Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jul 5 - St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-39)
Summary: St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539) briefly worked as a medical doctor before becoming a priest. He popularised the 40 hour devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and founded the Barnabites.
At a time of laxity and abuses God seems to raise up charismatic figures who can bring new life and hope into a tired Church. One such was Anthony, born in Cremona, south of Milan in the 16th Century.
Patrick Duffy charts his life.
Early Life
Anthony's father died when he was two and his mother, a widow at eighteen, devoted herself completely to bringing up her son. He studied philosophy and medicine at Padua. He returned to his home town, but it is not clear if he actually practised as a doctor. Convinced that people need spiritual as well as physical healing, he became a priest and in 1530 founded the Clerks Regular of St Paul that later became known as the Barnabites.
Pauline Spirituality
At the same time a group of women around Ludovica Torelli, Countess of Guastella, chose him as their spiritual director and became a non-cloistered community known as the Angelics of St Paul, sharing the same spirituality. A third group, of lay people, became known as the Marrieds of St Paul.
His Aim
At a time of great laxity and corruption in the Church, Anthony's aim was "to regenerate and revive the love of divine worship and a properly Christian way of life by frequent preaching and faithful ministry of the sacraments". He emphasised Pauline doctrine and devotion to the Eucharist.
Forty Hours
In 1539 his priests began working out of the Church of St Barnabas at Milan and became known as Barnabites. Anthony spread the Milanese custom of three days devotion to the Eucharist - the Forty Hours. And he introduced the custom of ringing Church bells on Friday evening at three to mark the death of Christ. In a context of laxity among the clergy, his zeal was probably an embarrassment. He was twice denounced to Rome for heresy but each time was exonerated.
Early Death
Anthony wore himself out in the service of Jesus and the poor and died aged thirty-six. His order, however, survived, growing steadily, but never becoming very large. His priests chose to work among the poorest of the poor and the "excluded", especially in big cities. They spread to France, Germany, Belgium, the Americas and they have a small missionary presence in Africa. Pope Leo XIII beatified Anthony in 1890 and canonised him in 1897.
At a time of laxity and abuses God seems to raise up charismatic figures who can bring new life and hope into a tired Church. One such was Anthony, born in Cremona, south of Milan in the 16th Century. Patrick Duffy charts his life.
Early Life
Anthony's father died when he was two and his mother, a widow at eighteen, devoted herself completely to bringing up her son. He studied philosophy and medicine at Padua. He returned to his home town, but it is not clear if he actually practised as a doctor. Convinced that people need spiritual as well as physical healing, he became a priest and in 1530 founded the Clerks Regular of St Paul that later became known as the Barnabites.
Pauline Spirituality
At the same time a group of women around Ludovica Torelli, Countess of Guastella, chose him as their spiritual director and became a non-cloistered community known as the Angelics of St Paul, sharing the same spirituality. A third group, of lay people, became known as the Marrieds of St Paul.
His Aim
At a time of great laxity and corruption in the Church, Anthony's aim was "to regenerate and revive the love of divine worship and a properly Christian way of life by frequent preaching and faithful ministry of the sacraments". He emphasised Pauline doctrine and devotion to the Eucharist.
Forty HoursIn 1539 his priests began working out of the Church of St Barnabas at Milan and became known as Barnabites. Anthony spread the Milanese custom of three days devotion to the Eucharist - the Forty Hours. And he introduced the custom of ringing Church bells on Friday evening at three to mark the death of Christ. In a context of laxity among the clergy, his zeal was probably an embarrassment. He was twice denounced to Rome for heresy but each time was exonerated.
Early Death
Anthony wore himself out in the service of Jesus and the poor and died aged thirty-six. His order, however, survived, growing steadily, but never becoming very large. His priests chose to work among the poorest of the poor and the "excluded", especially in big cities. They spread to France, Germany, Belgium, the Americas and they have a small missionary presence in Africa. Pope Leo XIII beatified Anthony in 1890 and canonised him in 1897.
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Memorable Saying for Today
Jesus said to the rich young man,
If you want to be perfect, (J) go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;
and come, follow Me.” ...Mt 19:16
and 500 years later
Anthony Mary Zaccaria said to himself:
That's what I'll do.
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 5th July, 2026
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Zechariah 9:9-10
See now, your king comes humbly to you
The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war will be banished. He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
The Word of the Lord. And with your spirit.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144: 1-2. 8-11. 13-14. R/v 1
Response I will bless your name for ever, O God my King
1. I will give you glory, O God my King, I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. Response
2. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. Response
3. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
4. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:9. 11-13
If by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you.In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
My brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
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!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 11:25-30 Glory to you, O Lord
I am gentle and humble in heart.
Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 5th July, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an dara Leabhar Zachária Fáidh 9:9-10
Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Déan gairdeas go spleodrach, a iníon Shíón; tóg gártha áthais, a iníon Iarúsailéim.Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat, é go caithréimeach slán,
agus go ceansa, agus ag marcaíocht ar asal, ar bhromaichín, ar shearrach asail. Scuabfaidh sé an carbad chun siúil as Eafráim agus an capall catha as Iarúsailéim; agus brisfear an bogha cogaidh.
Labhróidh sé leis na náisiúin faoin tsíocháin, agus beidh sé i réim ó mhuir go muir agus ón Abhainn go himill na cruinne.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 144: 1-2. 8-11. 13-14. R/v 1
Freagra Beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor, a Dhia liom, is a Rí.
1. Tabharíaidh mé glóir duit, a Dhia liom, is a Rí; beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor.
Beannóidh mé thú gach uile lá agus molfaidh mé thú de shíor. Freagra
2. Is ceansa trócaireach é an Tiarna, mall chun feirge agus lán de chineáltas.
Is maith é an Tiarna don uile ní, is is trócaireach é dá oibreacha uile. Freagra
3. Ceiliúriaidh d'oibreacha thú, a Thiarna, agus beannóidh do dhaoine naofa thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir do ríochta, agus foilséoidh siad do chumhacht. Freagra
4. Is dílis an Tiarna ina bhriathra uile, agus is naofa é ina oibreacha go léir.
Coinníonn an Tiarna gach duine a bhíonn ag titim agus
tógann sé suas gach duine a bhíonn ar lár. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:9. 11-13
Má bhásaíonn sibh gníomhartha na colainne le cúnamh an Spioraid, mairfidh sibh beo.
A bhráithre, ní faoi réir na colainne atá sibhse, áfach, ach faoi réir an Spioraid más rud é go bhfuil Spiorad Dé lonnaithe ionaibh. Má tá duine gan Spiorad Chríost aige ní le Críost é. Ach má tá Críost ionaibh, más marbh féin bhur gcorp de bharr an pheaca, is beo bhur spiorad de bharr na fíréantachta. Go deimhin má bhíonn Spiorad an té a thóg Críost ó mhairbh lonnaithe ionaibh, déanfaidh an té sin a thóg Críost ó mhairbh bhur gcorp básmhar a bheoú trína Spiorad atá lonnaithe ionaibh.Ar an ábhar sin, a bhráithre, níl aon cheangal ag an gcolainn orainn go mairfimis dá réir. Más faoi réir na colainne a mhaireann sibh tá an bás i ndán daoibh; ach má bhásaíonn sibh gníomhartha na colainne le cúnamh an Spioraid, mairfidh sibh beo.
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 Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha, 11:25-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí
San am sin labhair Íosa agus dúirt:
“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. Sea, a Athair, óir is amhlaidh sin ba mhaith leat é. Tá gach aon ní tugtha domsa ag m’Athair. Agus níl aithne ag aon neach ar an Mac ach amháin ag an Athair, ná níl aithne ag aon neach ar an Athair ach amháin ag an Mac agus an té ar toil leis an Mac a fhoilsiú dó.“Tagaigí chugam, sibhse uile a bhfuil saothar agus tromualach oraibh, agus tabharfaidh mé faoiseamh daoibh. Tógaigí oraibh mo chuing agus tagaigí ar scoil chugamsa, mar táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí, agus gheobhaidh sibh faoiseamh do bhur n-anamacha; óir tá mo chuing so-iompair agus m’ualach éadrom.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Zechariah 9:9-10
See now, your king comes humbly to you
The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war will be banished. He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
The Word of the Lord. And with your spirit.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144: 1-2. 8-11. 13-14. R/v 1
Response I will bless your name for ever, O God my King
1. I will give you glory, O God my King, I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day and praise your name for ever. Response
2. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. Response
3. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
4. The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:9. 11-13
If by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you.In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
My brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
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!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 11:25-30 Glory to you, O Lord
I am gentle and humble in heart.
Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an dara Leabhar Zachária Fáidh 9:9-10
Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Déan gairdeas go spleodrach, a iníon Shíón; tóg gártha áthais, a iníon Iarúsailéim.Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat, é go caithréimeach slán,
agus go ceansa, agus ag marcaíocht ar asal, ar bhromaichín, ar shearrach asail. Scuabfaidh sé an carbad chun siúil as Eafráim agus an capall catha as Iarúsailéim; agus brisfear an bogha cogaidh.
Labhróidh sé leis na náisiúin faoin tsíocháin, agus beidh sé i réim ó mhuir go muir agus ón Abhainn go himill na cruinne.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 144: 1-2. 8-11. 13-14. R/v 1
Freagra Beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor, a Dhia liom, is a Rí.
1. Tabharíaidh mé glóir duit, a Dhia liom, is a Rí; beannóidh mé d'ainm de shíor.
Beannóidh mé thú gach uile lá agus molfaidh mé thú de shíor. Freagra
2. Is ceansa trócaireach é an Tiarna, mall chun feirge agus lán de chineáltas.
Is maith é an Tiarna don uile ní, is is trócaireach é dá oibreacha uile. Freagra
3. Ceiliúriaidh d'oibreacha thú, a Thiarna, agus beannóidh do dhaoine naofa thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir do ríochta, agus foilséoidh siad do chumhacht. Freagra
4. Is dílis an Tiarna ina bhriathra uile, agus is naofa é ina oibreacha go léir.
Coinníonn an Tiarna gach duine a bhíonn ag titim agus
tógann sé suas gach duine a bhíonn ar lár. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:9. 11-13
Má bhásaíonn sibh gníomhartha na colainne le cúnamh an Spioraid, mairfidh sibh beo.
A bhráithre, ní faoi réir na colainne atá sibhse, áfach, ach faoi réir an Spioraid más rud é go bhfuil Spiorad Dé lonnaithe ionaibh. Má tá duine gan Spiorad Chríost aige ní le Críost é. Ach má tá Críost ionaibh, más marbh féin bhur gcorp de bharr an pheaca, is beo bhur spiorad de bharr na fíréantachta. Go deimhin má bhíonn Spiorad an té a thóg Críost ó mhairbh lonnaithe ionaibh, déanfaidh an té sin a thóg Críost ó mhairbh bhur gcorp básmhar a bheoú trína Spiorad atá lonnaithe ionaibh.Ar an ábhar sin, a bhráithre, níl aon cheangal ag an gcolainn orainn go mairfimis dá réir. Más faoi réir na colainne a mhaireann sibh tá an bás i ndán daoibh; ach má bhásaíonn sibh gníomhartha na colainne le cúnamh an Spioraid, mairfidh sibh beo.
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 Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha, 11:25-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí
San am sin labhair Íosa agus dúirt:
“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. Sea, a Athair, óir is amhlaidh sin ba mhaith leat é. Tá gach aon ní tugtha domsa ag m’Athair. Agus níl aithne ag aon neach ar an Mac ach amháin ag an Athair, ná níl aithne ag aon neach ar an Athair ach amháin ag an Mac agus an té ar toil leis an Mac a fhoilsiú dó.“Tagaigí chugam, sibhse uile a bhfuil saothar agus tromualach oraibh, agus tabharfaidh mé faoiseamh daoibh. Tógaigí oraibh mo chuing agus tagaigí ar scoil chugamsa, mar táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí, agus gheobhaidh sibh faoiseamh do bhur n-anamacha; óir tá mo chuing so-iompair agus m’ualach éadrom.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
