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Tribute Money Vecellio Tiziano (Titian) [ Web Gallery of Art ] "Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” (Matthew 22:19-20; Gospel). Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) At that time: The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Jesus in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocr...

Pope Benedict elevating the Body of Christ [Wikipedia; photo ] Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) At that time: Jesus again spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people, in parables, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ ” But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them s...

The Harvest (Breton Landscape) Émile Bernard [ Web Gallery of Art ] The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38; Gospel). Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)    Gospel Matthew 9:36-10:8 (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The nam...

  Pray with the Pope — April: For priests in crisis Today, 31 March 2026, Tuesday of Holy Week,  the Vatican posted the video above  with the Pope's intention for all Catholics to pray for during the month of April. We are asked to  Pray with the Pope  for his specific intention for each month. This was formerly known as the  Apostleship of Prayer .   APRIL: For priests in crisis In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd and companion on the journey, today we place in your hands all priests, especially those going through moments of crisis, when loneliness weighs heavily, when doubt clouds their hearts, and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope. You who know their struggles and wounds, renew in them the certainty of your unconditional love. Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes, but beloved sons, humble and cher...

Lala  Vicente  with Jordan Navor L'Arche , Cainta, near Manila. I have known both for many years. In Ireland this Sunday is the Feast of St Brigid, Secondary Patroness of the country. The Mass is that of St Brigid but the readings are those of the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 5:1-12a   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, ...

Loren Capobres addressing Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon I came across this video yesterday, Tuesday 1 December, and posted it on Facebook. When I opened Facebook this morning I found a message from Loren herself, whom I have never met, and one from a mutual friend in the Philippines, Gwen Llano, who has been involved in  Faith and Light  for many years. Gwen gave a seminar in Lebanon in 2020 and met Loren there. The website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has a report on Loren's talk  here . The report by Roy Lagarde says:  Pope Leo XIV on Monday said migrants’ experiences must push Christians to oppose war and build communities where no one seeking safety feels unwelcome, after hearing a Filipino woman’s testimony. Continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

Moses Michelangelo [ Web Gallery of Art ] (First Reading,  Exodus 17:8-13 ) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 18:1-8  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not G...

  Madonna and Child Francisco de Zurbarán [ Web G allery of Art ] For thus says the  Lord : “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,      and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,      and bounced upon her knees. 13  As one whom his mother comforts,      so I will comfort you;      you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ( Isaiah 66:12-13 ; First Reading) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he ...

Sts Peter and Paul  Guido Reni  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Solemnities take precedence over Sundays in Ordinary Time. At the Vigil Mass (Saturday evening) NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings. Those for the Mass During the Day on Sunday should not be used – though some priests seem to be unaware of this. It is incorrect to refer to the Vigil Mass as an ‘anticipated Mass’. It is a celebration proper to the evening before. The Vigil Mass also fulfills the Sunday obligation. Vigil Mass Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Mass During the Day Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (...

The Two Trinities   Murillo [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 16:12-15  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)   My apologies for having printed the wrong gospel earlier. Here is the correct gospel. Brothers and Sisters: Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us . ...