Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 11 - St Cathal of Taranto (7th-8th century)
Summary: St Cathal of Taranto. The saint's cult is centred in the city of Taranto, just under the heel of Italy, where the cathedral is named San Cataldo after him. (See image below left). He is honoured in other places in South Italy, Sicily and Malta. Recently there has been a link between him and the village of Shanrahan in Clogheen parish,south Tipperary.Ireland. his patronage is invoked against plagues, drought and storms.
Patrick Duffy researches the pieces of his story.
Tradition that he was Bishop at Taranto
The tradition at Taranto is that Cathal came from the monastery school at Lismore, Co Waterford, Ireland, and arrived in this city en route to or from the Holy Land and was chosen as its bishop. His cult certainly goes back to 1071 when his relics were found in a coffin at Taranto with a pastoral staff of Irish workmanship with the inscription Cathaldus Rachau. He is the titular of the cathedral there and the principal patron saint of the diocese
Spread to Sicily and Beyond
The Benedictines of the Norman kingdom of Sicily and south Italy inspired devotion to him. He appears in mosaics in Palermo and in the basilica of Monreale. There is even a painting of him on one of the pillars in the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem commissioned by the Norman archbishop Drogo of Taranto and approved by the Norman patriarch Raoul of Jerusalem. The earliest account of his life was written by an Italian monk Petrus de Natalibus in 1382.
Where in Ireland?
Efforts to identify a diocese of Rachau have suggested Shanrahan or Rachaa in Co Tipperary (See the website, where the links between Shanrahan and Cathaldus are explored). Another suggestion is Rahan in Co Offaly with the hypothesis that he was a missionary from an Irish monastic centre on the continent. The first interest taken in this saint in Ireland was in 1746, when he was linked with a claim that the diocese of Cashel should take precedence over the diocese of Armagh!
Stained Glass Window in Clogheen, Co. Tipperary
In 1963, Fr. Frank Mackin, a Jesuit priest from Boston, came to Clogheen to research his family history. Following that visit, he went to Taranto to research the life of Saint Cathaldus. He was amazed that there was neither a statue nor a stained glass window commemorating the Irish Saint in the Clogheen Church even though it was obvious from the writings of the historian Fr. Everard - Clogheen's Parish priest in the early years of the twentieth century - and from local tradition, that Clogheen people were aware of the historic link between Taranto and Shanrahan. He resolved to do something about it.
In 1986 the Mackin family of America, Ireland and Australia installed a beautiful stained glass window in St. Mary's Catholic Church, on Clogheen's Main Street. The window, on the west wall of the church, depicts the life of St. Cathaldus in Shanrahan, his journey to the Holy Land and his being shipwrecked off the coast of Southern Italy.
Patrick Duffy researches the pieces of his story.
Tradition that he was Bishop at Taranto
The tradition at Taranto is that Cathal came from the monastery school at Lismore, Co Waterford, Ireland, and arrived in this city en route to or from the Holy Land and was chosen as its bishop. His cult certainly goes back to 1071 when his relics were found in a coffin at Taranto with a pastoral staff of Irish workmanship with the inscription Cathaldus Rachau. He is the titular of the cathedral there and the principal patron saint of the dioceseSpread to Sicily and Beyond
The Benedictines of the Norman kingdom of Sicily and south Italy inspired devotion to him. He appears in mosaics in Palermo and in the basilica of Monreale. There is even a painting of him on one of the pillars in the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem commissioned by the Norman archbishop Drogo of Taranto and approved by the Norman patriarch Raoul of Jerusalem. The earliest account of his life was written by an Italian monk Petrus de Natalibus in 1382.
Where in Ireland?
Efforts to identify a diocese of Rachau have suggested Shanrahan or Rachaa in Co Tipperary (See the website, where the links between Shanrahan and Cathaldus are explored). Another suggestion is Rahan in Co Offaly with the hypothesis that he was a missionary from an Irish monastic centre on the continent. The first interest taken in this saint in Ireland was in 1746, when he was linked with a claim that the diocese of Cashel should take precedence over the diocese of Armagh!
Stained Glass Window in Clogheen, Co. Tipperary
In 1963, Fr. Frank Mackin, a Jesuit priest from Boston, came to Clogheen to research his family history. Following that visit, he went to Taranto to research the life of Saint Cathaldus. He was amazed that there was neither a statue nor a stained glass window commemorating the Irish Saint in the Clogheen Church even though it was obvious from the writings of the historian Fr. Everard - Clogheen's Parish priest in the early years of the twentieth century - and from local tradition, that Clogheen people were aware of the historic link between Taranto and Shanrahan. He resolved to do something about it.
In 1986 the Mackin family of America, Ireland and Australia installed a beautiful stained glass window in St. Mary's Catholic Church, on Clogheen's Main Street. The window, on the west wall of the church, depicts the life of St. Cathaldus in Shanrahan, his journey to the Holy Land and his being shipwrecked off the coast of Southern Italy.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
Try as you will, you cannot annihilate
that eternal relic of the human heart
~ Victor Hugo ~
also
There is a difference between the facts of a person
and the truth of him
~ Alix Ohlin ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 11th May, 2026
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus understands well the fear of his disciples as they face the opposition of ridicule and indifference.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15
The Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.
Sailing from Troas we made a straight run for Samothrace; the next day for Neapolis, and from there for Philippi, a Roman colony and the principal city of that particular district of Macedonia. After a few days in this city we went along the river outside the gates as it was the sabbath and this was a customary place for prayer. We sat down and preached to the women who had come to the meeting.
One of these women was called Lydia, a devout woman from the town of Thyatira who was in the purple-dye trade. She listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptised she sent us an invitation: 'If you really think me a true believer in the Lord,' she said 'come and stay with us'; and she would take no refusal.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 149: 1-6. 9. R/v 4
Response The Lord takes delight in his people.
Or Alleluia!
1. Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker, let Zion's sons exult in their king. Response
2. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people. He crowns the poor with salvation. Response
3. Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips: this honour is for all his faithful. Response
Gospel Acclamation Lk 24: 46. 26.
Alleluia, alleluia!
It was ordained that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
Alleluia!
or Jn 15: 26 - 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of truth will be my witness, and you too will be witnesses, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:26-16:4 Glory to you, O Lord
The Spirit of truth will be my witness.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset.
'I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken. They will expel you from the synagogues, and indeed the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is doing a holy duty for God. They will do these things because they have never known either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this, so that when the time for it comes you may remember that I told you.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Monday, Sixth Week of Easter John 15:26-16:4
Today’s first reading describes a significant moment in the spread of the gospel in the early church. For the first time, Paul preaches the gospel in the equivalent of modern day Greece, which is the continent of Europe. The first people to hear the gospel on European soil from Paul, according to our first reading, were a group of devout women who gathered for prayer on the Sabbath outside the gates of the city of Philippi.
One member of that group, a woman named Lydia, responded wholeheartedly to Paul’s preaching of the gospel. She was clearly a woman of some means. She was involved in the purple dye trade. Purple cloth was the most expensive cloth at the time. She had the financial means to offer Paul hospitality and she insisted that Paul accept her offer; it was her way of giving thanks to God for what she had received through Paul. People who get involved in parish ministry often say that they want to give something back. They are conscious that they have received a great deal in life and they want to give from what they have received. Lydia had no sooner received the gospel than she engaged in the ministry of hospitality. This was her way of bearing witness to her faith, of giving back.
In the gospel reading, Jesus calls on his disciples to become his witnesses and he promises to send them the Holy Spirit who is Jesus’ primary witness. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to witness to our faith. It was the Holy Spirit who moved Lydia to witness to her new found faith by offering hospitality to Paul and his companions. The Holy Spirit will always be inspiring us to witness to our faith in various ways. We need to be attentive to the ways the Holy Spirit may be inspiring us to be the Lord’s witnesses in the world.
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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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Memorable Sayings for Today
A saint can be defined as one who has a divine sense of humour,
for a saint never takes this world seriously as the lasting city.
~ Ven. Fulton J. Sheen ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 11th May, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 16:11-15
D'oscail an Tiarna a croí go dtabharfadh sí cluas dá raibh á rá ag Pól.
Chuamar ar bord loinge i dTróas agus ceann ar aghaidh as sin go Samotráicé agus an lá ina dhiaidh sin go Neapoil agus as sin go Filipí. Príomhchathair den taobh sin den Mhacadóin is ea Filipí agus coilíneacht Rómhánach is ea í freisin. Thugamar roinnt laethanta sa chathair sin. Lá na sabóide chuamar amach lasmuigh den gheata, cois abhann, áit a mheasamar a mbeadh láthair urnaithe na nGiúdach agus shuíomar fúinn ag caint leis na mná a bhí bailithe le chéile ann.Bhí bean ag éisteacht linn, mangaire corcra ó chathair Tíaitíora darbh ainm Lidia. Bean chráifeach ba ea í agus d’oscail an Tiarna a croí go dtabharfadh sí cluas dá raibh á rá ag Pól. Baisteadh í féin agus a teaghlach agus ansin rinne sí tathant orainn, á rá:
“Má mheasann sibh go bhfuilim dílis don Tiarna, tagaigí isteach agus bainigí fúibh i mo theachsa.” Agus chuir sí d’fhiacha orainn dul isteach.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 149 1-6. 9. R/v 4
Freagra Óir tugann an Tiarna taitneamh dá phobal.
Malairt le freagra Alleluia!
1. Canaigí amhrán nua don Tiarna; moltar é i gcomhthionól na bhfíréan.
Déanadh Iosrael gairdeas faoina gcruthaitheoir; bíodh ríméad ar chlann Shíón faoina Rí.
Freagra
2. Molaidís a ainm le rince; déanaidís ceol ar an gcláirseach is ar an gcruit.
Óir tugann an Tiarna taitneamh dá phobal; tugann sé an bua do lucht na huirísle. Freagra
3. Bíodh mórmholtaí Dé ina mbéal acu; agus claíomh an dá fhaobhar ina láimh.
D’fhonn breithiúnas a chur i bhfeidhm mar a ceapadh dóibh;
is í an ghlóir seo atá i ndán dá naoimh uile. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 15:26-16:4 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Spiorad na Fírinne déanfaidh sé fianaise orm.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail: Nuair a thiocfaidh an tAbhcóide a chuirfidh mé chugaibh ón Athair, Spiorad na Fírinne a ghluaiseann ón Athair, déanfaidh sé fianaise orm.
Déanann sibhse fianaise freisin, mar bhí sibh in éineacht liom ó thosach.D’inis mé an méid sin daoibh, ionas nach nglacfaidh sibh scannal.
Dúnfar amach as na sionagóga sibh; tá an t-am ag teacht, fiú amháin,
nuair a shílfidh an té a mharóidh sibh gur ag déanamh réir Dé a bhíonn.
Agus déanfaidh siad an méid sin [oraibh] de bhrí nach bhfuil aithne acu ar an Athair ná ormsa.
D’inis mé an méid sin daoibh ionas go mbeadh cuimhne agaibh,
nuair a thiocfaidh an t-am dó, gur inis mé daoibh é.
Ní dúirt mé na nithe seo libh ó thus mar bhí mé in bhur bhfochair.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 17th May, 2026
The Ascension of the Lord-Year A
Where Jesus has gone we re called to follow in hope.
World Communications Day
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
He was lifted up while they looked on.
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised.'It is', he had said 'what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.'
Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'
He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth'.
As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said,
'Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 46: 2-3, 6-7 -8-9 R/v 2
Response God goes up with shouts of joy;
the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
or Alleluia!
1. All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth. Response
2. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise. Response
3. God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill.
God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 1:17-23
He made him sit at his right hand in heaven
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come.He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 28: 19
Alleluia, alleluia!
Go, make disciples of all the nations; I am with you always;
yes, to the end of time.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 28:16-20 . Glory to you, O Lord
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said,
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.
'And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.'
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, 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, 17th May, 2026
Deascabháil Ár dTiarna
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 1:1-11
Tógadh suas os comhair a súl é.
Thug mé cuntas cheana, a Theofail, ar gach a ndearna Íosa agus ar ar thug sé de theagasc uaidh ó thús go dtí an lá a tógadh suas ar neamh é, tar éis dó a chuid orduithe a thabhairt le cabhair an Spioraid Naoimh do na haspail a bhí tofa aige. i ndiaidh a pháise is iomaí cruthú a thug sé dóibh go raibh sé beo, á nochtadh féin dóibh ar feadh daichead lá agus ag cur síos ar ríocht Dé. Uair dá raibh sé ina gcuibhreann d’ordaigh sé dóibh gan corraí ó Iarúsailéim ach fanacht ann go dtí go gcomhlíonfaí gealltanas an Athar,“An gealltanas úd,” ar sé, “ar chuala sibh mé ag trácht air: rinne Eoin baisteadh le huisce, ach déanfar sibhse a bhaisteadh leis an Spiorad Naomh i gceann beagán laethanta.”
Más ea, nuair a bhí siad cruinnithe le chéile, thosaigh siad á cheistiú: “A Thiarna,” ar siad, “an anois atá tú chun ríocht Iosrael a athbhunú?”
Ach d’fhreagair sé iad:
“Ní aon chuid de bhur ngnósa é eolas a fháil ar na hamanna na ar na tráthanna atá leagtha amach ag an Athair as a údarás féin. Ach gheobhaidh sibh neart an Spioraid Naoimh atá le tuirlingt oraibh agus beidh sibh in bhur bhfinnéithe ormsa in Iarúsailéim agus ar fud Iúdáia go léir agus na Samáire agus a fhad le himeall an domhain.”
Ar rá an méid sin dó, tógadh suas os comhair a súl é agus d’ardaigh scamall as a radharc é. Fad a bhí siad ag stánadh in airde sa spéir ina dhiaidh sheas beirt fhear in éadaí bána ina n-aice. “A fheara na Gailíle,” ar siad, “cad ab áil libh in bhur seasamh ansin ag amharc in airde sa spéir? An Íosa seo a tógadh suas ar neamh uaibh, tiocfaidh sé an tslí chéanna ina bhfaca sibh ag dul suas é.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 46: 2-3, 6-7 -8-9 R/v 2
Freagra Gabhann Dia in airde le gártha molta;
gabhann sé in airde le séideadh an stoic.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. Buailigí bhur mbosa, a chiníocha uile, gairdigí do Dhia Ie teann lúcháire!
Óir is ard é an Tiarna agus is uamhnach, ina ardrí os cionn na cruinne. Freagra
2. Gabhann Dia in áirde le gártha molta; gabhann sé in airde le séideadh an stoic.
Seinntear ceol dár nDia; seinntear ceol dó Seinntear ceol dár rí; seinntear ceol dó Freagra
3. Is é Dia rí na cruinne go léir. Seinnigí agus canaigí ar bhur ndíheall dó
Tá Dia ina rí ar na náisiúin; tá sé ina shuí ar a chathaoir naofa. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na hEifísigh 1:17-23
Chui sé ina shuí ar a dheis fin sna flaithis é.
A bhráithre, bím á iarraidh ar Dhia ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, ar Athair na Glóire, spiorad na heagna agus na géarchúise a thabhairt daoibh chun go gcuirfeadh sibh aithne air. Go soilsítear súile bhur n-aigne ar shlí go dtuigfidh sibh cad é mar údar dóchais daoibh bhur ngairm aige agus cad é mar oidhreacht fhairsing ghlórmhar atá aige i ndán don phobal naofa agus ollmhaitheas na cumhachta a chuir sé i bhfeidhm ar ár son-na, creidmhigh – an chumhacht éachtach úd a chuir sé ag obair i gCríost nuair a thóg sé ó mhairbh é agus chuir ina shuí ar a dheis sna flaithis é go hard os cionn gach ceannas agus údarás agus cumhacht agus tiarnas agus os cionn gach ainm dar féidir a ainmniú ní sa saol seo amháin é ach sa saol atá le teacht chomh maith. Agus chuir sé gach ní faoina smacht agus cheap é, os cionn gach ní, ina cheann ar an Eaglais is corp dó agus arb í iomláine an té úd a líonann gach ní go hiomlán í.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Mt 28: 19-20
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Imigí, deanaigí deisceabail de na nárisiúin uile,' a deir an Tiarna;
'Táim in éineacht libh i gcónai go dtí deireadh an tsaoil.'
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 28:16-20 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá gach údardas tugtha domsa ar neamh agus ar talamh.
San am sin d’imigh an t-aon deisceabal déag leo go dti an Ghailil, go dti an sliabh a cheap Íosa mar ionad coinne dóibh, agus ar a fheiceãil dóibh d’umhlaiodar dó, ach go raibh amhras ar chuid acu.
Tháinig Íosa chucu agus labhair sé leo:
‘Ta gach údarãs tugtha domsa ar neamh agus ar talamh.
Imigí dá bhri sin. déanaigí deisceabail de na náisiúin uile, a mbaisteadh in ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh, ag múineadh dóibh gach ní atá ordaithe agam a choinneáil.
Agus féach tâim in éineacht libh i gcónai go dtí deireadh an tsaoil.’
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
