Saint Ignatius of Antioch (see below) 1st Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18 Hoping against hope, Abraham became the father of many nations, believing in the life-giving power of God For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith….
St Gall, St Hedwig and St Margaret Mary Alacoque (see below) 1st Reading: Romans 4:1-8 For the believer, faith is credited as justice. This is how Abraham was justified What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something…
Saint Teresa of Avila (see below) 1st Reading: Romans 3:21-30 All have sinned, but are freely justified by faith in Jesus Christ But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who…
Saint Callistus, pope and martyr (see below) 1st Reading: Romans 2:1-11 “By judging others you convict yourself.” Jew and gentile will be judged by the same criteria Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the…
1st Reading: Romans 1:16-25 Refusal to worship the true God leads to immorality [My brethren] I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith…
1st Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Jesus, descendant of David is recognised as Son of God by the resurrection Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from…
On our journey through life, we pause today for a while, offering God worship and praise. We remember the divine goodness and ask for the gift of wisdom as we continue to hurry towards the Kingdom.
Saint Canice, not celebrated this year. (See below) 1st Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11 Solomon praises Wisdom as more precious than gold, silver, health, or beauty. Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth…
1st Reading: Joel 4:12-21 A time of peace and prosperity will come to God’s holy mountain The Lord says: “Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the neighbouring nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread,…
Saints Denis and Companions; also Bl. John Henry Newman (see below) 1st Reading: Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 A solemn fast to avert the plague, reminding us of the fearful “day of the Lord.” Put on sackcloth and lament, you priests; wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, pass the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my…
1st Reading: Malachiah 3:13-18 Religion seems to brings no benefit. Yet on the day of the Lord all will be revealed You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against you?” You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping…
This feast was established by pope Pius V in thanksgiving for the Christian victory at the naval battle of Lepanto (1571), which many ascribed to the recitation of the Rosary. Our Lady is honoured in the prayer, which also invites us to meditate the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of Christ her son…
Saint Bruno (see below). 1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-10 At Jonah’s preaching, the people of Nineveh and their king repent and so save their city. The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So…
1st Reading: Jonah 1:1–2:1 Jonah is swallowed up by the whale Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, ‘Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.’ But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the…
October is Mission Month. In two weeks time we will honour the work of missionaries on Mission Sunday; throughout the month, we pray that all may have ‘abundant life’, the theme of this year’s Mission Sunday.
• Today is Day for Life in Ireland, with the theme “Cherishing Life, Accepting Death” •
(on St Francis of Assisi, see below) 1st Reading: Genesis 2:18-24 God intends man and woman to become one flesh. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal…
Blessed Columba Marmion, abbot (see below). 1st Reading: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 Grieving for the Jews in exile, he begs them to turn again and seek God Take courage, my people, who perpetuate Israel’s name! It was not for destruction that you were sold to the nations, but you were handed over to your enemies because…
1st Reading: Exodus 23:20-23 I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way The Lord spoke to Moses and the people during their journey across the desert desert: ‘I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to…
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (see below). 1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7-12 Ezra gets his people to renew their loyalty to God and to share their gifts All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses,…
Feast of Saint Jerome (See below) 1st Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-8 King Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem, to restore its walls and graves In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was served him, I carried the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad…
