Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 9 - St Pachomius (292-346) founder of communities for monks
Summary: St Antony of Egypt started the solitary form of Christian monasticism for hermits. His contemporary was St Pachomius who was the first to set up communities of monks.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Impressed by the Kindness of Christians
Born in Thebes, Upper Egypt, 292 A.D. Pachomius was conscripted at an early age into the Roman army. Impressed by the kindness of Christians, he became a Christian on his release. Soon he became a disciple of the hermit Palemon, who taught him how to pray and meditate. From him he also learned some of the practical skills of laying stone and bricks.
A Community of Monks
When other disciples began to arrive, Pachomius had the idea of a community of monks. He went to live at Tabennesi on the Nile in central Egypt, where he himself became the administrator, organising those who came into a community of up to forty. The regime was austere, one meal a day with an optional supper, except on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Organisation
The day was organised around the liturgy, with time for manual work and devotional reading. This took the form of learning by heart extracts from the psalms and the Bible. The movement grew rapidly and Pachomius established a second monastery. Eventually there were nine monasteries for men and two for women. He appointed local superiors in charge of each of the houses. The superiors met at Easter and August to present an account of their monastery and celebrate the liturgy together.
Obedience more Important than Fasting and Prayer
Pachomius considered obedience carried out with zeal more important that fasting and prayer. The monks were not ordained, nor was he himself, but a priest from outside came to celebrate the liturgy.
His Rule and Influence
Pachomius wrote a Rule, which influenced St Basil in the East and, through a Latin translation by St Jerome, St Benedict in the West. He died of a plague in 346. A.D.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Impressed by the Kindness of Christians
Born in Thebes, Upper Egypt, 292 A.D. Pachomius was conscripted at an early age into the Roman army. Impressed by the kindness of Christians, he became a Christian on his release. Soon he became a disciple of the hermit Palemon, who taught him how to pray and meditate. From him he also learned some of the practical skills of laying stone and bricks.
A Community of Monks
When other disciples began to arrive, Pachomius had the idea of a community of monks. He went to live at Tabennesi on the Nile in central Egypt, where he himself became the administrator, organising those who came into a community of up to forty. The regime was austere, one meal a day with an optional supper, except on Wednesdays and Fridays.Organisation
The day was organised around the liturgy, with time for manual work and devotional reading. This took the form of learning by heart extracts from the psalms and the Bible. The movement grew rapidly and Pachomius established a second monastery. Eventually there were nine monasteries for men and two for women. He appointed local superiors in charge of each of the houses. The superiors met at Easter and August to present an account of their monastery and celebrate the liturgy together.
Obedience more Important than Fasting and Prayer
Pachomius considered obedience carried out with zeal more important that fasting and prayer. The monks were not ordained, nor was he himself, but a priest from outside came to celebrate the liturgy.
His Rule and Influence
Pachomius wrote a Rule, which influenced St Basil in the East and, through a Latin translation by St Jerome, St Benedict in the West. He died of a plague in 346. A.D.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are,
or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.
It is what you think about.
~ Dale Carnegie ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 9th May, 2026
Saturday, Fifth Week of Easter
The conflict between believer and the world is part of our Christian inheritance.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 16:1-10
Come across to Macedonia and help us.
From Cilicia Paul went to Derbe, and then on to Lystra. Here there was a disciple called Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer; but his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy, and Paul, who wanted to have him as a travelling companion, had him circumcised. This was on account of the Jews in the locality where everyone knew his father was a Greek.
As they visited one town after another, they passed on the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with instructions to respect them. So the churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers. They travelled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in Asia. When they reached the frontier of Mysia they thought to cross it into Bithynia, but as the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them, they went through Mysia and came down to Troas.One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and appealed to him in these words,
'Come across to Macedonia and help us.' Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 99:1-3. 5. R/v 1
Response Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Or Alleluia!
1. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. Response
2. Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Response
3. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord, who hung for us upon the tree, has risen from the tomb.
Alleluia!
or Col 3:1
Alleluia, alleluia!
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,
you must look for the things that are in heaven where Christ is,
sitting at God's right hand.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:18-21 Glory to you, O Lord
You do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the words I said to you:
A servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.
But it will be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Saturday, Fifth Week of Easter John 15:18-21
We are given a sense in today’s first reading of Paul’s mission being directed by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord. They travelled in response to the promptings of the Spirit. At the end of the reading, the Spirit communicates with Paul through the medium of a vision. One night, while Paul was in Troas on the North West coast of modern Turkey, he had a vision. Someone from the Roman province of Macedonia (northern Greece today), appeared to him and appealed to him in these words, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us’. Paul promptly responded to this invitation and it resulted in the gospel being preached on the continent of Europe for the first time.
The Spirit continues to guide the church today. We are aware that we are in a time of great transition in the church. It can be an unsettling time, but it is also an exciting time. We can be sure that the Spirit will direct us in these days. The Spirit is always at work in the life of the church, and in our own personal lives, bringing new life out of death, opening up new opportunities when past opportunities seem to have run their course.
In the gospel reading, Jesus alerts us to the likelihood that his disciples, the church, will experience the same hostility and persecution as he did. As he says, ‘A servant is not greater than his master’. We are all trying to be the Lord’s servants, and Jesus says plainly that if they persecuted him they will persecute his servants. Yet, just as the Spirit was with Jesus in his moments of struggle, so the same Spirit is with his church, all of us, in our moments of struggle, and we can trust the Spirit to bring us to where the Lord wants to take us. What the Lord needs from us is a willingness to be brought where the Spirit is leading us. This is something we all need to pray for at this time.
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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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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 9th May, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 16:1-10
Tar anall go dtí an Mhacadóin agcabhrú linn.
Lean Pól go Deirbé agus as sin go Liostra. Bhí deisceabal ansiúd darbh ainm Tiomóid. Giúdach ab ea a mháthair agus í tar éis iompú chun an chreidimh agus Gréagach ba ea an t-athair. Bhí ardmheas ag bráithre Liostra agus Iocoiniam ar Thiomóid agus ba mhaith le Pól go rachadh sé lena chois. Thóg sé é dá bhrí sin agus rinne sé é a thimpeallghearradh ar mhaithe leis na Giúdaigh a mhair sna críocha sin, mar bhí a fhios acu go léir gur Gréagach a athair.
Ag gabháil dóibh ó bhaile go baile, thug siad don phobal na reachta a bhí déanta ag na haspail agus ag na seanóirí in Iarúsailéim agus dúirt leo iad a choimeád. Sa tslí sin bhí na hEaglaisí á ndaingniú sa chreideamh agus ag dul i líonmhaire ó lá go lá. Ghabh siad trí dhúiche Fhrigia agus Ghalaite ach ní ligfeadh an Spiorad Naomh dóibh an dea-scéal a fhógairt san Áise. Ar theacht dóibh go dtí teorainn Mhisia, bhí siad ag iarraidh dul isteach i mBitinia ach ní ligfeadh Spiorad Íosa ann iad. Ghluais siad leo thar Mhisia dá bhrí sin agus síos go Tróas.
Bhí aisling ag Pól ann oíche amháin: bhí fear ón Macadóin ina sheasamh ann, ag impí air agus ag rá:
“Tar anall go dtí an Mhacadóin ag cabhrú linn.” Ní túisce a chonaic sé an aisling ná chuireamar faoi réir le dul go dtí an Mhacadóin mar gur thuigeamar as go raibh glaoite ag Dia orainn chun an dea-scéal a fhógairt ann dóibh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 99:1-3. 5. R/v 1
Freagra Gairdígí don Tiarna, a thíortha uile.
Malairt le freagra Alleluia!
1. Gairdígí don Tiarna, a thíortha uile; fónaigí don Tiarna go lúcháireach.
Tagaigí ina láthair le hamhráin áthais. Freagra
2. Bíodh a fhios agaibh gurb é an Tiarna is Dia ann. Eisean a rinne sinn; is leis féin sinn.
Sinne a phobal agus caoirigh a pháirce. Freagra
3. Nach maith é go deimhin an Tiarna; maireann a bhuanghrá go brách.
Is dílis é ó ghlúin go chéile. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 15:18-21 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Nach den saol sibh ach go ndearna mise sibh a thoghadh as an saol
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“Má thugann an saol fuath daoibh, bíodh a fhios agaibh gur thug sé fuath domsa romhaibh. Dá mba den saol sibh bheadh cion ag an saol ar a chuid féin.
Ach de bhrí nach den saol sibh ach go ndearna mise sibh a thoghadh as an saol, uime sin atá fuath ag an saol daoibh.
Cuimhnígí ar an bhfocal a dúirt mé libh:
‘ Níl aon seirbhíseach níos mó ná a mháistir.
Má rinne siad géarleanúint ormsa, déanfaidh siad géarleanúint oraibhse chomh maith. Má choinnigh siad mo bhriatharsa, coinneoidh siad bhur mbriatharsa chomh maith. Ach déanfaidh siad na nithe seo go léir libh, ar son m’ainmse,mar nach raibh aithne acu ar an té a chuir uaidh mé.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 10th May, 2026
Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A
Through baptism and confirmation we have all been given share in the life of God's Holy Spirit
which convinces us of the meaning of our Christian way
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8. 14-17
They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there, and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 65: 1-7. 16. 20. R/v 1
Response Cry out with joy to God all the earth.
Or Alleluia!
1. Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise. Say to God: 'How tremendous your deeds' Response
2. 'Before you all the earth shall bow; shall sing to you, sing to your name!'
Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among men. Response
3. He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him; he rules for ever by his might. Response
4. Come and hear, all who fear God. I will tell what he did for my soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer nor withhold his love from me. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 3:15-18
In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.
Reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience, so that those who slander you when you are living a good life in Christ may be proved wrong in the accusations that they bring.
And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong. Why, Christ himself, innocent though he was, had died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Jesus said:
'If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to John 14:15-21 Glory to you, O Lord
I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever, that Spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you.
In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Jesus Christ.
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 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, 10th May, 2026
An Séú Domnach den Cháisc
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 8:5-8. 14-17
Leag siad a lámha orthu agus fuair siad an Spiorad Naomh
Chuaigh Pilib go dtí cathair na Samáire agus thosaigh ag craobhscaoileadh dóibh i dtaobh Chríost. Thug na sluaite cluas ghéar dá raibh le rá ag Pilib mar ní hea amháin gur chuala siad a chuid cainte ach chonaic siad chomh maith na míorúiltí a bhí aige á ndéanamh. Mórán a raibh deamhain mhíghlana iontu, tháinig na deamhain amach astu agus iad ag screadadh de ghlór ard; agus leigheasadh mórán pairiliseach agus bacach, sa tslí go raibh áthas mór sa chathair sin.Nuair a chuala na haspail a bhí in Iarúsailéim go raibh an tSamáir tar éis glacadh le briathar Dé, sheol siad chucu Peadar agus Eoin. Ar theacht dóibhsean chucu, rinne siad guí ar a son go bhfaighidís an Spiorad Naomh, mar ní raibh an Spiorad tagtha fós ar dhuine ar bith acu mar ní raibh siad ach baiste in ainm an Tiarna Íosa. Ansin leag Peadar agus Eoin a lámha orthu agus fuair siad an Spiorad Naomh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 65: 1-7. 16. 20. R/v 1
Freagra Déanaigí gairdeas do Dhia, a thíortha uile.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia
1. Déanaigí gairdeas do Dhia, a thíortha uile canaigí clú a ainm.
Tugaigí moladh mórghlórach dó. Abraigí le Dia: 'Nach éachtach iad d'oibreacha.' Freagra
2. Adhrann an talamh uile thú, canann sí duit, canann sí do d'ainm.
Tagaigí agus féachaigí oibreacha Dé, na héachtaí a rinne sé i measc na ndaoine. Freagra
3. Chlaochlaigh sé an mhuir ina talamh thirim; chuathas de chois thar an abhainn.
Dá bhrí sin déanaimis lúcháir! Rialaíonn sé lena chumhacht go síoraí. Freagra
4. Sibhse uile ar a bhfuil eagla Dé, tagaigí, éistigí, is inseoidh mé daoibh faoina ndearna sé dom.
Go mba bheannaithe é Dianár thug an diúltú do mo ghuí,
is nár tharraing siar a bhuanghrá uaim. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 3:15-18
Básaíodh é sa cholainn, ach rinneadh beo é sa spiorad.
A clann ionúin, bíodh urraim in bhur gcroí istigh agaibh do Chríost mar Thiarna. Bígí réidh i gcónaí le cosaint a dhéanamh in aghaidh aon duine a iarrann oraibh bonn a thabhairt leis an dóchas atá ionaibh; ach déanaigí amhlaidh le cneastacht agus le hurraim, agus le coinsias glan, i dtreo, nuair a dhéantar tromaíocht oraibh go gcuirtear náire ar an muintir a dhéanann béadán ar bhur ndea-iompar i gCríost. Óir nach fearr fulaingt de chionn na maitheasa, más é toil Dé é, ná de chionn an oilc?
Óir fuair Críost bás an t-aon uair amháin i ngeall ar pheacaí, an fíréan thar ceann na neamhfhíréan, d’fhonn sinn a thabhairt i láthair Dé. Básaíodh é sa cholainn, ach rinneadh beo é sa spiorad.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 14:23
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Má bhíonn grá ag duine dom, coinneoidh sé mo bhriathar,
agus beidh grá ag m'Athair dó, agus tiocfaimid chuige,' a deir an Tiarna.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:15-21 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Iarrfaidh mé ar m’Athair é, agus tabharfaidh sé Abhcóide eile daoibh
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
Má tá grá agaibh dom, coinneoidh sibh m’aitheanta.
Agus iarrfaidh mé ar m’Athair é, agus tabharfaidh sé Abhcóide eile
chun fanacht faraibh go deo – Spiorad na Fírinne,
nach féidir don saol a ghlacadh, mar ní fheiceann sé é ná ní aithníonn sé é. Ach aithníonn sibhse é mar fanann sé faraibh, agus beidh sé ionaibh. Ní fhágfaidh mé in bhur ndílleachtaí sibh; tiocfaidh mé ar ais chugaibh.
Tamall beag eile agus siúd é an saol agus gan radharc aige ormsa feasta; ach tá radharc agaibhse orm, óir táimse beo agus beidh sibhse beo chomh maith. An lá sin aithneoidh sibh go bhfuilimse i m’Athair, agus go bhfuil sibhse ionamsa, agus mise ionaibh.
An té a bhfuil m’aitheantasa aige agus a choinníonn iad, sin é an té a bhfuil grá aige dom.
An té a bhfuil grá aige dom, beidh grá ag m’Athair dó, agus beidh grá agam dó, agus taispeánfaidh mé mé féin dó.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
