Muire agus Éilís - Mary and Elizabeth
Lúcás - Luke 1:39

The Tradition of the Advent Wreath
Fourth Week of Advent

The story of advent begins with the prophecy in the book of the prophet Isaiah that a virgin would conceive and bear a son. Then the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is that virgin and is to become the mother of God. Then it continues with Joseph having a dream in which he is told not to divorce Mary because the child she is carrying is conceived of the Holy Spirit. Mary then visits her cousin Elizabeth. Mary heard from the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth is pregnant ...Editor.

huir Muire chun bóthair sna laethanta sin agus d’imigh go deifreach faoi dhéin na gcnoc go dtí cathair in Iúdá,

39. Therupon Mary set out proceding in haste into a hill country to a town of Judah,

40. agus chuaigh isteach i dteach Zachairias agus bheannaigh d’Éilíosaibeit.

40. and she entered Zachariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

41. Agus tharla, nuair a chuala Éilíosaibeit beannachadh Mhuire, gur bhíog an naíonán ina broinn, agus líonadh 'Éilíosalbeit den Spiorad Naomh,

41. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby lept in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42. agus d’éigh sí de ghlór ard agus dúirt: Is beannaithe tú idir mná, agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne.

42. and cried out in a loud voice: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

43. Agus conas a tharla seo domsa, máthair mo Thiarna a theacht chugam?

43. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44. óir féach, nuair a chuaigh glór do bheannachtha i mo chluasa, bhíog an naíonán i mo bhroinn le háthas.

44. The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby lept in my womb for joy.

45. Agus is méanar di seo a chreid go gcomhlíonfaí na nithe a dúradh léi ón Tiarna.
45. "Blessed is she who has trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."

46. Agus dúirt Muire: Mórann m’anam
an Tiarna,
46. Then Mary said: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
47. agus rinne mo spiorad gairdeas i nDia mo Shlánaitheoir.
47. my spirit finds joy in God my savior,

48. óir dhearc sé le fabhar ar ísle a bhanóglaigh; mar féach, déarfaidh na glúine uile feasta gur méanar dom.

48. For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed.

49. óir rinne an Té atá cumhachtach nithe móra dom agus is naofa a ainm,

49. God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name;

50. agus tá a thrócaire ó ghlúin go glúin dóibh seo ar a mbíonn a eagla.
50. His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him.

51. Thaispeáin sé neart a láimhe: scaip sé an dream a bhí uaibhreach i smaointe a gcroí.

51. He has shown might with his arm; he has confused the proud in their innermost thoughts.

52. Leag sé prionsaí óna gcathaoireacha, agus d’ardaigh sé daoine ísle;

52. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.
53. Líon sé lucht an ocrais le nithe maithe, agus chuir sé na saibhre uaidh folamh.

53. The hungry he has given every good thing, while the rich he has sent empty away.

54. D’fhóir sé ar Iosrael a sheirbhíseach, ag cuimhneamh dó ar a thrócaire

54. He has upheld Israel his servant, ever mindful of his mercy;

55. de réir mar gheall sé dar n-aithreacha d’Abrahám agus dá shliocht go brách.

55. Even as he promised to our fathers, promised Abraham and his descendants forever.

56. D’fhan Muire aici timpeall trí mhí, agus d’fhill abhaile.
56. Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

Courtesy of Jack & Vivian Hennessey,
IrishPage.com December 2005
Replay background music: Coventry Carol
Irish text from An Bíobla Naofa
courtesy of An Sagart
English text from the New American Bible
For phonetics consult the pocket dictionary Fóclóir Póca
Editor: Seán Ó hAonaghusa


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