfuil sibh ag cur suas de agus gur dóigh libh féin nach fiú sibh an bheatha shíoraí a bheith agaibh, táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach. Mar sin é an t-ordú atá faighte ón Tiarna againn:
‘ Tá tú ceaptha agam le bheith i do sholas do na náisiúin, ionas go mbeidh tú i d’ábhar slánaithe go himeall an domhain.’”
Bhí áthas ar na págánaigh an méid sin a chloisteáil agus bhí ardmholadh acu ar bhriathar an Tiarna; agus an méid acu a bhí réamhcheaptha don bheatha shíoraí, ghlac siad an creideamh, agus bhí briathar Dé á fhógairt go forleathan ar fud na tíre go léir.Ach rinne na Giúdaigh séideadh faoi mhná uaisle diaganta na cathrach agus faoi na cinn urra, thosaigh siad ar ghéarleanúint a dhéanamh ar Phól agus ar Bharnabas agus thiomáin amach as an dúiche iad. Chroith siadsan an deannach dá gcosa orthu agus as go brách leo go hIocoiniam.
Agus bhí na deisceabail lán d’áthas agus den Spiorad Naomh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 97
Freagra Chonaic críocha uile na cruinneslánú ár nDé.
Malairt freagra Alleluia!
1. Canaigí amhrán úr don Tiarna, óir rinne sé éachtaí.
Le neart a dheasláimhe is a chuisle naofa, rug sé bua dó féin. Freagra
2. D’fhoilsigh an Tiarna a shlánú; nocht sé a fhíréantacht do na náisiúin.
Chuimhnigh sé ar a bhuanghrá agus a dhílse do theaghlach Iosrael. Freagra
3. Chonaic críocha uile na cruinne slánú ár nDé.
Gairdigí sa Tiarna a thíortha uile, agus nochtaigí bhur n-áthas dó. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:7-14 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Dá mbeadh aithne agaibh ormsa, d’aithneodh sibh m’Athair chomh maith.
Tá aithne agaibh air feasta, agus tá radharc faighte agaibh air.”
Dúirt Pilib leis: “A Thiarna, taispeáin dúinn an tAthair agus is leor dúinn sin.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “An bhfuilim an fad sin aimsire, a Philib, in bhur measc agus gan aithne agat orm?
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
Conas, mar sin, a deir tú: ‘Taispeáin dúinn an tAthair’?
Nach gcreideann tú go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa?
Na briathra a labhraímse libh, ní uaim féin a labhraím iad,
ach an tAthair atá ina chónaí ionamsa, eisean a dhéanann na hoibreacha.
Creidigí uaimse é go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa.
Nó murab é sin, creidigí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha féin.
Amen, Amen, a deirim libh, an té a chreideann ionamsa, na hoibreacha a dhéanaimse, déanfaidh seisean iad chomh maith,agus déanfaidh sé oibreacha is mó ná iad; mar táimse ag dul chun an Athar. Cibé ní a iarrfaidh sibh i m’ainm déanfaidh mé é, i dtreo go dtabharfaí glóir don Athair tríd an Mac. Má iarrann sibh aon ní orm i m’ainm, déanfaidh mé é.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th May, 2025
The Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C
The mutual love of Church members is a living witness to the whole world and helps ease the burden of world suffering.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 14:21-27
They gave an account of all that God had done with them.
Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. We all have to experience many hardships' they said 'before we enter the kingdom of God.'
In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144
Response I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
Or Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. Response
2. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God,
to make known to men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign. Response
3. Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the book of the Apocalypse 21:1-5
God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
I, John saw a new heaven and a new earth ; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea.I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne,
'You see this city? Here God lives among men.
He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God;
his name is 'God-with-them.'
He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death,
and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.'
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: 'Now I am making the whole of creation new.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 13: 34
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 13:31-35 Glory to you, O Lord
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
When Judas had gone Jesus said:
'Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.
My little children, I shall not be with you much longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.'
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, 18th May, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 14:21-27
D’eachtraigh siad don an Eaglais le chéile a raibh déanta ag Dia i gcomhar leo.
D’fhill Pól agus Barnabas arís ar Liostra agus ina dhiaidh sin ar Iocoiniam agus Aintíoch, ag cur misnigh ar na deisceabail agus á spreagadh chun bheith dílis don chreideamh, “Mar,” ar siad, “ní foláir dúinn mórán a fhulaingt chun dul isteach i ríocht Dé.”
Thogh siad seanóirí dóibh ar gach Eaglais acu agus tar éis urnaithe agus troscadh a dhéanamh chuir siad iad faoi choimirce an Tiarna ina raibh a gcreideamh.
Shiúil siad an Phisíde ar fad nó gur tháinig siad go Paimfile;
tar éis dóibh an briathar a chraobhscaoileadh i bPeirgé chuaigh siad síos go hAtailia agus as sin ar bord loinge go hAintíoch – an áit ar cuireadh faoi choimirce ghrásta Dé iad le haghaidh na hoibre a bhí anois curtha i gcrích acu.Ar theacht dóibh, thionóil siad an Eaglais le chéile, agus d’eachtraigh dóibh a raibh déanta ag Dia i gcomhar leo agus mar a d’oscail sé doras an chreidimh do na págánaigh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 144
Freagra: Beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor, a Dhia liom is a Rí
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. Is ceansa trócaireach é an Tiarna, mall chun feirge agus lan de chineáltas.
Is maith é an Tiarna don uile ní is is trócaireach é dá oibreacha uile. Freagra
2. Ceiliúrfaidh d'oibreacha thú, a Thiarna, agus beannóidh do dhaoine naofa thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir do ríochta, agus foilseoidh siad do chumhacht
chun do chumhacht a nochtadh don chine daonna agus glóir do ríochta maorga. Freagra
3. Ríocht shíoraí do ríochtsa, is maireann do cheannas ó ghlúin go glúin. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Apacailipsis 21:1-5
Glanfaidh Dé gach deoir óna súile
Ansin chonaic mé neamh nua agus talamh nua. Bhí an chéad neamh agus an chéad talamh bailithe leo agus gan an fharraige ann feasta. Agus chonaic mé an chathair naofa, an Iarúsailéim nua, ag teacht anuas ó na flaithis, ó Dhia agus í ullamh maisithe mar nuachair i gcomhair a fir chéile.
chuala mé guth tréan ón ríchathaoir á rá:“Féach, tá áitreabh Dé fara daoine, agus cónóidh sé ina measc, agus beidh siad ina bpobal aige, agus beidh Dia féin faru. Glanfaidh sé gach deoir óna súile, agus ní bheidh an bás ann feasta, ná ní bheidh caoineadh ná olagón ná pian ann a thuilleadh, óir tá an seansaol thart.”
Ansin dúirt an té a bhí ina shuí sa ríchathaoir:“Féach, tá gach aon ní á dhéanamh nua agam.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 13:34
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh
grá dá chéile, faoi mar a thug mise grá daoibhse.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 13:31-35 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh grá dá chéile.
Nuair a d’imigh Iúdás amach, dúirt Íosa:
“Tá glóir faighte ag Mac an Duine anois, agus tá glóir faighte ag Dia ann.
Má fuair Dia glóir ann, tabharfaidh Dia glóir dósan ann féin, agus tabharfaidh sé glóir dó gan mhoill.
A chlann ó, is gearr eile atá agam in bhur bhfochair.
Beidh sibh ar mo lorg, agus faoi mar a dúirt mé leis na Giúdaigh,
deirim libhse arís: ‘An áit ina bhfuilimse ag dul ní féidir daoibhse teacht.’
Tá aithne nua á tabhairt agam daoibh, go dtabharfadh sibh grá dá chéile;
faoi mar a thug mise grá daoibhse, go dtabharfadh sibhse grá dá chéile.
As sin a bheidh a fhios ag cách gur deisceabail liomsa sibh má bhíonn grá agaibh dá chéile.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
