Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Apr 27 - St Zita (1212-72)
Summary: St Zita, Many miracles are associated both during her lifetime and for those who have had recourse to her after she died. She is specially honoured in the Basilica of St Frediano (reputedly an Irish saint, possibly could be Finiano) in Lucca in northern Italy. She is the patron saint of domestic servants and those engaged in household chores.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
A Domestic Servant in Lucca
Zita was born at Montsegradi, a village near Lucca, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Her mother raised her in the love and fear of the Lord. Her older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At an early age, (about 12 years) Zita went to work as a domestic servant for a rich family called Fatinelli in Lucca. Each morning she would awaken early and pray before attending Mass.
Diligent and Trustworthy
Because she worked so hard, Zita's fellow servants thought she was trying to shame them. They became very jealous of her and were mean to her at every opportunity. But they soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint. The Fatinelli family put her in charge of the household and made her the governess of their children.
Angels Watch over her baked bread while she prays
One day after putting some bread in the oven to bake, Zita went up to her "chapel" in the attic to pray. The sweetness of being with God was so delightful that Zita lost all track of the time. When she came to her senses, she rushed back to the kitchen, sure that the bread would be burned and the kitchen full of smoke. But instead she found the beautifully smelling freshly-baked bread laid out on the kitchen table. Were the angels watching over her baking while she talked with God?
Generous to a Fault
Zita was generous to a fault even with what did not belong to her. She shared her own food with whoever came to the Fatinelli household door and sometimes would even give food from the pantry to the many hungry beggars who came looking for help. When Signor Fatinelli became aware of this, he became enraged. One day when he found that Zita had given away the entire store of dried beans from the pantry, he dragged her into the pantry to show her what she had done. Miraculously, though, and to his shock, when they got to the pantry, the full store of the dried beans was replenished.
The Fur Mantle and the Angel Door
Another story tells of Signor Fatinelli finding Zita heading off to Mass on a cold Christmas morning without a coat. He gave her his own fur mantle and wrapped it around her as she went out, but said, "Remember, I want that back." At Mass Zita met a poor beggar and giving him the mantle said, "This will keep you warm for now." After Mass she went to get the mantle, but the beggar had gone. One can imagine Signor Fatinelli's rage when Zita returned home from Mass to explain why she had no mantle. But the day after Christmas, a stranger came to the Fatinelli's door with the fine fur mantle, good as new. Neighbours recognised that this was no ordinary beggar, but an angel come to test the compassion of the local Christians. The door where Zita gave the mantle to the beggar is still to this day called the Angel Door.
Her Death and Veneration
Zita died on the 27th April in the year 1272, aged sixty. She had served the Fatinelli family for forty-eight years. A judicial process has approved one hundred and fifty miracles that were wrought in behalf of those who had recourse to her intercession.
Body preserved
In 1580 Zita's body was found, whole and entire, and it is kept with great respect richly enshrined in St. Frediano’s Church in Lucca, Italy, next to the Fatinelli house where she worked. Her face and hands, uncovered, can be viewed through the crystal glass. Pope Leo X granted an office in her honour, and the city of Lucca pays special veneration to her memory.
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Patrick Duffy tells her story.
A Domestic Servant in Lucca
Zita was born at Montsegradi, a village near Lucca, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Her mother raised her in the love and fear of the Lord. Her older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At an early age, (about 12 years) Zita went to work as a domestic servant for a rich family called Fatinelli in Lucca. Each morning she would awaken early and pray before attending Mass.Diligent and Trustworthy
Because she worked so hard, Zita's fellow servants thought she was trying to shame them. They became very jealous of her and were mean to her at every opportunity. But they soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint. The Fatinelli family put her in charge of the household and made her the governess of their children.
Angels Watch over her baked bread while she prays
One day after putting some bread in the oven to bake, Zita went up to her "chapel" in the attic to pray. The sweetness of being with God was so delightful that Zita lost all track of the time. When she came to her senses, she rushed back to the kitchen, sure that the bread would be burned and the kitchen full of smoke. But instead she found the beautifully smelling freshly-baked bread laid out on the kitchen table. Were the angels watching over her baking while she talked with God?
Generous to a Fault
Zita was generous to a fault even with what did not belong to her. She shared her own food with whoever came to the Fatinelli household door and sometimes would even give food from the pantry to the many hungry beggars who came looking for help. When Signor Fatinelli became aware of this, he became enraged. One day when he found that Zita had given away the entire store of dried beans from the pantry, he dragged her into the pantry to show her what she had done. Miraculously, though, and to his shock, when they got to the pantry, the full store of the dried beans was replenished.The Fur Mantle and the Angel Door
Another story tells of Signor Fatinelli finding Zita heading off to Mass on a cold Christmas morning without a coat. He gave her his own fur mantle and wrapped it around her as she went out, but said, "Remember, I want that back." At Mass Zita met a poor beggar and giving him the mantle said, "This will keep you warm for now." After Mass she went to get the mantle, but the beggar had gone. One can imagine Signor Fatinelli's rage when Zita returned home from Mass to explain why she had no mantle. But the day after Christmas, a stranger came to the Fatinelli's door with the fine fur mantle, good as new. Neighbours recognised that this was no ordinary beggar, but an angel come to test the compassion of the local Christians. The door where Zita gave the mantle to the beggar is still to this day called the Angel Door.
Her Death and Veneration
Zita died on the 27th April in the year 1272, aged sixty. She had served the Fatinelli family for forty-eight years. A judicial process has approved one hundred and fifty miracles that were wrought in behalf of those who had recourse to her intercession.
Body preserved
In 1580 Zita's body was found, whole and entire, and it is kept with great respect richly enshrined in St. Frediano’s Church in Lucca, Italy, next to the Fatinelli house where she worked. Her face and hands, uncovered, can be viewed through the crystal glass. Pope Leo X granted an office in her honour, and the city of Lucca pays special veneration to her memory.
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Memorable Saying for Today
God is always trying to give good things to us
but our hands are too full to receive them.
~ St Augustine ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 27th April, 2026
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Jesus and the Church are accordingly the sheepfolds spoken of as the sole and gateway to Christ.
Saint of the Day: 27 April; St Asicus, bishop
c/f short history of today’s Feast and memorial saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.
Not available
Optional memorials may be made for Ss Nereus, Achilleus, soldiers, and Pancras|martyred under Diocletian in 304.
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 11:1-18
God can grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life.
The apostles and the brothers in Judaea heard that the pagans too had accepted the word of God, when Peter came up to Jerusalem the Jews criticised him and said,
'So you have been visiting the uncircumcised and eating with them, have you?'
Peter in reply gave them the details point by point:
'One day, when I was in the town of Jaffa,' he began 'I fell into a trance as I was praying and had a vision of something like a big sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. This sheet reached the ground quite close to me. I watched it intently and saw all sorts of animals and wild beasts - everything possible that could walk, crawl or fly.
Then I heard a voice that said to me, "Now, Peter; kill and eat!"
But I answered: Certainly not, Lord; nothing profane or unclean has ever crossed my lips.
And a second time the voice spoke from heaven, "
What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane."
This was repeated three times, before the whole of it was drawn up to heaven again.
'Just at that moment, three men stopped outside the house where we were staying; they had been sent from Caesarea to fetch me, and the Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going back with them. The six brothers here came with me as well, and we entered the man's house. He told us he had seen an angel standing in his house who said,
"Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter; he has a message for you that will save you and your entire household."
'I had scarcely begun to speak when the Holy Spirit came down on them in the same way as it came on us at the beginning, and I remembered that the Lord had said, "John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." I realised then that God was giving them the identical thing he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; and who was I to stand in God's way?' This account satisfied them, and they gave glory to God. God' they said 'can evidently grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 41: 2-3; 42:3-4. R/v Ps 41:3
Response My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life.
Or Alleluia!
1. Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God. Response
2. My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life;
when can I enter and see the face of God? Response
3. O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell. Response
4. And I will come to the altar of God, the God of my joy.
My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp, O God, my God . Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 10:14
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord,
I know my sheep and my own know me.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 10:1-10 Glory to you, O Lord
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
Jesus said:
‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way, is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’
Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.
So Jesus spoke to them again:
‘I tell you most solemnly, I am the gate of the sheepfold. All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe:
he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Reflection Monday, Fourth Week of Easter John 10:1-10
In today’s gospel reading Jesus declares that it is only the one who enters the sheepfold through the gate who is to be given access to the sheep. Those who try to get into the sheepfold some other way, such as over the wall when no one is looking, are not to be trusted. Jesus then goes on to identify himself as the gate. Jesus’ flock, his disciples, are to be approached through him. We go towards each other through Jesus. In other words, our relationship with Jesus is the basis of our relationship with each other.
Jesus who says of himself in today’s gospel reading, ‘I am the gate’, elsewhere in this gospel of John says of himself, ‘I am the way’. There is a close relationship between the images of the gate and the way. When we go through Jesus, taking him as our way in life, then we are more likely to approach one another in the loving way that the Lord desires. We see that happening in today’s first reading. It was because of Peter’s close relationship with the Lord, nurtured by prayer, that he was able to respond in a loving way to the invitation of the pagan centurion Cornelius to come to his house. A law abiding Jew like Peter would not normally have entered the house of a pagan.
However, because Peter had taken Jesus as his gate, as his way, on a daily basis, he knew that the Spirit was moving him to go with this little pagan group to their household. There Peter saw for himself the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, in response to his preaching of the gospel. Our relationship with the Lord will always move us and inspire us to relate to others, especially those very different from us, in the same accepting and welcoming way as he himself related to people during the course of his earthly ministry
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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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Saint of the Day: 27 April; St Asicus, bishop
Patron St of Elfin Diocese, Ireland
St. Asicus, also called Ascicus and Tassach, is the patron saint of the Diocese of Elphin. The patron saint of Coppersmiths, St Asicus is buried at the top of a field between Donegal Town and Ballyshannon near Ballintra. He was a skilled coppersmith and silversmith, and copperwork can be seen on the shamrock-patterned beaten brass altar screen in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo. He was one of the earliest of St. Patrick’s disciples and after St. Patrick established the Diocese of Elphin in County Roscommon, circa. 450 AD, he appointed Asicus as its first bishop. He was later Abbot-Bishop of Ireland.
A humble man
It is said that he was a humble man and often troubled by thoughts that he was not worthy of his high office in the Church. He left Roscommon and travelled to Rathlin O’Birne Island in Donegal Bay where he resigned his office and became a hermit, living for a while at the top of Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) along the area called The Pilgrim’s Way. He remained there for seven years until he was found by the monks of Elphin who persuaded him to return to Elphin with them. However, he was not in good health and died on the journey back to Elphin (circa. 490 AD). He is buried where he died – near the village of Ballintra between Ballyshannon andDonegal Town in County Donegal. His feast day is the 27th of April.
You can find his grave along the road from Ballyshannon to Donegal Town, just before the turn off to Rossnowlagh. Turn off the main road to the left and a short distance along the narrow lane you will see the gateposts on your right, as in the picture in the gallery here below. The grave is just up the hill beyond the gates.
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Memorable Saying for Today
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain
~ Phillipians 2:3 ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 27th April, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 11:1-18
Thug Dia, más ea, aithrí chun na beatha do na Gintlithe chomh maith.
Chuala na haspail agus na bráithre a bhí ar fud Iúdáia go raibh na págánaigh freisin tar éis briathar Dé a ghlacadh. Nuair a chuaigh Peadar suas go Iarúsailéim, rinne lucht an timpeall ghearrtha é a cháineadh á rá leis: “Chuaigh tú isteach i measc daoine neamhthimpeallghearrtha agus chaith tú bia ina dteannta.”
Thosaigh Peadar agus d’aithris sé an scéal tríd síos dóibh:
“Bhí mé i gcathair Iopae ag guí,” ar seisean, “nuair a tháinig támhnéal orm, agus chonaic mé in aisling rud mar a bheadh braillín mór á ligean anuas ón spéir leis na ceithre cúinní. Tháinig sé fad liom agus nuair a d’fhéach mé isteach ann chonaic mé ainmhithe ceathairchosacha an domhain agus na beithígh allta agus na péisteanna agus éanlaith an aeir.
Ansin chuala mé an guth á rá: ‘Éirigh, a Pheadair, maraigh agus ith.’
‘Nár lige Dia sin, a mháistir,’ arsa mise, ‘mar aon ní mínaofa ná neamhghlan ní dheachaigh i mo bhéalsa riamh.’
Labhair an guth ón spéir liom don dara huair:
‘Aon ní atá íonghlanta ag Dia, ná tabhairse rud mínaofa air.’
Tharla sé seo don tríú huair agus ansin tarraingíodh an t-iomlán ar ais in airde sa spéir.
“Ar an bpointe sin tháinig chun an tí ina raibh mé triúr fear a bhí curtha ag triall orm ó Chéasaráia. Dúirt an Spiorad liom gan aon cheist a bheith orm ach imeacht lena gcois. Tháinig an seisear bráithre seo in éineacht liom agus chuamar isteach i dteach an fhir úd. D’inis seisean dúinn mar a chonaic sé an t-aingeal ina sheasamh ina theach á rá leis:‘Cuir fios go hIopae ar Shíomón dar comhainm Peadar agus labhróidh sé sin na briathra leat ina bhfaighidh tú féin agus do theaghlach uile slánú.’
Agus ar thosú dom ag caint, thuirling an Spiorad Naomh orthu mar a thuirling orainn féin i dtosach. Ansin chuimhnigh mé ar fhocal úd an Tiarna, mar a dúirt sé:
‘Rinne Eoin baisteadh in uisce ach baistfear sibhse sa Spiorad Naomh.’ Dá réir sin má thug Dia dóibhsean an tabhartas céanna a thug sé dúinne tar éis dúinn creidiúint sa Tiarna Íosa Críost, cérbh é mise go bhféadfainn bac a chur ar Dhia?”
Nuair a chuala siad an méid sin, d’éist siad agus thug glóir do Dhia á rá “Thug Dia, más ea, aithrí chun na beatha do na Gintlithe chomh maith.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 41: 2-3; 42:3-4. R/v Sm 41:3
Freagra Tá tart ar m’anam chun Dé chun Dé bhi.
Malairt freagra Alleluia!
1. Faoi mar a shantaíonn an eilit na sruthanna uisce
is amhlaidh a shantaíonn m’anam thusa, a Dhia. Freagra
2. Tá cíocras chun Dé ar m’anam chun Dé bheo;
cá huair a thiocfaidh mé go bhfeicfidh mé gnúis mo Dhé. Freagra
3. Cuir chugam do sholas agus d’fhírinne, go ndéana siad mo threorú
do mo thionlacan faoi dhéin do chnoic naofa,faoi dhéin do phailliúin. Freagra
4. Triallfaidh mé ar altóir Dé, ar Dhia is cúis áthais dom;
agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, ón, a Dhia liom! Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 10:1-10 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Tugann an sáraoire a bheatha ar son a chaorach.
Dúirt Íosa:
Mise an sáraoire, Tugann an sáraoire a bheatha ar son a chaorach. An fostúch, nach bhfuil ina aoire, agus nach leis féin na caoirigh, feiceann sé an mac tíre ag teacht, agus fágann na caoirigh agus teitheann, agus fuadaíonn an mac tíre iad agus scaipeann. [Teitheann sé] de bhrí gur fostúch é, agus gur cuma leis mar gheall ar na caoirigh.
Ach is mise an sáraoire, agus aithním mo chuid féin, agus aithníonn mo chuid féin mé, faoi mar a aithníonn an tAthair mé, agus mar a aithnímse an tAthair.
Agus tugaim mo bheatha ar son mo chaorach. Tá caoirigh eile agam chomh maith, nach den chró seo iad.
Ní foláir dom iad sin a thabhairt chomh maith, agus éistfidh siad le mo ghlór, agus beidh aon tréad amháin ann, agus aon aoire amháin. Mar gheall air seo atá grá ag an Athair dom mar go bhfuilim ag tabhairt mo bheatha uaim, chun go nglacfainn chugam arís í.
Níl aon duine á tógáil uaim; is uaim féin a thugaim uaim í, agus tá sé ar mo chumas í a thabhairt uaim agus tá sé ar mo chumas í a ghabháil chugam arís. Sin í an aithne a fuair mé ó m’Athair.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 3rd May, 2026
Fifth Sunday of Easter
No one can come to the Father except through Christ. Working together in love,
all God’s people can build up the kingdom in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our high priest.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit
About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution t
heir own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them,'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food. You, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word'.
The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 32: 1-2. 4-5, 18-19. R/v 22
Response May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.
Or Alleluia!
1. Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp, with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. Response
2. For the word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. Response
3. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 2:4-9
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood
He is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood
that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. As scripture says: See how I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone that I have chosen and the man who rests his trust on it will not be disappointed. That means that for you who are believers, it is precious; but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring men down. They stumble over it because they do not believe in the word; it was the fate in store for them.But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
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 Gospel according to John 14:1-12
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus said to his disciples
'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.'Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'
Jesus said:
'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me? ' 'To have seen me is to have seen the, Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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, 3rd May, 2026
An Cúigiú Domhnach den Cháisc
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 6:1-7
Thogh siad seacht bhfear a bhí lán den Spiorad Naomh.
Sna laethanta sin, mar go raib líon na ndeisceabal ag méadú, thosaigh na Heilléanaigh ag casaoid ar na hEabhraigh faoi go raibh faillí á dhéanamh ar a mbaintreacha féin sa fhriothálamh laethúil. Dá chionn sin ghlaoigh an dáréag chucu na deisceabail go léir in éineacht agus labhair leo:“Ní dóigh linn,” ar siad, “go mba cheart dúinne briathar Dé a fhágáil chun dul ag freastal ag boird. Dá bhrí sin, a bhráithre, déanaigí seachtar fear creidiúnach agaibh féin a thoghadh, fir a bheidh lán den Spiorad agus den eagna, go gcuirfimis i mbun an chúraim seo. Agus leanfaimidne den urnaí agus de sheirbhís an bhriathair.”
Bhí an slua iomlán sásta leis an moladh sin agus roghnaigh siad na daoine seo a leanas: Stiofán, fear a bhí lán de chreideamh agus den Spiorad Naomh, Pilib agus Prochonór, Níocanór agus Tiomón, Parmanas agus Nioclás, léivíteach ó Aintíoch. Thug siad i láthair na n-aspal iad, agus tar éis dóibh sin urnaí a dhéanamh leag siad a lámha orthu.
De réir mar a leath briathar Dé, chuaigh líon na ndeisceabal in Iarúsailéim i méad as cuimse, agus ghlac buíon mhór de na sagairt féin leis an gcreideamh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 32: 1-2. 4-5, 18-19. R/v 22
Freagra Tabhair dúinn do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna,
de réir an dóchais a chuirimid ionat.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia,
I. Déanaigí gairdeas sa Tiarna, a fhíréana; is cóir go molfadh daoine dílse é.
Molaigí an Tiarna ar an gcruit, ceolaigí dó ar an gcláirseach dheichthéadach. Freagra
2. Óir is dílis é briathar an Tiarna, agus is iontaofa a obair uile.
Is ionúin leis an chóir is an ceart; tá an talamh lán de bhuanghrá an Tiarna. Freagra
3. Féach, tá súile an Tiarna ar lucht a eaglaithe, orthu sin a chuireann a ndóchas ina bhuanghrá,
chun go bhfuadódh sé a n-anamacha ón mbás, is go gcothódh sé iad in am an ghorta. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 2:4-9
Is cine tofa sibh, sagartacht ríoga.
A clann ionúin, druidigí ina aice, os é an chloch bheo é dár dhiúltaigh daoine, ach ar tofa luachmhar i láthair Dé í; agus tógtar sibhse féin, faoi
mar ba bheochlocha sibh, in bhur n-áras spioradálta, le bheith in bhur sagartacht naofa le híobairtí spioradálta taitneamhacha a ofráil do Dhia trí Íosa Críost. Uime sin tá seo sa scrioptúr:“Féach, tá cloch á leagan agam i Síón, cloch chúinne thofa luachmhar. An té a chreidfidh inti, ní chuirfear díomá air.” Daoibhse dá bhrí sin a chreideann, is luachmhar í, ach dóibh siúd nach gcreideann: “An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinneadh ceann an chúinne di,” agus “ceap tuisle agus carraig scannail.” Baintear tuisle astu mar nach ngéilleann siad don bhriathar; agus is mar sin a bhí ceaptha dóibh.
Ach is cine tofa sibhse, sagartacht ríoga, muintir naofa, pobal a cuireadh ar leithrigh, le go bhfógródh sibh éachtaí an té sin a ghlaoigh as an dorchadas amach oraibh chun a sholais iontaigh féin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 14: 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
'Is mise an tSlí, an Fhírinne agus an Bheatha,' a deir an Tiarna:
'Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa.'
Alleluia! alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:1-12 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is cine tofa sibh, sagartacht ríoga.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Ná bíodh buaireamh ar bhur gcroí:
creideann sibh i nDia; creidigí ionamsa leis. Is iomaí áras i dteach m’Athar. Mura mbeadh, d’inseoinn daoibh é.Óir táim ag dul ag cur áite i gcóir daoibh,
agus má théim agus áit a chur i gcóir daoibh,
tiocfaidh mé arís agus tógfaidh mé sibh chugam féin;
i dtreo, an áit ina mbeidh mise, go mbeidh sibhse chomh maith.
Tá eolas na slí agaibh mar a bhfuilim ag dul.”
Dúirt Tomás leis: “A Thiarna, ní eol dúinn cá bhfuil tú ag dul agus cén chaoi is féidir
dúinn eolas na slí a bheith againn?”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“Is mise an tslí, an fhírinne agus an bheatha. Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa. Dá mbeadh aithne agaibh ormsa, d’aithneodh sibh m’Athair chomh maith.
Tá aithne agaibh air feasta, agus tá radharc faighte agaibh air.”
Dúirt Pilib leis: “A Thiarna, taispeáin dúinn an tAthair agus is leor dúinn sin.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “An bhfuilim an fad sin aimsire, a Philib, in bhur measc agus gan aithne agat orm? An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair. Conas, mar sin, a deir tú:‘ Taispeáin dúinn an tAthair’?
Nach gcreideann tú go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa?
Na briathra a labhraímse libh, ní uaim féin a labhraím iad, ach an tAthair atá ina chónaí ionamsa, eisean a dhéanann na hoibreacha. Creidigí uaimse é go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa. Nó murab é sin, creidigí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha féin.
Amen, Amen, a deirim libh, an té a chreideann ionamsa, na hoibreacha a dhéanaimse, déanfaidh seisean iad chomh maith, agus déanfaidh sé oibreacha is mó ná iad; mar táimse ag dul chun an Athar.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
