Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Aug 18 - St Helen (c. 250–330) mother of Constantine
Summary: St Helen, also known as Helena of Constantinople (c. 250–330). She was the wife of the Roman Emperor Constantius (250-306), and the mother of Emperor Constantine I.She is traditionally associated with finding the relics of the true cross in Jerusalem.
Patrick Duffy traces her story.
British Princess or a tavern maid from Asia Minor?
An English legend would claim that Helen was a British princess, the daughter of Old King Cole, but this is untrue as Constantius her husband had divorced her long before he ever set foot in Britain.
Birth of Constantine
Flavia Iulia Helena was most probably born in the city of Drepanum - later renamed Helenopolis - in Bithynia (modern north-eastern Turkey) in 248/9 AD, the daughter of innkeepers. St Ambrose of Milan (De obitu Theodosii 42) says she was a stabularia, a maid in a tavern or inn. Around the year 270 she met Constantius Chlorus and a few years later gave birth to their son Constantine at Nish in Serbia.
Constantius Divorces Helen
But when in 292 Constantius became Caesar to the Augustus Maximian in the West in the newly formed tetrarchy that ruled the Roman empire, he divorced Helena for political reasons and married Theodora, Maximian's daughter. From then until Constantine became emperor, Helena's life was spent in relative obscurity and was probably deprived of the company of her son. Perhaps because of this she is seen as a patron of those undergoing divorce proceedings.
Constantine's Court in Trier and Rome
Around 306, after the troops of Constantius proclaimed Constantine the successor of his father at York, Helena joined Constantine's court, probably first at Trier and later at Rome. There are frescoes in the imperial palace in Trier, on which Helena is possibly depicted. When in 312 Constantine had defeated his rival Maxentius in the famous battle at the Milvian Bridge near Rome, Helena probably came to live in Rome. Perhaps to console her for the years of neglect when she was repudiated by her husband Constantius, Constantine gave her as her residence the Sessorian Palace at the south-east corner of the city, part of which survives today as the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. From this time onwards she held a prominent position at the imperial court and in 324 Helena received the title of Augusta.
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Constantine's popularity probably suffered severe damage from the murder in 326 of his son Crispus and his wife Fausta in a palace intrigue. So we find Helen now almost eighty years of age heading off to the East and to Jerusalem in the years 327-328, possibly on a goodwill political visit. Ecclesiastical historian Eusebius, however, describes Helen's journey as a pilgrimage (Vita Constantini 3.42-47), pointing out its religious aspects, showing Helen as full of religious enthusiasm, visiting the places where Christ had walked, caring for the poor and needy and generous in endowing churches to be built on the holy places.
The tradition is that while Helen was in Jerusalem in the years 327-8 she discovered the true cross. She ordered that the 200 year-old Temple of Venus built in the time of the emperor Hadrian be torn down and it was here that the tomb of Jesus and the relics of three crosses were found. Over this she built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
Veneration of the Cross
The Sermons of Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, record that remains of the Cross were already venerated in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the end of the 340s. Today within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre there are 29 steps leading down to the Armenian Chapel of St Helena, where the relics of the cross were said to have been located. The remains of the cross were relocated to Rome, and are on display in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
Bethlehem and the Eleona
Helen also went to Bethlehem where she built another church over the cave where Jesus was born. Also back in Jerusalem, she built a third basilica on the Mount of Olives where Jesus ascended into heaven. Constantine financed this building project and called the Ascension church "the Eleona" in honour of his mother.
Helen's Death
Shortly after her journey to the East, Helen died. She was buried in Rome in a mausoleum Constantine built for her near the Church of Saints Marcellinus and Peter on the Via Labicana. Roma 95
(The porphyry sarcophagus which contained her remains is now in the Vatican Museum).
Image above Ss Marcellinus & Peter's Church,
Via Labicana. Rome 95
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Memorable Proverb for Today
"Behind every great woman is .. another great woman"
...Kathe Hodges
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 18th August, 2026
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel 28:1 -10
Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows,
'Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, " The Lord the say this:
Being swollen with pride, you have said: I am a god; I am sitting on the throne of God, surrounded by the seas. Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.
You are wiser now than Daniel; there is no sage as wise as you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence you have amassed great wealth;
you have piles of gold and silver inside your treasure-houses.
Such is your skill in trading, your wealth has continued to increase,
and with this your heart has grown more arrogant.
And so, the Lord says this:
Since you consider yourself the equal of God,
very well, I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most barbarous of the nations.
They will draw sword against your fine wisdom, they will defile your glory; they will throw you down into the pit and you will die a violent death surrounded by the seas.
Are you still going to say: 'I am a god, when your murderers confront you?'
No, you are a man and not a god in the clutches of your murderers!
You will die like the uncircumcised – at the hand of foreigners. For I have spoken
- it is the Lord who speaks."'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Deut 32: 26-27, 27-28, 30, 35-36 R/v 39
Response It is the Lord who deals death and life.
1. I should crush them to dust, said the Lord. I should wipe out their memory among men,
did I not fear the boasting of the enemy. But let not their foes be mistaken! Response
2. Let them not say: Our own power wins the victory, the Lord plays no part in this.
What a nation of short sight it is; in them there is no understanding. Response
3 How else could one man rout a thousand, how could two put ten thousand to flight,
were it not that their Rock has sold them, that the Lord has delivered them up? Response
4. For it is close, the day of their ruin; their doom comes at speed.
For the Lord will see his people righted, he will take pity on his servants. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 24: 4. 5
Alleluia, alleluia
Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth.
Alleluia !
or Mt 5: 3
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus Christ was rich, but he became poor for your sakes,
to make you rich out of his poverty.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 19:23-30 Glory to you, O Lord
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said to his disciples,'I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.'
When the disciples heard this they were astonished.
'Who can be saved, then?' they said.
Jesus gazed at them. 'For men' he told them ~ 'this is impossible;
for God everything is possible.
Then Peter spoke.
What about us?' he said to him 'We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?'
Jesus said to him,
'I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory,
you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land
for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.
'Many who are first will be last, and the last, first
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 19:23-30
Jesus’ image of a camel passing through the eye of a needle has been spoken of as an example of comic exaggeration. The person with the plank in their eye would be another example. Jesus often used such comic exaggeration to get people’s attention and perhaps to shock them out of a sense of complacency. When Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, the astonished disciples ask, ‘Who can be saved, then?’ Jesus’ reply, ‘For people, this is impossible; for God everything is possible’, suggests that the attaining of salvation is primarily God’s doing rather than our doing. It is a divine attainment rather than a human one.
We can only enter into the life of God with the help that God alone can give us. We need to depend fully on God to enter the kingdom of heaven, opening ourselves up in our poverty to his gracious working on our behalf. This is where Jesus sees the problem with excessive attachment to wealth or possessions. If we seek our security in wealth or possessions, we will cease to rely on God who alone gives access to salvation, to life in abundance. They might even lead us to say, in the words of today’s first reading, ‘I am a god’. If, acknowledging our poverty, we place our security in God, in the Lord, then, according to Jesus in today’s gospel reading, we will be abundantly repaid in this earthly life, and also inherit eternal life
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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: Tuesday, 18th August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh. 28: 1-10
Cé gur duine thú agus nach dia, measann tú bheith ar aon chéim le Dia.
Tháinig briathar an Tiarna chugam:
“A mhic an duine, abair le prionsa na Tuíre: Seo mar a deir an Tiarna Dia:
Dúirt tú le teann mórchúise: Is dia mé, suím in ionad Dé i lár na farraige.
Cé gur duine thú agus nach dia, measann tú bheith ar aon chéim le Dia.
Is eagnaí thú ná Dainéil; níl aon rún ceilte ort.Le gaois agus le tuiscint ghnóthaigh tú saibhreas; chruinnigh tú ór agus airgead i do chistí.
Mhéadaigh tú do stór le do chríonnacht i gcúrsaí gnó; bhorr do chroí de thairbhe do mhaoine.
Uime sin, seo mar a deir an Tiarna Dia:
Measann tú bheith ar aon chéim le Dia.
Féach, tabharfaidh mé coimhthígh anuas ort, an náisiún is barbartha ar na náisiúin; tarraingeoidh siad an claíomh in aghaidh scéimh d’eagna, truailleoidh siad do ghlóir. Teilgfidh siad síos thú go Seól, agus gheobhaidh tú anbhás i gceartlár na farraige móire.
An ndéarfaidh tú fós: ‘Is dia mé,’ i láthair lucht do mharfa?
Ní hea, is duine thú agus ní dia, agus tú i lámha marfóirí!
Éagfaidh tú le láimh an choimhthígh amhail duine gan timpeallghearradh. Mise a dúirt –
an Tiarna Dia a labhraíonn.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Deut 32: 26-27, 27-28, 30, 35-36 R/v 39
Freagra Is mé údar an bháis agus údar an beatha.
1. “Ba chóir dom iad a scaipeadh i gcéin,” a déarfainn agus iad a scrios ó chuimhne daoine,” mura mbeadh gurb eagal liom maíomh an namhad, le heagla go dtabharfadh a n-eascairde breith bhréagach. Freagra
2. Le heagla go ndéarfaidís: “Tá an lá lenár neart! Níl aon bhaint ag an Tiarna leis seo go léir!”
Is náisiún gan chomhairle iad! Níl aon tuiscint acu! Freagra
3. Conas a d’fhéadfadh duine an teitheadh a chur ar mhíle agus beirt ar dheich míle,
murar dhíol a gCarraig iad agus gur thug an Tiarna ar láimh iad? Freagra
4. Óir tá lá a scriosta in achmaireacht agus tá a dtubaiste ar sodar faoina ndéin.
Óir tabharfaidh an Tiarna breith i bhfabhar a phobail, agus beidh trua aige dá shearbhóntaí. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 19: 23-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is fusa do chamall dul trí chró snáthaide ná do dhuine saibhir dul isteach i ríocht Dé.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:“Deirim libh go fírinneach, beidh sé deacair ar an bhfear saibhir dul isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas. Agus táim á rá libh arís: is fusa do chamall dul trí chró snáthaide
ná do dhuine saibhir dul isteach i ríocht Dé.”
Ar a chloisteáil sin do na deisceabail, ghabh iontas mór iad agus dúirt siad: “Cé is féidir a shlánú más ea?”
Bhreathnaigh Íosa orthu agus dúirt:
“Tá sé seo dodhéanta ag daoine, ach tá an uile ní sodhéanta ag Dia.”
Labhair Peadar ansin agus dúirt sé leis: “Sinne, féach, d’fhágamar an uile ní agus leanamar thusa: cad a bheidh againn, más ea?”
Dúirt Íosa leo:
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, san athghiniúint, nuair a bheidh Mac an Duine ina shuí i ríchathaoir a ghlóire, beidh sibhse a bhí do mo leanúint in bhur suí freisin i dhá ríchathaoir déag ag tabhairt breithe ar dhá threibh déag Iosrael.
Agus duine ar bith a d’fhág tithe nó deartháireacha nó deirfiúracha, nó athair nó máthair, nó bean, nó clann, nó tailte mar gheall ar m’ainm, gheobhaidh sé níos mó faoi chéad agus an bheatha shíoraí mar oidhreacht.
“Beidh mórán dá bhfuil ar tosach ar deireadh agus dá bhfuil ar deireadh ar tosach."
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd August, 2026
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Because of Peter’s faith the promise is given to him. It is through faith that the Church at all times can have trust in the promise of God’s protecting power. So encouraged, we can meet the difficulties and human weaknesses that are part of the Church’s life. We all need to search for deeper faith through study of the Scriptures and the teaching of the Church, and by attentive prayer.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 22:19-23
I place the key of the House of David upon his shoulder.
Thus says the Lord of hosts to Shebna, the master of the palace:
I dismiss you from your office, I remove you from your post,
and the same day I call on my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
I invest him with your robe, gird him with your sash,
entrust him with your authority; and he shall be a father
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah.
I place the key of the House of David on his shoulder;
should he open, no one shall close, should he close, no one shall open.
I drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a throne of glory for his father's house.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 137: 1-3. 6. 8. R/ v8
Response Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands.
1. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth.
Before the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple. Response
2. I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul. Response
3. The Lord is high though he looks on the lowly and the haughty he knows from afar
Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 11:33-36
All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him.
How rich are the depths of God - how deep his wisdom and knowledge - and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods!Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 2 Cor 5:19
Alleluia, alleluia!
God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.
Alleluia!
Or Mt 16:16
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 16:13-20
You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples,'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'
And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets'.
'But you,' he said 'who do you say I am?'
Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God'.
Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.'
Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia 22:19-23
Leagaim eochair theach Dháiví ar a ghualainn.
Seo mar a deir Tiarna na Slua le Seabna, máistir an phálais:
Brisfidh mé as do phost thú, as d’ionad stróicim thú anuas;
agus an lá céanna glaoim ar mo sheirbhíseach, Eiliácaím mac Hilciá.
Tá mé chun a ghléasadh i d’ionarsa, chun é a fheistiú le do shursaing, agus tugaim do chumhacht isteach ina láimh,
agus beidh sé ina athair ag muintir Iarúsailéim, agus ag teaghlach Iúdá.
Tá mé ag leagan eochair theach Dháiví ar a ghualainn;
má osclaíonn sé, ní dhúnfar; má dhúnann, ní osclófar.
Cuirim i bhfostú é mar bheadh tairne in áit dhaingean: déanfar cathaoir onóra de i gcomhair theaghlach a athar.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 137: 1-3. 6. 8. R/ v8
Freagra A Thiarna, maireann do mhaitheas go síoraí;
na tréig obair do lámh.
1. Gabhaim buíochas leat, a Thiarna, ó mo chroí go hiomlán mar gur éist tú le briathra mo bhéil.
I bhfianaisé na n-aingeal móraim thú; sléachtáim i dtreo do theampaill naofa. Freagra
2. Gabhaim buíochas leat as ucht do mhaitheasa is do dhílsé, mar gur mó fós do gheallúint ná do chlú.
Nuair a ghlaoigh mé ort d'éist tú liom, agus thúg tú neart breisé do m'anam. Freagra
3. Dá airde é an Tiarna, is cúram dó an t-íséal; ach breathnaíonn sé an t-uaibhreach i bhfad uaidh.
A Thiarna, maireann do mhaitheas go síoraí; na tréig obairdo lámh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 11:33-36
Is uaidh agus tríd agus dó gach uile ní dá bhfuil ann.
Cad é doimhneas ollmhaitheasaí agus eagna agus eolas Dé!Nach do-thuigthe atá a bhreithiúnais agus nach dorianta atá a bhealaí!
“Cé a thuig aigne an Tiarna? Nó cé a bhí riamh ina chomhairleoir aige?”
Nó “Cé a thug rud riamh dó go bhfaighidh sé a chúiteamh?”
Mar is uaidhsean agus trídsean agus dósan gach uile ní dá bhfuil ann.
Glóir go deo leis. Amen.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Mth 16: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
Deirimse leatsa gurtú Peadar agus is ar an gcarraig seo a thógfaidh mé m’eaglais,
agus ní bhuafaidh geataí ifrinn uirthi.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 16:13-20
Is tü Peadar, agus bhéarfaidh mé duit eochracha ríocht na bhflaitheas.
San am sin ar theacht isteach i gceantar Chéasaráia Philib dó, d’fhiafraigh Íosa dá chuid deisceabal: 'Cé hé a deir na daoine Mac an Duine?”Dúirt siad: “Deir cuid acu Eoin Baiste; cuid eile acu Éilias; tuilleadh acu Irimia nó duine de na fáithe.”
Dúirt sé leo: “Ach cé a deir sibhse mé?”
Dúirt Síomón Peadar á fhreagairt: “Is tú an Críost, Mac Dé bheo.”
D’fhreagair Íosa agus dúirt sé leis:
“Is méanar duit, a Shíomóin Bar Ióna, óir ní fuil agus feoil a d’fhoilsigh duit é ach m’Athair atá ar neamh. Agus deirimse leatsa gur tú Peadar agus is ar an gcarraig seo a thógfaidh mé m’eaglais, agus ní bhuafaidh geataí ifrinn uirthi. Agus tabharfaidh mé duit eochracha ríocht na bhflaitheas; rud ar bith a cheanglaíonn tú ar talamh beidh sé ceangailte ar neamh, agus rud ar bith a scaoileann tú ar talamh beidh sé scaoilte ar neamh.”
Chuir sé mar acht ar na deisceabail ansin gan a rá le duine ar bith gurbh é féin an Críost.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
