Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Sep 6 - St Ultan of Ardbraccan (d. 657) abbot-bishop carer of sick infants
Summary St Ultan, abbot-bishop at Ardbraccan in Co Meath, an important ecclesiastical centre in the middle ages. The image shown here is from the now de-consecrated Church of Ireland church at Ardbraccan. Today the catholic parish is centred at Bohermeen, Co Meath. Ultan is also associated with the care of sick children.
Patrick Duffy looks at what is known about him.
Monastery at Ardbraccan, Co Meath
Ultan is thought to have been a holy and learned man, possibly a pupil of St Declan, who founded a monastery and school at Ardbraccan, near Navan, Co Meath. Here he educated and fed poor students. He may also have illuminated manuscripts and written a life of St Brigid. He may also have been a bishop of the Desi of Meath.
Care of Sick Children
During the yellow plague (Buidhe Ghonaill) which broke out not alone in Ireland, but also in England, Scotland, and many European countries at that time, St Ultan made a shelter for children who suffered from the plague and at one time had up to 150 children near his monastery.
The First Baby's Bottle
He was original and inventive. The annals tell us he designed a feeding bottle using cows' teats, which he filled with milk and put into the babies' mouths with his own hands, probably the first mentioned baby's feeding bottle on record!
The Calendar of Aengus the Culdee
Ultan is also spoken of in the Féilire of Aengus the Culdee as "the great sinless prince in whom the little ones are flourishing: the children play greatly round Ultan of Ardbraccan."
"May Ultan's left hand be against it"
Another story tells that once when a fleet of ships appeared on the coast with the evident intention of plundering the monastery, Ultan was holding something in his right hand so he made the sign of the cross with his left hand. Immediately all the ships sank like lead into the sea, and the sailors attempting to swim ashore were turned into rocks. Hence the old Irish saying, "May Ultan's left hand be against it", and there is a belief that had he used his right hand no foreign fleet would have ever been able to land in Ireland!
Ardbraccan : important ecclesiastical centre
Ardbraccan (Irish "Hill of Breacan") is an ancient place of Christian worship near Navan in Co Meath, taking its name possibly from a St Breacan who was his predecessor there. It was an important ecclesiastical, even diocesan, centre in the middle ages.
Bohermeen today
The Catholic parish today is centred at Bohermeen, where the church and the primary school are called after St Ultan. St Ultan's feast is on 4th September.
Patrick Duffy looks at what is known about him.
Monastery at Ardbraccan, Co Meath
Ultan is thought to have been a holy and learned man, possibly a pupil of St Declan, who founded a monastery and school at Ardbraccan, near Navan, Co Meath. Here he educated and fed poor students. He may also have illuminated manuscripts and written a life of St Brigid. He may also have been a bishop of the Desi of Meath.Care of Sick ChildrenDuring the yellow plague (Buidhe Ghonaill) which broke out not alone in Ireland, but also in England, Scotland, and many European countries at that time, St Ultan made a shelter for children who suffered from the plague and at one time had up to 150 children near his monastery.
The First Baby's Bottle
He was original and inventive. The annals tell us he designed a feeding bottle using cows' teats, which he filled with milk and put into the babies' mouths with his own hands, probably the first mentioned baby's feeding bottle on record!
The Calendar of Aengus the Culdee
Ultan is also spoken of in the Féilire of Aengus the Culdee as "the great sinless prince in whom the little ones are flourishing: the children play greatly round Ultan of Ardbraccan."
"May Ultan's left hand be against it"
Another story tells that once when a fleet of ships appeared on the coast with the evident intention of plundering the monastery, Ultan was holding something in his right hand so he made the sign of the cross with his left hand. Immediately all the ships sank like lead into the sea, and the sailors attempting to swim ashore were turned into rocks. Hence the old Irish saying, "May Ultan's left hand be against it", and there is a belief that had he used his right hand no foreign fleet would have ever been able to land in Ireland!
Ardbraccan : important ecclesiastical centre
Ardbraccan (Irish "Hill of Breacan") is an ancient place of Christian worship near Navan in Co Meath, taking its name possibly from a St Breacan who was his predecessor there. It was an important ecclesiastical, even diocesan, centre in the middle ages.
Bohermeen today
The Catholic parish today is centred at Bohermeen, where the church and the primary school are called after St Ultan. St Ultan's feast is on 4th September.
St Ultan's Infant Hospital, Dublin (1919-1984)
Inspired by the story of St Ultan's care for children, political activist Dr Kathleen Lynn established St Ultan's Infant Hospital in 1919 at 37 Charlemont Street, Dublin, in response to socio-medical conditions in Dublin at the time. Many soldiers had come back from World War I with syphilis. Dr Lynn had been chief medical officer in James Connolly's Irish Citizens' Army and a Sinn Féin TD for County Dublin in the early 1920s. The hospital specialised in child-centred medicine, a new idea at the time. Every year the hospital organised a pilgrimage-cum-picnic to Ardbraccan, Co. Meath, the site of St Ultan’s well and his tiny church.
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Memorable Proverb for Today
Instead of saying
‘Let me know what I can do for you…’
Offer some concrete things you can do that would be helpful and you are prepared to do.
~Public Nurse Ann Marie ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 6th September, 2026
The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The three readings today deal with the same theme - neighbourly correction. This is a difficult art and can only be exercised through genuine love, the purest of motives and diplomatic skill. We have to learn to help and to heal each other. In this we have to avoid attitudes of prying, denunciation, jealousy and informing. The spirit of the Gospel lays down a procedure that must be our guide- The Jesus way
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel 33:7-9
If you do not speak to warn the wicked man I will hold you responsible for his death.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:'Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name.
If I say to a wicked man:
Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Response O that today you would listen to his voice!
Harden not your hearts.
1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Response
2. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. Response
3. O that today you would listen to his voice! 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:8-10
Love is the answer to every one of the commandments.
Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love.
If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations.
All the commandments:
You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself.
Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is truth, O Lord, consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!
Or 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!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 18:15-20
If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you:
the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
'I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
'I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.'
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 copyrighted 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, 6th September, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh. 33:7-9
Nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Tháinig briatar an Tiarna chugam:“A mhic an duine, tá tusa ceaptha agam mar gharda do mhuintir Iosrael; aon uair a chluineann tú focal uaimse cuir ar a bhfaichill iad thar mo cheannsa.
Má deirim le drochdhuine:
'A dhrochdhuine, éagfaidh tú gan teip'; agus nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, gheobhaidh an drochdhuine sin bás de bharr a pheaca ach cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Ach má thugann tú rabhadh don drochdhuine iompú óna aimhleas agus nach n-iompaíonn sé, gheobhaidh sé bás de bharr a pheaca ach tabharfaidh tusa do bheatha slán.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Freagra Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Ná calcaigí bhur gcroí.'
I. Tagaigí, déanaimis gairdéas don Tiarna, tógaimis gartha áthais do Charraig ;ar slánaithe.
Tagaimis ina láthair le moltaí, déanaimis gairdéas dó le laoithe. Freagra
2. Tagaigí, adhraimis agus sléachtaimis, feacaimis ár nglúine don Tiarna a rinne sinn.
Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne pobal a aoireachta agus caoirigh a lámh. Freagra
3. Á, dá n-eistfeadh sibh lena ghuth innÍu:'Na calcaigí bhur gcroí mar a tharla i Meríba,
mar a tharla an lá úd ag Masa san fhásach mar ar chuir bhur n-aithreacha cath orm,
mar ar thriail siad mé cé go bhfaca siad m'obair.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 13:8-10
Is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
A bhráithre, ná bíodh fiacha ar bith ag aon duine oraibh ach amháin fiacha an ghrá a thabhairt dá chéile. Mar an té a thugann grá dá chomharsa tá an dlí comhlíonta aige. Na haitheanta
“Ná déan drúise,” “ná déan marú,” “ná déan goid,” “ná santaigh,” agus aon aithne eile dá bhfuil ann, tá coimriú déanta orthu go léir san abairt seo: “Gráigh do chomharsa mar thú féin.”
Ní dhéanann an grá aon olc ar an gcomharsa, agus, dá bhrí sin, is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is fírinne do bhriathar A Thiarna. Déan sinn a naomhú san fhírinne.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 18:15-20
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail“Má dhéanann do bhráthair peaca i d’aghaidh, gabh chuige á áiteamh air is gan ann ach é agus tú.
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat; ach mura n-éisteann, beir leat duine nó beirt eile, chun go mbeadh focal a dó nó a trí d’fhinnéithe ag deimhniú gach scéil.
Má dhiúltaíonn sé éisteacht leo sin, inis don eaglais é; agus má dhiúltaíonn éisteacht leis an eaglais féin, bíodh sé ina phágánach agus ina phoibleacánach agat.
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, gach uile ní a cheanglaíonn sibh ar talamh beidh siad ceangailte ar neamh, agus nithe ar bith a scaoilfidh sibh ar talamh beidh siad scaoilte ar neamh.
Agus deirim go fírinneach rud eile libh má bhíonn beirt agaibh ar talamh ar aon aigne faoi rud ar bith a bhíonn le hiarraidh acu, beidh sé le fáil acu ó m’Athair atá ar neamh. Óir, mar a mbíonn beirt nó triúr tagtha i gceann a chéile i m’ainmse, bím féin ansin ina measc.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 13th September, 2026
The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The three readings today deal with the same theme - neighbourly correction. This is a difficult art and can only be exercised through genuine love, the purest of motives and diplomatic skill. We have to learn to help and to heal each other. In this we have to avoid attitudes of prying, denunciation, jealousy and informing. The spirit of the Gospel lays down a procedure that must be our guide- The Jesus way
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel 33:7-9
If you do not speak to warn the wicked man I will hold you responsible for his death.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:'Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name.
If I say to a wicked man:
Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Response O that today you would listen to his voice!
Harden not your hearts.
1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Response
2. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. Response
3. O that today you would listen to his voice! 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:8-10
Love is the answer to every one of the commandments.
Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love.
If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations.
All the commandments:
You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself.
Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is truth, O Lord, consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!
Or 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!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 18:15-20
If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you:
the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
'I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
'I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.'
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 copyrighted 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, 13th September, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh. 33:7-9
Nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Tháinig briatar an Tiarna chugam:“A mhic an duine, tá tusa ceaptha agam mar gharda do mhuintir Iosrael; aon uair a chluineann tú focal uaimse cuir ar a bhfaichill iad thar mo cheannsa.
Má deirim le drochdhuine:
'A dhrochdhuine, éagfaidh tú gan teip'; agus nach dtugtann tusa rabhadh dó iompú ó bhealach a aimhleasa, gheobhaidh an drochdhuine sin bás de bharr a pheaca ach cuirfidh mé an fhreagracht ortsa.
Ach má thugann tú rabhadh don drochdhuine iompú óna aimhleas agus nach n-iompaíonn sé, gheobhaidh sé bás de bharr a pheaca ach tabharfaidh tusa do bheatha slán.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 94: 1-2. 6-9. R: v8
Freagra Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Ná calcaigí bhur gcroí.'
I. Tagaigí, déanaimis gairdéas don Tiarna, tógaimis gartha áthais do Charraig ;ar slánaithe.
Tagaimis ina láthair le moltaí, déanaimis gairdéas dó le laoithe. Freagra
2. Tagaigí, adhraimis agus sléachtaimis, feacaimis ár nglúine don Tiarna a rinne sinn.
Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne pobal a aoireachta agus caoirigh a lámh. Freagra
3. Á, dá n-eistfeadh sibh lena ghuth innÍu:'Na calcaigí bhur gcroí mar a tharla i Meríba,
mar a tharla an lá úd ag Masa san fhásach mar ar chuir bhur n-aithreacha cath orm,
mar ar thriail siad mé cé go bhfaca siad m'obair.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 13:8-10
Is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
A bhráithre, ná bíodh fiacha ar bith ag aon duine oraibh ach amháin fiacha an ghrá a thabhairt dá chéile. Mar an té a thugann grá dá chomharsa tá an dlí comhlíonta aige. Na haitheanta
“Ná déan drúise,” “ná déan marú,” “ná déan goid,” “ná santaigh,” agus aon aithne eile dá bhfuil ann, tá coimriú déanta orthu go léir san abairt seo: “Gráigh do chomharsa mar thú féin.”
Ní dhéanann an grá aon olc ar an gcomharsa, agus, dá bhrí sin, is é an grá comhlíonadh an dlí.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Is fírinne do bhriathar A Thiarna. Déan sinn a naomhú san fhírinne.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 18:15-20
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail“Má dhéanann do bhráthair peaca i d’aghaidh, gabh chuige á áiteamh air is gan ann ach é agus tú.
Má éisteann sé leat, tá tú tar éis do bhráthair a thabhairt leat; ach mura n-éisteann, beir leat duine nó beirt eile, chun go mbeadh focal a dó nó a trí d’fhinnéithe ag deimhniú gach scéil.
Má dhiúltaíonn sé éisteacht leo sin, inis don eaglais é; agus má dhiúltaíonn éisteacht leis an eaglais féin, bíodh sé ina phágánach agus ina phoibleacánach agat.
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, gach uile ní a cheanglaíonn sibh ar talamh beidh siad ceangailte ar neamh, agus nithe ar bith a scaoilfidh sibh ar talamh beidh siad scaoilte ar neamh.
Agus deirim go fírinneach rud eile libh má bhíonn beirt agaibh ar talamh ar aon aigne faoi rud ar bith a bhíonn le hiarraidh acu, beidh sé le fáil acu ó m’Athair atá ar neamh. Óir, mar a mbíonn beirt nó triúr tagtha i gceann a chéile i m’ainmse, bím féin ansin ina measc.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
