Churches of the Day

Mar 26 - St Maragret Clitherow: the Pearl of York

Summary: St Margaret Clitherow, a young English mother and martyr, was among the forty English martyrs canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

Paul Hurley SVD tells her story.

Some people complain that Pope John Paul II canonised too many saints. How many are too many? During his 26-year reign he named 482 saints, more than all those canonised by the 50 previous popes in the last 500 years. But unlike these European saints, mainly priests and nuns, most of John Paul’s 482 were Asian lay people and nearly 84 per cent were martyrs – 120 Chinese, 117 Vietnamese and 103 Koreans. Some of the 81 saints canonised by Pope Paul VI were also martyrs, among them 40 British men and women. One was St Margaret Clitherow, a young married woman.

Margaret's Story
Born in York in 1556, Margaret was a daughter of Thomas Middleton, a Protestant and prosperous chandler. He died when she was nine, leaving her “one silver goblet and half a dozen silver spoons”. Four months later her mother married Henry May, Lord Mayor of York.

Brought up a Protestant, Margaret, like most middle class girls at the time, learned housekeeping but not to read and write. At 15 she married John Clitherow, a widower with several children. Kind and easygoing, he was also a Protestant, but many of his family were Catholics, among them his brother William, who became a priest. So Margaret soon had many Catholic friends and became a convert herself when she was 18. For a Protestant husband to have a Catholic wife was not uncommon then.

Margaret's Family
Marge Cl

Margaret had three children, two boys and a girl. They lived in Little Shambles, a narrow street in York, where she regularly helped her husband in his butcher’s shop. She was described by Father John Mush, her confessor and first biographer, as good-looking, witty and popular.

Margaret lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, whose Protestant mentors launched a savage persecution of the Catholic Church. Catholics were fined for not attending the new Anglican service and were imprisoned for six months for going to Mass, which was forbidden. Margaret sheltered many priests in her home, which became one of the main Mass centres in York.

Imprisonment
Between 1577 and 1585 she was imprisoned several times; she learned to read and write in prison and her youngest child was born there. Her older children were also imprisoned, even her 12-year-old daughter Anne, who later became a nun. Margaret’s good Protestant husband allowed her to help priests and paid her fines. Her last and longest imprisonment lasted 18 months.

Her Eldest son, Henry, a priest
Shortly after her release in 1585 it was made high treason for an Englishman to be ordained abroad and return home to minister as a priest, as some did. To shelter priests was also made punishable by death. Margaret had already sent her eldest son, Henry, abroad to be educated at Douai, where he was ordained after her death, as was one of her stepsons.

Treason
She was arrested on 12 March 1586. Her house was raided and though her children revealed nothing when questioned, a Flemish boy, a guest there, was so frightened under threat of a beating that he disclosed the secret place for celebrating Mass. Margaret was then charged with treason for harbouring priests.

Martyrdom
On 15 March she was condemned to a barbaric death – to be pressed under a heavy board loaded with weights. Judge Clinch said,
“You must be stripped naked, laid down, your back upon the ground, and as much weight laid upon you as you are able to bear, and so continue for three days. On the third day you shall be pressed to death, your hands and feet tied to posts and a sharp stone under your back.” A Protestant minister and others then tried to make her renounce her Catholic faith.

When John Clitherow heard of the sentence, he said,
“Let them take all I have and save my wife, for she is the best wife in all England and the best Catholic also.”

The last part of her savage sentence was carried out on 25th March, the Friday of Passion Week, 1586. Fifteen minutes after an extra load was laid upon her, she was crushed to death. Her last words, cried out in excruciating pain, were,
“Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, have mercy on me.” She was 30 years old.

Her body was left in “the press” for six hours before being buried beside a dunghill. Six weeks later it was found, still incorrupt, by some Catholics and buried with honour.

On this day, her feast day, let us remember the beautiful 'Pearl of York'.

This article first appeared in The Word (2001), a Divine Word Missionary Publication.

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Memorable Saying for Today

A woman of immovable faith in God won't let anything
stand in her way.
No matter what comes her faith is unstopable

~ Joanne W ~

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English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 26th March, 2026

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Lent
The God of Abraham and Jesus is beyond and outside time and space.
Jesus stands before his father to plead on our behalf.
We join with Jesus to make intercession for our community and our world.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Genesis 17:3-9
I will make you father of a multitude of nations.

Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him,
'Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations.
You shall no longer be called Abram; Your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings.

I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, a Covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land you are living in, the whole land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity, and I will be your God'

God said to Abraham, 'You on your part shall maintain my Covenant, yourself and your descendants after you, generation after generation.'

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm    Ps 104: 4-9. R/v 8
Response   The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

1. Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke. Response

2. O children of Abraham, his servant, O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God: his judgements prevail in all the earth. Response

3. He remembers his covenant for ever, his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. Response

Gospel Acclamation Jn 6: 63. 68
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

or    Ps 94: 8
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.       And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 8:51-59 Glory to you, O Lord
Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my day.

Jesus said to the Jews:
I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.'
The Jews said,
'Now we know for certain that you are possessed.
Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, "Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death". Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?
The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?'

Jesus answered:
'If I were to seek my own glory that would be no glory at all;
my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, "He is our God" although you do not know him.
But I know him, and if I were to say: 'I do not know him' I should be a liar, as you are liars yourselves.
But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.'

The Jews then said, 'You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!'
Jesus replied: 'I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am'.

At this they picked up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

The Gospel of the Lord    Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reflection Thursday, Fifth Week of Lent John 8:51-59

We would all probably acknowledge that we have limited insight into others, and even into ourselves. We certainly have limited insight into God. We would be rightly wary of someone who claimed to know God well. We are suspicious of those who seem too sure of themselves when it comes to God. Yet, in today’s gospel reading, Jesus states very clearly that he knows God. ‘I know him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know him’, I should be a liar… But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word’. The opening fourteen verses of this gospel of John is often called the Prologue to the gospel, and the last verse states, ‘No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known’. Because Jesus has the most intimate relationship with God, close to the Father’s heart, he knows God in the fullest possible way, and, therefore, he can make God known to us. That is why we keep turning to Jesus, because we recognize that he alone can show us the face of God.

In the setting of the last supper in this gospel of John, Philip turns to Jesus and asks him, ‘Show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied’, and Jesus replies, ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father’. We all have that longing of Philip to see God, to know God, not just with our mind but with our heart. Like Philip we sense that we will never be fully satisfied until we see God, know God, in this deep sense. It was Saint Augustine who said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. It is only Jesus who can satisfy this restless longing we all have to see and know God. We need to keep turning towards Jesus who comes to us in his Word, in the Sacraments, in the community of believers, so that we can begin to experience in the here and now something of that rest, that resting in God, which is our ultimate destiny.

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/

The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop /

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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 26th March, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an leabhar Geineasas 17:3-9
Beidh tú i d’athair ar mhórán ciníocha.

Shléacht Abrám go talamh, agus dúirt Dia leis:
“Is leatsa atá mo Chonradh, agus beidh tú i d’athair ar mhórán ciníocha. Ní thabharfar Abrám mar ainm ort feasta, ach tabharfar Abrahám ort, óir tá athair ar mhórán ciníocha á dhéanamh agam díot. Cuirfidh mé rath thar cuimse ort, agus déanfaidh mé ciníocha díot agus tiocfaidh ríthe ar do shíol.

Daingneoidh mé mo Chonradh idir mé agus tú, agus do shliocht i do dhiaidh, glúin ar ghlúin; beidh sé mar Chonradh síoraí mise a bheith i mo Dhia agatsa agus ag do shliocht i do dhiaidh. Agus tabharfaidh mé duitse agus do do shliocht i do dhiaidh tír do dheoraíochta, tír Chanán go léir, i do sheilbh go brách agus beidh mé féin i mo Dhia acu.”

Agus dúirt Dia le hAbrahám:
“Ó do thaobhsa de, coimeádfaidh tú mo Chonradh, tú féin agus do shliocht i do dhiaidh ó ghlúin go glúin.

Briathar an Tiarna   Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra           Salm 104:4-9. R/v 8
Freagra Cuimhníonn an Tiarna ar a chonradh go brách

1. Breathnaígí an Tiarna agus a chumhacht; lorgaígí a ghnúis de shíor.
Cuimhnigí ar na héachtaí a rinne sé; ar a mhíorúiltí agus ar bhreitheanna a bhéil.          Freagra

2. A shliocht Abrahám, a lucht fónaimh féin! a chlann Iacóib dá ndearna sé rogha!
Is é an Tiarna féin ár nDia a bhfuil a bhreitheanna i réim ar fud na cruinne.   Freagra

3. Cuimhníonn sé ar a chonradh go brách, ar a ghealltanas go dtí míle glúin,
an conradh a cheangail sé le hAbrahám, an mionn a mhionnaigh sé do Íosác.                 Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 8:51-59 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Rinne Abrahám bhur n-athair lúcháir go bhfeicfeadh sé mo lá-sa.

San am sin dúirt Íosa leis na Giúdaigh:
"Amen, Amen, a deírim libh, má choinníonn aon duine mo bhriatharsa ní fheicfidh sé bás choíche.”
Dúirt na Giúdaigh leis:
“Tá a fhios againn anois go bhfuil deamhan ionat. Tá Abrahám marbh agus na fáithe agus deir tusa:
‘Má choinníonn aon duine mo bhriatharsa, ní bhlaisfidh sé bás choíche.’ An ea gur mó thusa ná ár n-athair Abrahám atá marbh?
Agus na fáithe freisin, tá siad marbh. Cé tá tú a dhéanamh díot féin?”

D’fhreagair Íosa:
“Dá mbeinn féin do mo ghlóiriú féin, ba neamhní mo ghlóir.
Is é m’Athair a dhéanann mé a ghloiriú,

an té a ndeir sibhse mar gheall air: ‘ Is é ár nDia é.’
Ach níl aithne agaibh air.
Tá aithne agamsa air, áfach. Dá ndéarfainn:
‘Níl aithne agam air,’ bheinn cosúil libhse, bréagach.
Ach tá aithne agam air, agus coinním a bhriathar.
Rinne Abrahám bhur n-athair lúcháir go bhfeicfeadh sé mo lá-sa. Chonaic, agus bhí áthas air.”

Ansin dúirt na Giúdaigh leis:
“Níl tú caoga bliain d’aois fós agus an bhfaca tú Abrahám?”
Dúirt Íosa leo: “Amen, Amen, a deirim libh, sula raibh Abrahám ann, táimse ann.”

Mar sin, thóg siad suas clocha le caitheamh leis, ach d’fholaigh Íosa é féin agus d’imigh amach as an Teampall.

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th March, 2026

( Sixth Sunday, Lent 🙂 PALM SUNDAY of the LORD's PASSION

The Procession Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, "The Master needs them and will send them back directly".'
This took place to fulfil the prophecy:
'Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes to you; he is humble,
he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'

So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them. Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting:
'Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heavens!'

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. 'Who is this?' people asked,
and the crowds answered, 'This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee'.

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Today's Mass Readings
FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult-I know I shall not be shamed.

The Lord has given me a disciple's tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple.

The Lord has opened my ear.
For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 21: 8-9. 17-20. 23.24. R/v 2
Response My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

1. All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads.
   'He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.'       Response

2. Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me.
    They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count everyone of my bones.    Response

3. They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe.
    O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me! Response

4. I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled.
    'You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory.
Revere him, Israel's sons.' Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Philippians 2:6-11

He humbled himself, but God raised him high.

His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God
but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death, death on a cross.
But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names
so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Phil 2: 8-9
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
according to Matthew (26:14-27:66)

One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
'What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?'
They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say,
'Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the 'passover?'
'Go to so-and-so in the city' he replied 'and say to him,
The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples."'
The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said
'I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me'
They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, 'Not I, Lord, surely?'
He answered, 'Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!
Better for that man if he had never been born!'
Judas, who was to betray him; asked in his turn, 'Not I, Rabbi, surely?'
'They are your own words' answered Jesus.

Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. 'Take it and eat;' he said 'this is my body.'
Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them.
'Drink all of you from this,' he said 'for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.'

After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them,
'You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: "I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered," but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee".
At this, Peter said, 'Though all lose faith in you, I will never lose faith'.
Jesus answered him, 'I tell you solemnly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will have disowned me three times'. Peter said to him, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you'. And all the disciples said the same.

Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
'Stay here while I go over there to pray'.
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, 'My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.'
And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed.
'My Father,' he said 'if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.' He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, 'So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'

Again, a second time, he went away and prayed:
'My Father,' he said 'If this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!' And he came back again and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, 'You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.'
He was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them.
'The one I kiss,' he had said 'he is the man. Take him in charge.' So he went straight up to Jesus and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi', and kissed him.
Jesus said to him, 'My friend, do what you are here for'.

Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear.
Jesus then said, 'Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?'
It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds,
'Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.'
Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.

The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, and when he reached the high priest's palace, he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might pass the death-sentence. But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two stepped forward and made a statement,
'This man said, "I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up."
'The high priest then stood up and said to him, 'Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, 'I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God'.
'The words are your own' answered Jesus. 'Moreover, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.'
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?' They answered, 'He deserves to die'. Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, 'Play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then?'

Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, 'You too were with Jesus the Galilean'. But he denied it in front of them all. 'I do not know what you are talking about' he said. When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This man was with Jesus the Nazarene'. And again, with an oath, he denied it, 'I do not know the man'. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'You are one of them for sure! Why, your accent gives you away.'
Then he started calling down curses on himself and swearing, 'I do not know the man'. At that moment the cock crew, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, 'Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times'. And he went outside and wept bitterly When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus. They had him bound, and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.

When he found that Jesus had been condemned, Judas his betrayer was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders. 'I have sinned;' he said 'I have betrayed innocent blood' 'What is that to us?' they replied 'That is your concern.' And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off and hanged himself; The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is blood-money'. So they discussed the matter and bought the potter's field with it as a graveyard for foreigners, and this is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. The words of the prophet Jeremiah were then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by children of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.

Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it'.
But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?' But to the governor's complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him'. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas'. 'But in that case,' Pilate said to them 'What am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!' 'Why?' he asked 'What harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'

Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.' And the people, to a man, shouted back, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.

The governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.

On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews'. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God's son, come down from the cross!' The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. 'He saved others;' they said 'he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am the Son of God".' Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.

From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?' When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah', and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. 'Wait!' said the rest of them 'and see if Elijah will come to save him.' But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.

(All kneel and pause a moment.)

At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: 'In truth this was a son of God.'

And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimatbaea called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him, 'Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, "After three days I shall rise again." Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, "He has risen from the dead." This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before. Pilate said to them: You may have your guards. Go and make all as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.

*********************************

Shorter form of the Passion by St Mathew: 27:11-54

Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it'.
But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?' But to the governor's complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him'. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas'. 'But in that case,' Pilate said to them 'What am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!' 'Why?' he asked 'What harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'

Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.' And the people, to a man, shouted back, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.

The governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.

On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews'. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th March, 2026

DOMHNAC NA PÁISE nó NA PAILME

Comóradh theacht ár dTiarna isteach i Iarúsalem

SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 21:1-11
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!

Nuair a bhí siad ag teacht i ngar do Iarúsailéim agus iad tagtha go Béatfaigé i dtreo Chnoc na nOlóg, chuir Íosa beirt dheisceabal uaidh ag rá leo: “Téigí isteach sa bhaile atá os bhur gcomhair, agus gheobhaidh sibh láir asail ceangailte agus searrach lena cois;m scaoiligí iad agus tugaigí chugam iad; agus má deir aon duine focal libh abraigí: ‘Tá gá ag an Tiarna leo, ach cuirfidh sé ar ais gan mhoill iad.’” Tharla an méid sin chun go gcomhlíonfaí a ndúradh tríd an bhfáidh: “Abraigí le hiníon Shíón: Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat, agus é go ceansa, ag marcaíocht ar asal, ar shearrach beithígh iompair.”

D’imigh na deisceabail agus rinne siad de réir mar bhí beartaithe ag Íosa dóibh: thug siad leo an láir asail agus an searrach.
Chuir siad a mbrait anuas orthu ansin agus chuaigh Íosa ina shuí orthu. Agus rinne na daoine, slua an-mhór díobh, a mbrait a leathadh ar an mbóthar, agus bhí cuid eile acu ag baint craobhacha na gcrann le leathadh ar an mbóthar; agus na sluaite a bhí roimhe amach agus iad seo a bhí á leanúint, bhí na gártha acu á gcur suas:“Hósana do Mhac Dháiví!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna! Hósana sna harda.”

Nuair a chuaigh sé isteach in Iarúsailéim, bhí an chathair go léir ar bís: “Cé hé seo?” deirtí.
Agus deireadh na sluaite: “Is é seo Íosa, an fáidh ó Nazarat sa Ghailíl.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
An tAifreann
CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia, Ezícéal, Fáidh. 50:4-7
Níor cheil mé ma ghnúis ar mhasla, mar tá a fhios agam nach mbeidh mé meallta.

Thug an Tiarna Dia dom teanga an aos léinn.
Chun go mbeinn i riocht fóirithint ar an té atá traochta spreagann sé briathar ionam.
Maidin in aghaidh na maidine cuireann sé cluas orm chun go n-éiste mé ar nós an aos léinn.
An Tiarna Dia, is é a d’oscail mo chluas.

Maidir liom féin, níor chuir mé ina choinne, níor theann mé ar gcúl.
Lig mé mo dhroim le lucht a bhuailte agus mo ghruanna leo siúd a bhí ag piocadh na féasóige asam; níor cheil mé mo ghnúis ar mhasla ná ar sheile.

Tá an Tiarna Dia ag teacht i gcabhair orm, is é sin an fáth nach mothaím an masla. Mar sin, chruaigh mé mo ghnúis mar an chloch ghlas, bhí a fhios agam nach mbeinn meallta.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 21
Freagra A Dhia liom, a Dhia liom, cad chuige ar thréig tú mé?

I. Gabhann a bhfeiceann mé ag fonóid fúm: cuireann siad cár orthu is croitheann a gceann.
'Bhí a mhuinín as an Tiarna aige: saoradh séisean é; fuasclaíodh seisean é, mas air atá a ghreann.' Freagra

2. Tá mórán madraí i mo thimpeall: tá mé crioslaithe ag paca bithiúnach.
Tollann siad mo lámha is mo chosa: is féidir liom mo chnámha uile a chomhaireamh. Freagra

3. Roinneann siad mo chuid éadaigh eat arthu agus caitheann siad crainn ar mo chóta.
Ná bíse i bhfad uaim, a Thiarna. Is tú mo chúnamh: brostaigh agus cuidigh liom. Freagra

4. Inseoidh mé d'ainm do mo bhráithre, molfaidh mé thú i lár na comhdhála:
molaigí an Tiarna, sibhse lerb eagal é;ceiliuraigí ‘e, a shliocht Iácób go léir;
tugaigí urraim dó, a shíol lsrael go léir. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh 2: 6-11
D‘ís1igh sé é féin, agus d’ardaigh Dia é os cionn cách.

An té úd a bhí i riocht Dé ó dhúchas,
níorbh éadáil Íosa bheith ar chomhchéim le Dia, Ach lom sé é féin.
Agus chuir áir riocht an sclábha agus tháinig chun bheith ina dhuine mar chách eile.
Agus ar theacht ann dó i gcló daonna, d’ísligh sé é féin agus bhí umhal go bás – go bás na croise féin.
Sin é an fáth ar ardaigh Dia thar na bearta é agus bhronn air an t-ainm úd atá os cionn gach ainm, i dtreo nuair a luafaí ainm Íosa go gcromfadh glúin gach neach dá bhfuil ar neamh agus ar talamh agus in ifreann agus go ndearbhódh gach teanga, in ómós do Dhia an tAthair, gurb é Íosa Críost an Tiarna.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Véarsa Fil 2:8-9
D'ísligh Críost é féin trí bheith umhal go bás, fiú go bás na croise.
Sin e an fáth ar ardaigh Dia é os cionn cách agus bhronn air ainm atá os cionn gach ainm.

PÁIS ÁR dTIARNA ÍOSA CRÍOST
de réir Naomh Matha (26:14-27:66)

Chuaigh duine den dáréag, arbh ainm dó Iúdás Isceiriót, go dtí uachtaráin na sagart agus dúirt:
“Cad ab áil libh a thabhairt dom agus tabharfaidh mé ar láimh daoibh é?” Chomhair siad amach chuige tríocha píosa d’airgead geal. Agus ón uair sin amach bhí sé ag faire ar a dheis chun é thabhairt ar láimh.

Ar an gcéad lá d’fhéile an tslimaráin, tháinig na deisceabail chun Íosa ag rá: “Cárbh áil leat go n-ullmhóimis an Cháisc duit le hithe?”
“Téigí isteach sa chathair,” ar seisean, “go dtí an duine seo áirithe agus abraigí leis: ‘Dúirt an Máistir a rá leat: tá m’uain in achmaireacht: is i do theachsa atáim chun an Cháisc a dhéanamh in éineacht le mo dheisceabail.’” Rinne na deisceabail de réir mar a bhí beartaithe ag Íosa dóibh, agus d’ullmhaigh siad an Cháisc.

Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann, shuigh sé chun boird in éineacht leis an dáréag deisceabal.
Agus le linn dóibh bheith ag ithe, dúirt
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, braithfidh duine agaibh mé.” Agus ó ba mhó é a mbuaireamh, thosaigh siad, gach duine acu, ag fiafraí de: “An mise é, a Thiarna?”
D’fhreagair sé: “Duine a thum a lámh sa mhias i mo theannta,” ar seisean, “sin é a dhéanfaidh mé a bhrath. Tá Mac an Duine ag imeacht, de réir mar atá scríofa mar gheall air, ach is mairg don duine úd trína mbraitear Mac an Duine. B’fhearr don duine sin nach mbéarfaí riamh é.” D’fhreagair Iúdás, fear a bhraite, agus dúirt: “An mise é, a Raibí?” Dúirt Íosa leis: “Tá sé ráite agat.”

Le linn dóibh bheith ag ithe, thóg Íosa arán, agus ar a bheannú dó, bhris, agus á thabhairt do na deisceabail dó, dúirt:
“Tógaigí, ithigí: is é seo mo chorp.” Agus thóg sé cupa, agus ar altú dó, thug dóibh é ag rá:
“Ólaigí uile as seo, óir is í seo m’fhuilse an tiomna, atá le doirteadh ar son mórán chun peacaí a mhaitheamh. Deirim libh, ní ólfaidh mé as seo amach den sú seo na fíniúna go dtí an lá sin a n-ólfaidh mé ina fhíon nua libhse é i ríocht m’Athar.”

Tar éis dóibh an t-iomann a chanadh, chuaigh siad amach go dtí Cnoc na nOlóg. Ansin dúirt Íosa leo:
“Glacfaidh sibh uile scannal mar gheall ormsa anocht, óir tá scríofa: ‘Buailfidh mé an t-aoire agus beidh caoirigh an tréada arna scaipeadh.’ Ach tar éis dom éirí, rachaidh mé romhaibh go dtí an Ghailíl.”
Dúirt Peadar leis á fhreagairt: “Siúd is go nglacfaidh cách eile scannal mar gheall ort, ní ghlacfaidh mise scannal choíche.” Dúirt Íosa leis: “Deirim leat go fírinneach, roimh ghlaoch don choileach anocht féin, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Dúirt Peadar leis: “Más ea féin go gcaithfidh mé bás a fháil in éineacht leat, ní shéanfaidh mé thú.” Agus na deisceabail eile chomh maith, dúirt siad an rud céanna.

Ansin tháinig Íosa leo go dtí áit ar a dtugtar Geitséamainí agus dúirt leis na deisceabail: “Fuirigí anseo go rachaidh mé anonn ansiúd ag guí.” Agus rug sé leis Peadar agus beirt mhac Zeibidé, agus thosaigh sé bheith buartha agus in anbhuain. Dúirt sé leo ansin: “Tá buaireamh mór ar m’anam go pointí báis. Fanaigí anseo agus bígí ag faire liom.” Chuaigh sé ar aghaidh tamall agus chaith é féin ar a bhéal agus é ag guí mar seo: “A Athair, más féidir é, gabhadh an cupa seo tharam, ach ní mar is toil liomsa ach mar is toil leatsa.” Tháinig sé chun na ndeisceabal agus fuair ina gcodladh iad, agus dúirt le Peadar: “An ea nár fhéad sibh, mar sin, faire aon uaire a dhéanamh liom? Bígí ag faire agus ag guí, ionas nach rachadh sibh i gcathú. Tá an spiorad fonnmhar ach tá an cholainn fann.”

D’imigh sé uathu arís agus thosaigh ag guí den dara huair: “A Athair, mura féidir an cupa seo a ghabháil tharam gan mé á ól, do thoil go raibh déanta!” Tháinig sé arís agus fuair ina gcodladh iad, mar bhí a súile trom. D’fhág sé arís iad agus chuaigh ag guí den tríú huair ag rá na cainte céanna arís. Ansin tháinig sé chun na ndeisceabal agus dúirt leo:
“Codlaigí libh feasta agus glacaigí bhur suaimhneas. Seo! tá an t-am in achmaireacht agus Mac an Duine le tabhairt ar láimh do pheacaigh. Éirígí! bímis ag gluaiseacht! Seo chugainn fear mo bhraite.”

Sula raibh an focal as a bhéal, seo Iúdás, duine den dáréag, agus slua mór lena chois a raibh claimhte agus bataí acu, ag teacht ó uachtaráin na sagart agus ó sheanóirí an phobail. Bhí an comhartha ag fear a bhraite dóibh: “An duine a bpógfaidh mé é,” ar seisean, “sin é é: gabhaigí é.” Rinne sé anonn ar Íosa díreach gan stad, agus “Sé do bheatha, a Raibí!” ar seisean, agus phóg sé é. Dúirt Íosa leis: “A chara, déan an beart a thug anseo thú." Tháinig siad ar aghaidh ansin, leag siad a lámha ar Íosa agus ghabh siad é. Ach seo duine de chompánaigh Íosa a shín a lámh chun a chlaímh agus a tharraing, gur bhuail sé seirbhíseach an ardsagairt gur bhain an chluas de. Ach dúirt Íosa leis an uair sin: “Cuir do chlaíomh ar ais ina áit féin, óir gach duine a ghlacann an claíomh is leis an gclaíomh a thitfidh sé. Nó an é is dóigh leat nach féidir dom achainí a dhéanamh ar m’Athair, a chuirfeadh ar fáil dom anois féin níos mó ná dhá léigiún déag aingeal? Conas a chomhlíonfaí na scrioptúir, más ea, a deir gur mar seo nach foláir a bheith?”
An uair sin féin dúirt Íosa leis na buíonta: “An robálaí mé gur ghluais sibh amach mar seo le claimhte agus le bataí chun breith orm? Bhínn i mo shuí sa Teampall gach lá ag teagasc agus ní dhearna sibh mé a ghabháil.” Thit an méid sin go léir amach chun go gcomhlíonfaí scrioptúir na bhfáithe. Ansin thug na deisceabail uile a gcúl leis agus theith siad.

An dream a bhí tar éis Íosa a ghabháil, sheol siad leo é go teach Cháiafas, an t-ardsagart, agus is ann a bhí na scríobhaithe agus na seanóirí cruinnithe le chéile. Bhí Peadar á leanúint i bhfad uaidh chomh fada le cúirt an ardsagairt, agus ar dhul isteach ann dó, chuaigh ina shuí i measc na seirbhíseach d’fhonn go bhfeicfeadh críoch an scéil.

Bhí uachtaráin na sagart agus an tsainidrín ar fad ag lorg fianaise bréige in aghaidh Íosa d’fhonn é bhású, ach ní bhfuair siad í in ainneoin gur tháinig an-chuid d’fhinnéithe bréige i láthair. Sa deireadh, tháinig beirt i láthair agus b’é a scéal sin: “Dúirt an fear seo: ‘Is féidir liom Teampall Dé a leagan anuas agus é a atógáil i dtrí lá.’” D’éirigh an t-ardsagart ina sheasamh agus dúirt leis: “Nach bhfuil freagra ar bith agat? Cad tá acu seo á dhearbhú ort?” D’fhan Íosa ina thost. Dúirt an t-ardsagart leis: “Cuirim ort as ucht Dé bheo a insint dúinn an tú an Críost Mac Dé.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “Tá sé ráite agat. Ach deirim libh, beidh Mac an Duine le feiceáil agaibh amach anseo, ina shuí ar dheis na cumhachta, agus é ag teacht ar scamaill na bhflaitheas.” Leis sin, stróic an t-ardsagart a chuid éadaigh: “Tá diamhasla déanta aige!” ar seisean; “cad is gá dúinn a thuilleadh finnéithe? Sin anois an diamhasla cloiste agaibh. Cad é bhur mbarúil?” Agus ba é an freagra a thug siad: “Tá an bás tuillte aige.” Ansin chaith siad seile san aghaidh air, agus ghabh siad de dhoirne air, agus bhí cuid acu a bhuail lena mbasa é ag rá: “Tairngir dúinn, a Chríost! Cé hé sin a bhuail thú?”

Bhí Peadar ina shuí amuigh, sa chúirt. Tháinig cailín aimsire chuige agus dúirt: “Bhí tusa freisin in éineacht le hÍosa an Gailíleach.” Ach shéan seisean é os comhair cách: “Níl a fhios agam cad tá tú a rá,” ar seisean. Ar dhul amach sa phóirse dó, chonaic cailín eile é agus dúirt sí leis na daoine a bhí ann: “Bhí sé seo in éineacht le hÍosa an Nazórach.” Agus shéan sé arís é le mionn: “Níl aithne agam ar an duine.” Tamall ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig na daoine a bhí i láthair agus dúirt siad le Peadar: “Go dearfa, is duine díobh sin tusa freisin, mar sceitheann do chaint ort.” Ansin a thosaigh sé ag eascaine agus ag tabhairt na mionn: “Níl aithne agam ar an duine.” Agus ghlaoigh an coileach láithreach. Agus ba chuimhin le Peadar an focal a dúirt Íosa “Roimh ghlaoch don choileach, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Agus chuagh amach agus ghoil sé go goirt.

Nuair a bhí an mhaidin ann, rinne na hardsagairt go léir agus seanóirí an phobail comhairle le chéile in aghaidh Íosa d’fhonn é a bhású. Tar éis dóibh é a cheangal, sheol siad leo é á thabhairt ar láimh do Phioláit an gobharnóir.

Ansin, nuair a chonaic Iúdás, fear a bhraite, go raibh sé daortha, bhuail aiféala é, agus thug an tríocha píosa d’airgead geal ar ais d’uachtaráin na sagart agus do na seanóirí, ag rá: “Ba pheaca dom fuil neamhchiontach a bhrath.” Ach dúirt siad sin: “Cad é sin dúinne? Féach féin chuige.” Ach rad sé uaidh na píosaí airgid isteach sa sanctóir agus d’fhág an áit, d’imigh sé leis agus chroch é féin. Thóg na hardsagairt na píosaí airgid agus dúirt siad: “Ní dleathach iad do chur i gciste an Teampaill, mar is luach fola iad.” Tar éis dóibh an scéal a phlé, cheannaigh siad leis an airgead Gort an Chriadóra mar reilig do strainséirí. Sin é a d’fhág Gort na Fola mar ainm ar an ngort sin go dtí an lá inniu féin. Ansin a comhlíonadh a ndúradh trí Irimia fáidh: “Agus thóg siad an tríocha píosa d’airgead geal, luach an duine a measadh – ag cuid de chlann Iosrael a measadh é – agus thug ar Ghort an Chriadóra iad, de réir mar bheartaigh an Tiarna dom.”

Tugadh Íosa i láthair an ghobharnóra, agus d’fhiafraigh an gobharnóir de: “An tusa Rí na nGiúdach?”
Dúirt Íosa “Tá sé ráite agat.” Agus le linn a chiontaithe ag na hardsagairt agus ag na seanóirí, bhí sé gan aon fhreagra a thabhairt. Dúirt Pioláit leis ansin: “Nach gcluineann tú a bhfuil d’fhianaise acu á thabhairt i d’aghaidh?” Ach freagra níor thug sé ar phointe ar bith, rud a chuir ardionadh ar an ngobharnóir.

Ach ba ghnáthbhéas don ghobharnóir, i ngach féile, go scaoilfeadh sé saor chun an tslua cibé príosúnach ba rogha leo. Bhí príosúnach iomráiteach ar láimh an uair sin arbh ainm dó Barabas. Mar sin, nuair a bhí siad cruinnithe le chéile dúirt Pioláit leo: “Cé acu ba rogha libh mé a scaoileadh chugaibh, Barabas, nó Íosa ar a dtugtar an Críost?” – mar bhí a fhios aige gur formad faoi deara é thabhairt ar láimh. Ach le linn dó bheith ina shuí breithimh, chuir a bhean scéala chuige: “Scaoil tharat an fear cóir seo gan baint leis, óir ba mhór í m’fhulaingt i mbrionglóid inniu mar gheall air.” Ach d’áitigh na hardsagairt agus na seanóirí ar na sluaite Barabas a iarraidh agus Íosa a mhilleadh. Labhair an gobharnóir leo: “Cé acu den bheirt is rogha libh mé a scaoileadh chugaibh?” “Barabas!” ar siad. Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Más ea, cad a dhéanfaidh mé le hÍosa ar a dtugtar an Críost?” Dúirt siad: “Céastar é!” Dúirt seisean: “Ach cén t-olc a rinne sé?” Ach is ea ba mhó a bhí siad ag screadadh: “Céastar é!” Nuair a chonaic Pioláit nach raibh aon mhaith dó ann ach gur mhó a bhíothas ag dul chun calláin, fuair sé uisce agus nigh a lámha os comhair an tslua ag rá: “Nílimse freagrach i bhfuil an fhíréin seo: féachaigí sibhse chuige.” D’fhreagair an pobal ar fad: “Go raibh a chuid fola orainn féin agus ar ár gclann!” Scaoil sé Barabas chucu ansin, ach rinne sé Íosa a sciúrsáil agus a thabhairt suas chun go gcéasfaí é.

Ansin rug saighdiúirí an ghobharnóra Íosa leo isteach sa phréatóiriam, agus chuir siad tionól ar an gcathlán go léir chuige. Bhain siad de a chuid éadaigh agus ghléas siad i bhfallaing chraorag é: rinne siad coróin a fhí de dheilgneach agus í a bhualadh ar a cheann agus giolcach a chur ina láimh dheis, agus teacht ar a nglúine os a chomhair ag fonóid faoi ag rá: “Sé do bheatha, a Rí na nGiúdach!” Agus chaith siad seilí air agus bhí siad á bhualadh sa cheann leis an ngiolcach. Agus tar éis dóibh fonóid a dhéanamh faoi, bhain siad de an fhallaing, chuir siad a chuid éadaigh féin air agus sheol siad leo é chun a chéasta.

Sa tslí amach dóibh, casadh fear Cuiréanach orthu arbh ainm dó Síomón; chuir siad d’fhiacha air seo a chros a iompar. Agus ar theacht dóibh go dtí áit ar a dtugtar Golgotá – is é sin le rá, Áit an Chloiginn – thug siad le hól dó fíon a raibh domlas tríd, ach ar a bhlaiseadh dó, dhiúltaigh sé a ól. Tar éis dóibh é a chéasadh, roinn siad a chuid éadaigh eatarthu, á gcur ar chrainn, agus d’fhan siad ina suí ansiúd á ghardáil.

Cuireadh scríbhinn os a chionn ag insint cúis a dhaortha: “Is é seo Íosa Rí na nGiúdach.” Ansin céasadh mar aon leis beirt robálaithe, duine acu ar a dheis agus an duine eile ar a chlé. Bhí lucht an bhealaigh ag tabhairt achasáin dó, ag croitheadh a gceann agus ag rá: “Thusa, a leagfadh Teampall Dé anuas agus a thógfadh é i dtrí lá, saor thú féin, más tú Mac Dé, agus tar anuas ón gcros!” Bhí na hardsagairt freisin ag fonóid faoi, in éineacht leis na scríobhaithe agus na seanóirí, agus deiridís: “Shaor sé daoine eile, ní féidir leis é féin a shaoradh! Is é Rí Iosrael é: tagadh sé anuas ón gcros feasta agus creidfimid ann. As Dia a bhí a mhuinín; fuasclaíodh Dia anois é más gnaoi leis é, óir dúirt sé féin: ‘Is mé Mac Dé.’” Na robálaithe freisin a céasadh mar aon leis, bhí siad á aithisiú mar an gcéanna

Ón séú huair bhí dorchadas anuas ar an talamh go léir go dtí an naoú huair.
Agus timpeall an naoú huair, d’éigh Íosa de ghlór ard:
“Élí, Élí, lamá sabachtání?” is é sin le rá: “A Dhia, a Dhia, cén fáth ar thréig tú mé?”
Dúirt cuid díobh seo a bhí i láthair, ar a chloisteáil sin dóibh: “Ag glaoch ar Éilias atá sé seo,” agus leis sin rith duine acu chun spúinse a fháil, thum i bhfínéagar é, chuir ar bharr giolcaí é agus thug deoch dó. Ach dúirt an chuid eile: “Fan go bhfeicimid an dtiocfaidh Éilias á shaoradh.” Ach gháir Íosa amach arís de ghlór ard agus lig sé uaidh a spiorad.

Agus réabadh brat an Teampaill ina dhó ó bharr go bun, chrith an talamh agus réabadh na carraigeacha. D’oscail na tuamaí agus d’éirigh mórán de choirp na naomh a bhí ina suan: tháinig siad amach as na tuamaí tar éis d’Íosa aiséirí agus isteach sa chathair naofa agus taibhsíodh iad dá lán. An taoiseach céad, agus na fir a bhí ag gardáil Íosa in éineacht leis, nuair a chonaic siad an mhaidhm talún agus na nithe a tharla, bhí uamhan an-mhór orthu agus dúirt siad:
“Go dearfa, ba é Mac Dé é seo.” Agus bhí mórán ban ann agus iad i bhfad uaidh ag breathnú, iad siúd a bhí tar éis Íosa a leanúint ón nGailíl chun bheith ag freastal air: Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana orthu, agus Máire máthair Shéamais agus Iósaef, agus máthair chlann Zeibidé.

Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann, tháinig fear saibhir as Aramatáia darbh ainm Iósaef, agus é féin freisin ina dheisceabal ag Íosa; chuaigh sé seo go dtí Pioláit agus d’iarr corp Íosa air. D’ordaigh Pioláit ansin é a thabhairt dó. Thóg Iósaef an corp, d’fhill I línéadach glan é agus chuir ina thuama nua féin é a bhí gearrtha sa charraig aige; agus tar éis dó cloch mhór a iompú le béal an tuama d’imigh sé leis. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana ann agus an Mháire eile, agus iad ina suí os comhair na huaimhe.

Lá arna mhárach, is é sin le rá, an lá tar éis an ullmhaithe, chuaigh na hardsagairt agus na Fairisínigh i dteannta a chéile go dtí Pioláit agus dúirt siad: “A dhuine uasail, tá sé tar éis teacht chun ár gcuimhne go ndúirt an mealltóir úd agus é beo: ‘I gcionn trí lá, aiséireoidh mé.’ Ordaigh, dá bhrí sin, an uaimh a dhéanamh daingean go dtí an treas lá, le heagla go dtiocfadh a chuid deisceabal á fhuadach agus go ndéarfaidís leis an bpobal: ‘Tá sé éirithe ó mhairbh,’ agus ba mheasa an dul amú nua ná an chéad dul amú.”

Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Bíodh garda agaibh; seo libh, déanaigí daingean í mar is fearr is eolach sibh.”
D’imigh siad agus rinne siad an uaimh daingean, ag bualadh séala ar an gcloch agus ag ceapadh garda.

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

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