25 January 2022 Tuesday, Week 3 – Conversion of St Paul The Conversion of St Paul 1st Reading: Acts 22:3-16 Paul’s account of his conversion, to his fellow-Jews, on the steps of the Temple “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated…
24 January 2022. Monday of Week Three in Ordinary Time Memorial: St Francis de Sales 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10 David is anointed and establishes Jerusalem as capital of both north and south, of Israel and Judah All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone…
Catholic Schools Week begins today in Ireland. ‘Sunday of the Word of God’ is observed in the universal Church, and so, the Word of God is the focus at Mass, read by Ezra the priest in the Old Testament reading, and by Jesus in the Gospel. By his Word, God reassures the people of his closeness, especially in the Word made flesh, Jesus of Nazereth.
23 January 2022. Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C). Sunday of the Word of God (see below) Neh 8:2-6, 8-10. Ezra the Scribe set out to re-establish the Jewish Laws, to bring his people back to the religion of Moses. 1 Cor 12:12-30. As the body is one though made of many parts so the…
22 January 2022. Saturday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time St Vincent, martyr (optional memorial) 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4 etc David’s grief at the death of Saul and Jonathan After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. On the third day, a man…
21 January, 2022. Friday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time Memorial: St Agnes 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 24:3-21 David refrains from killing Saul and gains the moral high ground He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were…
20 January, 2022. Thursday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time Optional Memorials: St Fabian; St Sebastian 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9, 19:1-7 Saul’s jealousy threatens David, but Jonathan helps to reconcile them As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel,…
19 January, 2022. Wednesday of Week 2 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 40-51 David kills Goliath, and saves his people David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to…
18 January, 2022. Tuesday of Week 2 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 In Bethlehem Samuel anoints David (Jesse’s youngest son) as king The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you…
17 January, 2022. Monday of Week 2 St Anthony – Memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 For disobeying the prophet Samuel, Saul is deposed as king Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” He replied, “Speak.” Samuel said, “Though you are little in your…
There are echoes of the Christmas season in today’s liturgy, particularly in the Gospel story of the wedding feast of Cana, in which God’s glory becomes visible in Jesus, as it did at his Epiphany and Baptism.
16 January 2022. Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Theme: Like Mary and Jesus, we should help without being asked and without fuss or demand. 1st Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 God has prepared joyful feast for his people For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication…
15 January, 2022. Saturday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time St Ita – Memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 12-19; 10:1 Saul is anointed by Samuel as king of Israel, at God’s inspiration There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah,…
14 January, 2022. Friday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22 When the people demand a king, Samuel warns of the dangers Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in…
13 January, 2022. Thursday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time St Hilary – Optional memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 4:1-11 Misusing the Ark of the Covenant, the people are defeated in battle The word of Samuel came to all Israel. In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel, and Israel went out to…
12 January 2022. Wednesday of Week 1, Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 From the sanctuary God calls Samuel, and sends him as a prophet Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time…
11 January, 2022. Tuesday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-20 Eli promises the grieving Hannah that she will give birth to a son After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the…
10 January, 2022. Monday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time (Readings; Sunday Cycle B/Weekday Cycle 2) 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Hannah’s grief at being childless; her husband tries to comfort her There was a man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of…
Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord: it’s the last day of the Christmas season. The baptism of Jesus marked the end of his quiet years in Nazareth and the start of his public ministry.
09 January 2022. The Baptism of the Lord Theme: Jesus brings justice and divine life to the nations. As his baptised family, we seek the kingdom of God through justice and peace. [Two sets of readings are options to choose from. These below are from Year C.] First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 He will feed…
