Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Oct 10 - St Daniel Comboni (1831-81) bishop and missionary
Summary : St John Leonardi, priest. Born at Lucca (Italy) about 1541; died helping the sick in Rome on this day in 1609. He published a catechism, established a confraternity of Christian doctrine and founded the Caboni a form the seminary of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome and founded Verona Fathers and sister, and a local congregation of diocesan presbyters for the reform of clerical life. He was noted for his vigorous encouragement of the reforms of the First Vatican Council.
The life and death of missionary Daniel Comboni in Central Africa combined the ideal with the practical, drawing inspiration from the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His missionaries, known as the Comboni Fathers or the Verona Missionaries, have 4,000 members working in countries all over the world.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early life
Daniel Comboni was born in 1831 to agricultural worker parents Luigi and Domenica, at Limone on Lake Garda in the diocese of Brescia, Italy. He was the only one of eight children to survive infancy. His parents sent him to the free school for the study of humanities founded by Fr. Nicola Mazza in Verona. Fr Mazza had a great love for Africa and often talked of it with his students, who called him “Father Congo”.
Missionary with the Mazza Institute
In 1849 Daniel began his preparation for missionary priesthood with serious study of language, medicine and theology. Ordained in 1854, he went two years later with five other missionaries of the Mazza Institute up the River Nile as far as Khartoum, capital of Sudan. He immediately recognised the difficulty of the task – disease, hot humid climate, and the distrust of Europeans because of the slave trade.
Return to Italy
When all his companions died, Comboni returned home in 1859 to recover his own health and taught (1861-64) at the Mazza Institute in Verona. He also spent time writing a strategy for mission in Africa, aware that Africans would have to be their own evangelisers. He also travelled around Europe on fund-raising missions.
Verona Fathers and Sisters
In 1867, after the Mazza Institute abandoned its African project, Comboni founded two missionary institutes devoted to the mission in Africa. These came to be known as the Verona Fathers and Verona Sisters (or Comboni Missionaries). His spirituality drew its inspiration from the Sacred Heart of Jesus pierced for love of humanity. That was the source of his zeal for the salvation of souls and his strength in bearing trials and crosses for the sake of the Gospel. Returning to Africa, he opened a school in Cairo, which became an institute to prepare missionaries for Africa and educate Africans in the Christian faith.
Mission in Central Africa
Back in Rome in 1870 Comboni appealed to the First Vatican Council for a strategy for the Church to be involved in the evangelisation of Africa. Pope Pius IX appointed him Pro-vicar Apostolic of Central Africa (1872) and later Bishop of Khartoum (1877).
Combatting the Slave Trade
Comboni made efforts (and had some small success) in combatting the slave trade in the region but, this was deeply embedded. He also wrote about the geography, ethnology and languages of the region. He himself spoke six European languages, Arabic, and several central African dialects.
Working with African Priests and Catechists
With him were two African priests, Fr Pius Hadrianus, who had been educated in Italy and had become a Benedictine of Subiaco and Fr Antonio Dubale who ran a model village for freed slaves in El Obeid. A trained Nubian catechist, product of the Cairo Institute, also joined them here. The Nubians had a rich culture, were anti-Islamic, and were therefore a logical target for mission work.
Later Years
In 1878 Comboni met the explorer Henry M. Stanley in Cairo. However, a great drought, disease and the death of many of his missionaries clouded his last years. Even after his death in 1881 the Mahdist insurrection threatened to destroy everything he had achieved. But Comboni's view of his task was a long-term one. He wrote:
Missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building.
And so it turned out to be.
Death and Influence
Daniel Comboni died in 1881 in Khartoum. In later years Comboni missionaries spread from Egypt and Sudan to Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Congo and Togo. They also work in Mexico, Brazil and Ecuador and among African Americans in the USA, where their work has been chiefly with people of colour, Indians and Mexicans. They have priests, brothers and sisters ministering in hospitals, schools, and orphanages in 41 countries.
Canonisation
Pope John Paul II beatified Daniel Comboni in 1996 and canonised him in 2003.
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The life and death of missionary Daniel Comboni in Central Africa combined the ideal with the practical, drawing inspiration from the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His missionaries, known as the Comboni Fathers or the Verona Missionaries, have 4,000 members working in countries all over the world.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early life
Daniel Comboni was born in 1831 to agricultural worker parents Luigi and Domenica, at Limone on Lake Garda in the diocese of Brescia, Italy. He was the only one of eight children to survive infancy. His parents sent him to the free school for the study of humanities founded by Fr. Nicola Mazza in Verona. Fr Mazza had a great love for Africa and often talked of it with his students, who called him “Father Congo”.
Missionary with the Mazza Institute
In 1849 Daniel began his preparation for missionary priesthood with serious study of language, medicine and theology. Ordained in 1854, he went two years later with five other missionaries of the Mazza Institute up the River Nile as far as Khartoum, capital of Sudan. He immediately recognised the difficulty of the task – disease, hot humid climate, and the distrust of Europeans because of the slave trade.
Return to Italy
When all his companions died, Comboni returned home in 1859 to recover his own health and taught (1861-64) at the Mazza Institute in Verona. He also spent time writing a strategy for mission in Africa, aware that Africans would have to be their own evangelisers. He also travelled around Europe on fund-raising missions.
Verona Fathers and SistersIn 1867, after the Mazza Institute abandoned its African project, Comboni founded two missionary institutes devoted to the mission in Africa. These came to be known as the Verona Fathers and Verona Sisters (or Comboni Missionaries). His spirituality drew its inspiration from the Sacred Heart of Jesus pierced for love of humanity. That was the source of his zeal for the salvation of souls and his strength in bearing trials and crosses for the sake of the Gospel. Returning to Africa, he opened a school in Cairo, which became an institute to prepare missionaries for Africa and educate Africans in the Christian faith.
Mission in Central Africa
Back in Rome in 1870 Comboni appealed to the First Vatican Council for a strategy for the Church to be involved in the evangelisation of Africa. Pope Pius IX appointed him Pro-vicar Apostolic of Central Africa (1872) and later Bishop of Khartoum (1877).
Combatting the Slave TradeComboni made efforts (and had some small success) in combatting the slave trade in the region but, this was deeply embedded. He also wrote about the geography, ethnology and languages of the region. He himself spoke six European languages, Arabic, and several central African dialects.
Working with African Priests and Catechists
With him were two African priests, Fr Pius Hadrianus, who had been educated in Italy and had become a Benedictine of Subiaco and Fr Antonio Dubale who ran a model village for freed slaves in El Obeid. A trained Nubian catechist, product of the Cairo Institute, also joined them here. The Nubians had a rich culture, were anti-Islamic, and were therefore a logical target for mission work.
Later Years
In 1878 Comboni met the explorer Henry M. Stanley in Cairo. However, a great drought, disease and the death of many of his missionaries clouded his last years. Even after his death in 1881 the Mahdist insurrection threatened to destroy everything he had achieved. But Comboni's view of his task was a long-term one. He wrote:
Missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building.
And so it turned out to be.
Death and Influence
Daniel Comboni died in 1881 in Khartoum. In later years Comboni missionaries spread from Egypt and Sudan to Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Congo and Togo. They also work in Mexico, Brazil and Ecuador and among African Americans in the USA, where their work has been chiefly with people of colour, Indians and Mexicans. They have priests, brothers and sisters ministering in hospitals, schools, and orphanages in 41 countries.
Canonisation
Pope John Paul II beatified Daniel Comboni in 1996 and canonised him in 2003.
__________________
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Memorable Sayings for Today
You can speak well if your tongue can deliver
the message of your heart.
~ John Ford ~
“The decision you make in your life today will determine
the future of someone.”
- Anonymous
“Missionary zeal does not grow out of intellectual beliefs,
nor out of theological arguments, but out of love.”
~ Roland Allen, 1868-1947, ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 10th October, 2024
Thursday of the Twenty Seventh week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2
The more we do good the freer we become.
FIRST READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians 3:1-5
Does God give you the Spirit because you practice Law, or because you believed what was preached to you?
Are you people in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on you, in spite of the plain explanation you have had of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Let me ask you one question:
was it because you practised the Law that you received the Spirit,
or because you believed what was preached to you?
Are you foolish enough to end in outward observances
what you began in the Spirit?
Have all the favours you received been wasted? And if this were so, they would most certainly have been wasted.
Does God give you the Spirit so freely and work miracles among you because you practice Law, or because you believed what was preached to you?
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Lk 1:69-75
Response Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!. He has visited his people.
1. God has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men, those who were his prophets from of old. Response
2. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled' and his holy covenant remembered. Response
3. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear,
and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 6
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
no one can come to the Father except through me .
Alleluia!
or Rom 8:15
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 11:5-13 Glory to you, O Lord
Ask, and it will be given to you.
Jesus said to his disciples,
'Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say,
"My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him";
and the man answers from inside the house,
"Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you".
I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship's sake,
persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants
'So I say to you:
Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened to you.
For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds;
the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.
What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread?
Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg?
If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
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Gospel Reflection Thursday Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Luke 11:5-13
There are various forms of prayer,
such as the prayer of petition,
the prayer of thanksgiving,
the prayer of praise, the prayer of contrition,
the prayer of surrender.
It is probably true to say that the prayer that comes most naturally to us is the prayer of petition. If we reflect on our prayer life, we will likely find that the prayer of petition, the prayer of asking God for help of some kind, is very much to the fore.
There is a prayer book in the Bible, the book of psalms, composed long before the coming of Jesus, and the dominant prayer in that collection of prayers is the prayer of 'petition'. Jesus was aware of the significance of the prayer of petition in the life of believers and today’s gospel reading suggests that he encouraged his disciples to pray that form of prayer,
‘Ask (keep on asking)… search (keep on searching)… knock (keep on knocking)…’. He promises that our prayer of petition will always be answered, ‘It will be given to you… you will find… the door will be opened to you’.
It often seems to us as if our prayers of petition are not answered. We ask for healing for someone, and they don’t get better. Yet, the Lord assures us in the gospel reading that no prayer of petition goes unanswered. Our prayer may not be answered in the way that we had hoped, but Jesus assures us that God is never deaf to our cries for help. At the end of the gospel reading, Jesus says, ‘How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?’ Our prayer of petition will always create a space for the Holy Spirit to work more powerfully in our lives. Saint Paul once wrote, in his letter to the Romans, ‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness’. In response to our prayer of petition we can be assured of receiving the help of the Spirit to strengthen us in our need.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published in1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel Reflection is available with our thanks, from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2024: 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: Thursday, 10th October, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Galataigh 3:1-5
An de bharr an dlí a chomhlíonadh a fuair sibh an Spiorad, nó de chionn gur chreid sibh an teachtaireacht a chuala sibh?
A Ghalatacha gan chiall, cé a d’imir an draíocht oraibh tar éis an léiriú gléineach a tugadh daoibh ar Íosa Críost céasta?Tá aon cheist amháin agam oraibh: an de bharr an dlí a chomhlíonadh a fuair sibh an Spiorad, nó de chionn gur chreid sibh an teachtaireacht a chuala sibh?
Conas a d’fhéadfadh sibh bheith chomh héaganta sin? Tar éis daoibh tosú leis an Spiorad, an bhfuil sibh ag críochnú anois leis an gcolainn?
An saothar in aisce a bhfuil gafa tríd agaibh? má ba in aisce é.
Nuair a bhronnann Dia an Spiorad oraibh agus éachtaí a dhéanamh in bhur measc, an de bharr an dlí a chomhlíonadh a dhéanann sé amhlaidh nó de chionn gur chreid sibh an teachtaireacht
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Lc 11:69-75
Freagra Moladh don Tiarna, Dia Iosrael,
óir rinne sé a phobal a fhiosrú agus a fhuascailt.
1. Thóg an Tiarna dúinn Slánaitheoir neartmhar i dteaghlach Dháiví a sheirbhíseach
de réir mar a labhair trí bhéal a naomhfháidh anallód Freagra
2. Slánaitheoir a shaoradh ónár naimhde agus óna láimh siúd uile ar fuath leo sinn,
ag déanamh trócaire mar sin ar ár n-aithreacha, agus ag cuimhneamh ar a thiomna naofa . Freagra
3. Mhionnaigh sé d’Abrahám ár n-athair go dtabharfadh sé dúinn, tar éis ár saortha as láimh ár naimhde,
bheith ag seirbhís dó gan eagla, i gcrábhadh agus i bhfíréantacht ina láthair gach lá dár saol. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcas 11:5-13 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Iarraigí, agus tabharfar daoibh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa leo:
“Má bhíonn duine agaibh agus cara aige, agus go rachaidh sé chuige i lár na hoíche á rá leis:
‘A chara, tabhair trí builíní ar iasacht dom, óir tá cara dom tagtha chun mo thí as a bhóthar agus níl dada agam a chuirfinn os a chomhair’; agus go ndéarfaidh an fear istigh á fhreagairt:
‘Ná bí do mo bhuaireamh, óir tá an doras dúnta anois agus mo chlann is mé féin sa leaba, ní féidir dom éirí chun iad a thabhairt duit’; – deirim libh, ach mura n-éirí sé agus iad a thabhairt dó de chionn gur cara dó é, mar sin féin, de chionn a mhínáirí atá sé, éireoidh agus tabharfaidh dó oiread is a bhíonn de dhíth air.'
Agus deirim libh,Iarraigí, agus tabharfar daoibh; lorgaigí, agus gheobhaidh sibh; buailigí, agus osclófar daoibh. Óir gach aon duine a iarrann, glacann, agus an té a lorgann, faigheann, agus an té a bhuaileann, osclófar dó.
Cé hé an t-athair in bhur measc go n-iarrfaidh a mhac arán air, agus ar cloch a shínfidh sé chuige? Nó más iasc a iarrann, an nathair nimhe a shínfidh sé chuige in ionad éisc? Nó fós má iarrann ubh, an sínfidh sé scairp chuige?
Dá bhrí sin, más eol daoibhse atá go holc nithe maithe a thabhairt do bhur gclann, nach móide go dtabharfaidh an tAthair ó neamh an Spiorad Naomh dóibh seo a iarrann air é?”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 13th October, 2024
Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle B
Prisoner's Sunday
Being wealthy, or being concerned about wealth, adds difficulty to the task of working out our salvation.
Jesus promises a hundredfold reward even in this life to all who leave everything and follow him.
All Christians are called to practice detachment.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 7:7-11
Compared with Wisdom, I held riches as nothing.
I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the Spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.
I reckoned no priceless stone to be her peer, for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand,
and beside her silver ranks as mud.
I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light,
since her radiance never sleeps.
In her company all good things came to me, at her hands riches not to be numbered.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:12-17
Response Fill us with your love that we may rejoice.
1. Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. Response
2. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Response
3. Show forth your work to your servants; let your glory shine on their children.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of to the Hebrews 4:12-13
The word of God can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.
The word of God is something alive and active:it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely:
it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow;
it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.
No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and
open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 11: 25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
or Mt 5: 3
Alleluia, alleluia!
How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:17-30 Glory to you, O Lord.
Go and sell everything you own and follow me.
Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him,
'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
Jesus said to him,
'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery;
You must not steal; You must not bring false witness;
You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'
And he said to him,
'Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.'
Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said,
'There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'
But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples,
'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted,
'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
They were more astonished than ever.
'In that case 'they said to one another 'who can be saved?'
Jesus gazed at them.
'For men' he said 'it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.'
Peter took this up. 'What about us?' he asked him. 'We have left everything and followed you.'
Jesus said,
'I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over,
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land - not without persecutions -
now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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_____________________________
Shorter format of the Gospel
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:17-27 Glory to you, O Lord.
Go and sell everything you own and follow me.
Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him,
'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
Jesus said to him,
'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments:
You must not kill; You must not commit adultery;
You must not steal; You must not bring false witness;
You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'
And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.'
Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said,
'There is one thing you lack.
Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'
But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples,
'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted,
'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
They were more astonished than ever.
'In that case' they said to one another 'who can be saved?'
Jesus gazed at them.
'For men' he said 'it is impossible, but not for God:
everything is possible for God.'
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, 13th October, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Leabharh Eagna 7:7-11
Igcóimheas lé Eagna, níl in ór an domhain ach beagán gainimh
Ghuigh mé, mar sin, agus tugadh bua na tuisceana dom; rinne mé achainí agus tháinig Spiorad na hEagna chugam.
ba í mo rogha í thar shlata agus thar chathaoireacha ríoga, agus ba neamhní liom an saibhreas lena hais.
Níor chuir mé cloch lómhar ar aon chéim léi,
mar i gcóimheas léi níl in ór an domhain ach beagán gainimh
agus níl san airgead ach láib i gcomórtas léi.
B’ansa liom í ná an tsláinte nó an áilleacht
agus b’fhearr liom í ná an solas féin mar ní mheathfaidh a loinnir go deo.
Mar sin féin, tháinig gach maith chugam in éineacht léi
agus fuair mé saibhreas gan áireamh tríthi.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 89
Freagra Tabhair dúinn ár sáith de do bhuanghrá is déanfaimid gairdeas.
1. Múin dúinn ár laethanta a áireamh chun go mbainfimis amach críonnacht chroí.
Fill, a Thiarna!-cá fhad? agus bí trócaireach le do sheirbhísigh. Freagra
2. Tabhair dúinn go luath ár sáith de do bhuanghrá is déanfaimid gairdeas is lúcháir de shíor.
Cuir áthas orainn i ndíol na laethanta a bhuair tú sinn, i ndíol na mblianta ina bhfacamar an t-olc. Freagra
3. Forlsigh do chuid oibre do do sheirbhísigh, taispeáin do chlú dá gclann.
Bíodh caoinchineáltas an Tiarna anuas orainn. Bí fabhrach d'obair ár lámh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as an céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Eabhraig 4:12-13
Tá briathar Dé breith ar chlaonta agus ar smaointe an chroí.
A bhráithre, tá briathar Dé beoúil bríomhar; is géire é ná aon chlaíomh dhá bhéal;téann sé isteach idir anam agus spiorad,
idir smior agus smúsach agus tugann sé breith ar chlaonta agus ar smaointe an chroí.
Níl créatúr ar bith ann nach follas dó é; mar tá gach ní lom agus nocht do shúile an té sin a gcaithfimid cuntas a thabhairt dó inár ngníomhartha.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Tugaim buíochas duit, a Athair, a Thiarna neimhe agus talún,
de chionn mar a cheil tú na nithe seo ar lucht eagna agus éirime agus
mar a d’fhoilsigh tú do naíonáin iad.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 10:17-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Imigh leat, díol a bhfuil agat agus lean mise.
San am sin ag cur chun bóthair d’ Íosa rith duine chuige agus chaith sé é féin ar a ghlúine ina láthair agus d’fhiafraigh sé de:
“A Mháistir mhaith, cad tá le déanamh agam chun go mbeinn páirteach sa bheatha shíoraí?”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“Cad chuige a ndeir tú maith liom? Ní maith aon neach ach Dia amháin. Is eol duit na haitheanta.
‘Ná déan marú. Ná déan adhaltranas. Ná déan goid. Ná tabhair fianaise bhréige. Ná déan calaois.
Tabhair onóir do d’athair agus do do mháthair.’”
Dúirt seisean leis: “A Mháistir, choimeád mé iad sin uile ó m’óige.”
Dhearc Íosa air agus thug grá dó agus dúirt leis:
“Tá aon ní amháin in easnamh ort fós;imigh leat, díol a bhfuil agat agus tabhair do na boicht é
agus beidh stór agat ar neamh; tar ansin agus lean mise.”
Chuir an chaint sin buaireamh air agus d’imigh sé leis go dubhach mar bhí mórán de mhaoin an tsaoil aige.
Bhreathnaigh Íosa ina thimpeall agus dúirt sé lena dheisceabail:“Cad é chomh deacair is a bheidh sé ar lucht an tsaibhris dul isteach i ríocht Dé!”
Chuir a bhriathra alltacht ar a dheisceabail, ach d’fhreagair Íosa agus dúirt leo arís:
“A chlann liom, cad é chomh deacair is atá sé dóibh siúd a chuireann a muinín i saibhreas dul isteach i ríocht Dé! Óir is fusa do chamall dul trí chró snáthaide ná do dhuine saibhir dul isteach i ríocht Dé.”
Ba mhó ná sin an t-ionadh a bhí orthu agus dúirt siad lena chéile:
“Cé is féidir a shlánú, más ea?”
Bhreathnaigh Íosa orthu agus dúirt: “Tá sé seo dodhéanta ag daoine ach níl ag Dia; óir tá an uile ní sodhéanta ag Dia.”
Chrom Peadar ar a rá leis: “Sinne, féach, d’fhágamar an uile ní agus leanamar thusa.”
Dúirt Íosa:
“Deirim libh go fírinneach nach bhfuil aon duine a d’fhág teach ná deartháireacha, ná deirfiúracha, ná máthair, ná athair, ná clann, ná tailte, mar gheall ormsa agus ar an soiscéal nach bhfaighidh níos mó faoi chéad san aimsir seo anois, tithe agus deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha agus máithreacha agus clann agus tailte, fara géarleanúintí, agus an bheatha shíoraí sa saol atá le teacht."
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Is leagan giorraithe
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 10:17-27
Imigh leat, díol a bhfuil agat agus lean mise.
San am sin ag cur chun bóthair d’ Íosa rith duine chuige agus chaith sé é féin ar a ghlúine ina láthair agus d’fhiafraigh sé de:
“A Mháistir mhaith, cad tá le déanamh agam chun go mbeinn páirteach sa bheatha shíoraí?”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“Cad chuige a ndeir tú maith liom? Ní maith aon neach ach Dia amháin. Is eol duit na haitheanta. ‘Ná déan marú. Ná déan adhaltranas. Ná déan goid. Ná tabhair fianaise bhréige. Ná déan calaois. Tabhair onóir do d’athair agus do do mháthair.’”
Dúirt seisean leis: “A Mháistir, choimeád mé iad sin uile ó m’óige.”
Dhearc Íosa air agus thug grá dó agus dúirt leis:
“Tá aon ní amháin in easnamh ort fós; imigh leat, díol a bhfuil agat agus tabhair do na boicht é
agus beidh stór agat ar neamh; tar ansin agus lean mise.”
Chuir an chaint sin buaireamh air agus d’imigh sé leis go dubhach mar bhí mórán de mhaoin an tsaoil aige.
Bhreathnaigh Íosa ina thimpeall agus dúirt sé lena dheisceabail:“Cad é chomh deacair is a bheidh sé ar lucht an tsaibhris dul isteach i ríocht Dé!” Chuir a bhriathra alltacht ar a dheisceabail,
ach d’fhreagair Íosa agus dúirt leo arís:
“A chlann liom, cad é chomh deacair is atá sé dóibh siúd a chuireann a muinín i saibhreas dul isteach i ríocht Dé! Óir is fusa do chamall dul trí chró snáthaide ná do dhuine saibhir dul isteach i ríocht Dé.”
Ba mhó ná sin an t-ionadh a bhí orthu agus dúirt siad lena chéile: “Cé is féidir a shlánú, más ea?”
Bhreathnaigh Íosa orthu agus dúirt:
“Tá sé seo dodhéanta ag daoine ach níl ag Dia; óir tá an uile ní sodhéanta ag Dia.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh
i ngéibheann dár sealúchais
Ar an gcéad amharc, tagann an fear óg sa Soiscéal an lae inniu ós ár gcómhair mar duine fíor-mhaith agus uasal, measúil agus ar bhealach a chuardach ar an mbealach chun an saol síoraí. Choinnigh sé feictear Dé ó óige, agus bhí sé chomh deimhin go raibh Íosa ag féachaint air. An carachtar idéalach, dar leat, an soiscéal a fháil agus Íosa a leanúint. Agus fós bhí a fhios ag ár dTiarna faoin fhear óg sin a bhí ag teastáil a leigheas. Bhí a saibhreas féin faoi úinéireacht aige, agus bhí greim níos láidre aige ná mar a bhí sé air. D'iarr Íosa air a bheith saor astu, ach bhí an costas an-ró-ard. "Níor cheart ach focal eile ar shaoráil ar rud ar bith a chailleadh." ("Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.")
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
