R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke, we have the account of the Three Wise Men from the Orient who follow the star in the sky that leads them to the new born Jesus, who is human in birth but God Himself in the flesh, the Savior of the World. Saint Luke records that they bore three gifts: gold that He was King from heaven, now of earth; frankincense to show prayer to Him rising like smell and smoke to heaven; and the gift of myrrh to show how, later in life, he would be anointed for burial when taken down from the cross, Savior of the World.  The Three Wise Men followed the star, found Him Who Is Savior of the World, knelt before Him, and adored Him – Jesus the Way, the Life, and the Truth.

The Three Wise Men were astrologers from the Orient, so they understood the science of the stars.  However, there is another story that these Three Wise Men got lost as they followed the star.  And they stopped at a country home to get directions, and that is when they met La Befana — up in years, wrinkles on her face, but lots of energy.  She tried to give the Three Wise Men directions, but first said they needed to eat and to sleep. They stayed at her house along with the elephant and the camels and rested until the next morning.  The Three Wise Men invited her to come too, and to see the new born king, Jesus.  “Oh no …,” she said. “I am too busy cleaning the house and caring for her little farm. You three tell the newborn Savior of World that I say, ‘Hello!” They left without her. But then some hours later she said to herself, “I better go and see the newborn Savior of the World, Jesus.” But she couldn’t catch up with them.  She never got there. She felt very bad.  And to try to make up for it, on the feast of the Epiphany, each year La Befana brings to all the children the world a gift of candy and toys.  And if they are bad, she leaves coal.

I got up this morning.  And lo and behold I found all this candy before the stable of Jesus. And guess what! No coal! The kids of the parish must have been very good this past year because La Befana left no coal. That’s because they have good parents … and good heart, too.

La Befana does this every year. And she is still looking for the Three Wise Men, these Three Kings, and she still feels bad. In her life, La Befana is searching and is restless, for she has not yet experienced Jesus, Who is the King, the Savior, and God Made Man.

The Three Wise Men represent all the non-Christians in the world who have not yet bowed down and adored Jesus Our Savior. La Befana, I believe, represents humanity, still searching and still very restless because they have yet to meet Jesus, the Way the Life and the Truth. Most likely, we have moments, days – even months – when we, too, are restless and searching, finding something missing, because we, in our sinfulness, do not always embrace Jesus Christ, the Way the Life and the Truth. As we celebrate the account of the Three Wise Men on the Epiphany, pray to them, holy Melchior, Balthezar, and Caspar, to intercede for us, to embrace ever more Jesus, the Way the Life and the Truth. And don’t forget, in your imagination, La Befana, who still feels bad that she missed a once-in-a-lifetime event to have been able to kneel in the door of the newborn Savior, together with the Three Wise Men.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Saint Anthony Parish

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.