Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Sep 24 - St Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury (602-690)
Summary: St Theodore of Canterbury began religious life as a Greek monk living in Rome who was sent by Pope Vitalian (657-672) to be the Archbishop of Canterbury. Through making visitations, holding synods and through prudent administration, he brought order and peace to the Church in England.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Greek monk
Theodore was a 66 year-old monk of proven integrity, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, who had been educated at Antioch and Constantinople. He was staying in Rome when Pope Vitalian, on the advice of the abbot Adrian, ordained him and appointed him to be archbishop of Canterbury.
Theodore's journey
Accompanied by the abbot Adrian, who had made the journey before, he set out in May 668 and, after passing to Marseilles, travelled overland through France, he arrived in Canterbury a year later.
An able administrator
Theodore made a visitation of the English Churches to see the situation for himself and appointed bishops to the various sees that had been vacant for some time.
Settled disputes
He had to mediate in a dispute between the hot-tempered Wilfrid, whom he appointed archbishop of York, and the rather milder and meek Chad, whom he had previously appointed to York, and now persuaded instead to become bishop of Lichfield.
Organising synods
In 672 Theodore held the first synod of the Anglo-Saxon Church at Hertford and again at Hatfield in 675.
Founded school at Canterbury
He also founded an important school at Canterbury, where not only Latin and Greek, but also Roman Law and biblical exegesis were taught. He encouraged the use of plainchant and the Roman way of calculating the date for Easter.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Greek monk
Theodore was a 66 year-old monk of proven integrity, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, who had been educated at Antioch and Constantinople. He was staying in Rome when Pope Vitalian, on the advice of the abbot Adrian, ordained him and appointed him to be archbishop of Canterbury.Theodore's journey
Accompanied by the abbot Adrian, who had made the journey before, he set out in May 668 and, after passing to Marseilles, travelled overland through France, he arrived in Canterbury a year later.
An able administrator
Theodore made a visitation of the English Churches to see the situation for himself and appointed bishops to the various sees that had been vacant for some time.
Settled disputes
He had to mediate in a dispute between the hot-tempered Wilfrid, whom he appointed archbishop of York, and the rather milder and meek Chad, whom he had previously appointed to York, and now persuaded instead to become bishop of Lichfield.
Organising synodsIn 672 Theodore held the first synod of the Anglo-Saxon Church at Hertford and again at Hatfield in 675.
Founded school at Canterbury
He also founded an important school at Canterbury, where not only Latin and Greek, but also Roman Law and biblical exegesis were taught. He encouraged the use of plainchant and the Roman way of calculating the date for Easter.
Death and influence
When he died, he was buried beside St Augustine, the first archbishop of Canterbury (597-604). Bede said of him:
"The Churches of England made greater progress during his pontificate than they had ever done before."
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Memorable Proverb for Today
Look out into the universe and contemplate the glory of God.
Observe the stars, millions of them, twinkling in the night sky,
all with a message of unity, order and at peace ,
part of the very nature of God.
...Sai Baba
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 24th September, 2026
Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
There is nothing new under the sun.
Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity!
For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?
A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go. All things are wearisome. No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing.
What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun.
Take anything of which it may be said, 'Look now, this is new'. Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 89: 3-6. 12-14. 17. R/v 1
Response O Lord, you have been our refuge
from one generation to the next.
1. You turn men back into dust and say: 'Go back, sons of men:
To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night. Response
2. You sweep men away like a dream, like grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades. Response
3. Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. Response
4. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 118: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open my eyes, O Lord, that I am consider the wonders of your law.
Alleluia !
or Jn 14: 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
no one can come to the Father except through me .
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 9:7-9 Glory to you, O Lord
I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?'
Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was going on; and he was puzzled,
because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life.
But Herod said, 'John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?' And he was anxious to see Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Thursday, Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 9:7-9
It is said of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, at the end of today’s gospel reading that ‘he was anxious to see Jesus’. Why would a powerful ruler like Herod Antipas want to see a preacher and healer from a small village in Galilee? The gospel reading says that he was puzzled because of the various reports he was hearing about Jesus. He was asking himself, ‘Who is this?’ This is the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded in prison. According to Luke’s gospel from which we are reading, Herod did get to see Jesus on the eve of Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to get his view on this troublesome prophet. According to Luke, Herod questioned him at some length but Jesus gave him no answer. So Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt, putting an elegant robe on him in mockery and sent him back to Pilate. Herod’s curiosity about Jesus did not bring him to faith in Jesus. Yet, sometimes people’s curiosity about Jesus does bring them to faith.
According to the gospel of John, Nicodemus’ curiosity about Jesus brought him to faith eventually. Even people of faith can be curious about Jesus and their curiosity can help to deepen their faith. There is much to be curious about when it comes to Jesus. There is such a depth to him that there is no limit to the questions we could ask in his regard. To believe is to see dimly, as Saint Paul says, and, as people of faith, we will always be trying to see more clearly. It is good to notice the questions that our faith gives rise to, questions about God, about Jesus, about the world. Exploring those questions can lead to a deepening of our faith, to a growth in our relationship with the Lord.
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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: Thursday, 24th September, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Leabhar Cóhelet 1:2-11
Níl aon ní nua ann faoi luí na gréine.
Buaic na baoise a deir Cóheilit, buaic na baoise! Níl in aon ní ach baois! Cén tairbhe
do dhuine an saothar uile a dhéanann sé faoi luí na gréine?
Imíonn glúin amháin as agus tagann ceann eile ina háit ach fanann an domhan ann go deo. Éiríonn an ghrian ach téann sí faoi arís agus brostaíonn sí léi chun na háite ar éirigh sí as. Séideann an ghaoth ó dheas agus casann sí ó thuaidh ansin; siúd léi timpeall arís agus arís eile agus leanann sí dá timchuairt gan stad.
Ritheann na haibhneacha go léir isteach san fharraige ach ní líontar í choíche; mar sin féin coinníonn na haibhneacha orthu ag déanamh ar a gceann cúrsa go brách. Tá gach uile ní lán leimhe agus ní féidir leis an duine trácht a dhéanamh orthu; ní bhíonn an tsúil sásta lena bhfeiceann sí ná an chluas sásta lena gcloiseann sí. An ní a bhí ann tráth, is é a bheidh ann go brách; an ní a rinneadh cheana, is é a dhéanfar arís; mar níl aon ní nua ann faoi luí na gréine. Fiú amháin an ní a ndeirtear faoi: “Féach, is rud nua é seo,” bhí sé ann romhainn anallód.
Ní chuimhnítear anois ar na glúine a bhí ann fadó; ná ní bheidh cuimhne ar na glúine atá le teacht ag na glúine a thiocfaidh ina ndiaidh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le freagra Sm 89: 3-6. 12-14. 17. R/v 1
Freagra : A Thiarna, is tú ba thearmann dúinn, ó ghlúin go glúin.
1.Déanann tú deannach arís den duine á rá: “Ar ais libh, a Ádhamhchlann.”
Óir níl míle bliain i d’fhianaise ach mar an lá a d’imigh tharainn inné,
nó mar a bheadh faire na hoíche. Freagra
2. Sciobann tú chun siúil iad amhail aisling, nó mar fhéar úrghlas na maidine.
Eascraíonn sé ar maidin agus bláthaíonn sé baintear é agus feonn sé um thráthnóna. Freagra
3. Múin dúinn giorra shaoil an duine chun go bhfaighimid críonnacht inár gcroí.
Fill orainn; cá fhad a bheidh tú feargach? Déan trócaire ar do shearbhóntaí, a Thiarna. Freagra
4. Tabhair ár sáith de do bhuanghrá ar maidin dúinn, go mbeidh áthas orainn agus gairdeas go deo.
Go dtaga grásta ár dTiarna Dia anuas orainn agus go soirbhí tú saothar ár lámh. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht asan Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 9:7-9 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bhain mé féin an ceann de Eoin.
San am sin chuala Héaród, an rí cúige, faoi na nithe uile a bhí ag titim amach,
agus bhí mearbhall air de bhrí go raibh sé de scéal ag daoine áirithe gurbh é Eoin a bhí tar éis éirí ó mhairbh; ag daoine eile, Éilias a bheith á thaibhsiú. ag daoine eile fós, fáidh éigin de na sinsir a bheith aiséirithe.
Ach dúirt Héaród: “Maidir le hEoin, bhain mé féin an ceann de;
ach cé hé an duine seo a gcluinim tuairiscí mar iad seo air?”
Agus bhí sé ag iarraidh radharc a fháil ar Íosa.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 27th September, 2026
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
A Day of Prayer for Life
God gives us the gift of repentance. In the gospel parable of the two sons, Jesus holds up the example of the public sinners in his time being converted while the establishment figures refuse to listen to his message. Ezekiel reminds us that repentance is always possible, for the Lord remembers his mercy.
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FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Ezekiel 18:25-28
When the sinner renounces sin, he shall certainly live.
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:You object, "What the Lord does is unjust".
Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust?
Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed.
When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24; 4-9 R/v 6
Response Remember your mercy, Lord.
1. Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour. Response
2. Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. Response
3. The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray,
he guides the humble in the right path; he teaches his way to the poor. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians 2:1-11
In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus.
If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, So that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:
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.
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Alternative shorter
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter to the Philippians 2:1-5
In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus.
If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy.
There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, So that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him.
Alleluia!
or Jn 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 21:28-32 Glory to you, O Lord
Afterwards he thought better of it and went. Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
'What is your opinion?
A man had two sons. He went and said to the first,
"My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today".
He answered, "I will not go", but afterwards
thought better of it and went.
The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, "Certainly, sir", but did not go.
Which of the two did the father's will?'
'The first' they said.
Jesus said to them,
'I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him'.
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.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 27th September, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar Ezícéal 18:25-28
Má thréigeann an drochdhuine a pheaca, mairfidh sé go deimhin.
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
“Deir tusa:
‘Ní cóir iad gníomhartha an Tiarna.’
Éistigí liom, a mhuintir Iosrael; nach cóir iad mo ghníomhartha?
Nach iad bhur ngníomhartha féin atá míchóir? Má thréigeann an fíréan a fhíréantacht agus peacú, éagfaidh sé dá bharr; éagfaidh sé de bharr an oilc atá déanta aige. Arís, má thréigeann an drochdhuine a pheacaí agus déanamh mar is ceart agus mar is cóir, tabharfaidh sé a bheatha slán.
De bhrí gur mhachnaigh sé agus gur thréig sé a pheacaí go léir mairfidh sé go deimhin; ní bhfaighidh sé bás.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 24: 4-9 R/v 6
Freagra Cuimhnigh ar do thrócaire, a Thiarna.
I. Taispeáin do shlite dom, a Thiarna, agus teagasc dom do rianta.
Treoraigh mé i d'fhírinne agus teagasc mé, móir is tusa, a Dhia, mo Shlánaitheoir. Freagra
2. Ortsa a bhím ag feitheamh ar feadh an lae, mar gheall ar dó chineáltas, a Thiarna.
Cuimhnigh ar do thrócaire, a Thiarna, agus ar do bhuanghrá atá ann ó na cianta.
Ná cuimhnigh ar chionta m'óige, ach amháin ar do bhuanghrá féin. Freagra
3. Is maith is is díreach é an Tiarna. Uime sin múineann sé an tslí do na peacaigh.
Díríonn sé an fear umhal san fhíréantacht; múineann sé a shlí don fhear umhal Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht litir N.Pól chuig na Filipigh 2:1-11
Bígí ar aon mheon le hÍosa Críost.
A bhráithre, más fiú aon ní an sólás a fhaigheann sibh i gCríost, más fiú aon ní an spreagadh a thagann ón ngrá, más fiú aon ní bhur gcumann leis an Spiorad, má tá cion nó trua ar bith ionaibh, cuirigí barr ar mo chuid áthais trí bheith ar aon aigne le chéile, ar aon ghrá, ar aon toil agus ar aon aigne. Ná déanaigí aon ní le teann iomaíochta ná le teann gaisce, ach sibh á mheas go huiríseal gur fearr daoine eile ná sibh féin. Ná bíodh aon duine agaibh ag cuimhneamh ar a leas féin amháin ach ar leas na gcomharsana chomh maith. Bígí ar aon mheon le hÍosa Críost:
An té úd a bhí i riocht Dé ó dhúchas,
níorbh éadáil leis 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
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Malairt DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht litir N.Pól chuig na Filipigh 2:1-5
Bígí ar aon mheon le hÍosa Críost.
A bhráithre, más fiú aon ní an sólás a fhaigheann sibh i gCríost, más fiú aon ní an spreagadh a thagann ón ngrá, más fiú aon ní bhur gcumann leis an Spiorad, má tá cion nó trua ar bith ionaibh, cuirigí barr ar mo chuid áthais trí bheith ar aon aigne le chéile, ar aon ghrá, ar aon toil agus ar aon aigne. Ná déanaigí aon ní le teann iomaíochta ná le teann gaisce, ach sibh á mheas go huiríseal gur fearr daoine eile ná sibh féin. Ná bíodh aon duine agaibh ag cuimhneamh ar a leas féin amháin ach ar leas na gcomharsana chomh maith. Bígí ar aon mheon le hÍosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór,a deir the Tiarna
agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 21:28-32 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tháinig aiféala air agus chuaigh se. tá tosach ag na poibleacánaigh agus ag na striapacha oraibhse isteach i ríocht Dé.
San am sin dúirt Íosa le huachtaráin ne sagart agus le seanóir an phobail:
“Bhur mbarúil air seo: Bhí beirt mhac ag duine.
D’agaill sé duine acu ar dtús:
‘A mhic,’ ar seisean, ‘téighse inniu ag obair san fhíonghort.’
D’fhreagair sé é: ‘Tá go maith, a dhuine uasail,’ ar seisean; ach ní dheachaigh.
D’agaill sé an dara duine ar an gcuma chéanna, agus b’é a fhreagra seo:
‘Ní dhéanfaidh mé,’ ar seisean; ach ina dhiaidh sin tháinig aiféala air agus chuaigh.
Cé acu den bheirt a rinne toil a athar?”
“An dara duine,” ar siad.
Dúirt Íosa leo:
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, tá tosach ag na poibleacánaigh agus ag na striapacha oraibhse isteach i ríocht Dé. Óir tháinig Eoin chugaibh ar shlí na fíréantachta agus níor chreid sibh ann; na poibleacánaigh, áfach, agus na striapacha, chreid siad ann; agus cé go bhfaca sibhse é sin,
níor bhuail an t aiféala mall féin sibh chun go gcreidfeadh sibh ann.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
