R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

• It’s Mother’s Day 2025. Today we thank our mothers, pray for them, and honor them.
• We are aware of the role of mothers in our lives, their influence upon their children – giving birth to us, nursing us, training us, handing on the Catholic Faith to us.
  • They taught us good manners, ideal behavior, disciplining us (as best as they could) to become good citizens of our country, good members of the Church.
• There is a saying: “An ounce of Mother is better than a pound of clergy!”
• The word “Mother” is synonymous with the word “sacrifice.” … sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice.
• Today’s Mass is for our mothers, living and deceased.
• There is a story of a priest who became a bishop, and he said to his mother, “Look at my bishop’s ring. What a powerful statement!” The mother responded, “You, my dear son … look at my wedding ring. Without me and your dad and God, you wouldn’t even be here!” The bishop put his ring down and said, “Thank you, Mother! I love you!”
• Last week we crowned the Blessed Mother during the month of May.
  • Yes, the Church of God – of Jesus Christ – has Mary as our Mother.
  • Think about the hymn, “Gentle woman, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love.”
  • Ask Mary, our Mother, the Mother of the Church, to teach you peace, wisdom, and love.
• It’s also Good Shepherd Sunday. Christ is our Good Shepherd.
  • These past few days, we lost as Church, Francis the Shepherd of the Catholic Church. And we also saw the election by the Cardinals of the Church of a new shepherd: Pope Leo XIV.
  • The media showed with great clarity how millions of people, especially the young, were caught up in the election of the new shepherd of the Church. The world knows the importance of the successor of Saint Peter as head shepherd of the Church to lead her members to toward the Kingdom of God and its fullness.
  • Let us pray that Leo XIV, the Successor of Saint Peter, along with the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and along with the entire people of God, follow Christ the Good Shepherd. He knows us, and we are to know Him better, more than ever.
  • Pray with me at this Mass for our moms, living and deceased. Pray with me at this Mass to the Blessed Mother, Gentle Woman. Pray with me that our new Pope, our bishops and priests and deacons – all of us – follow Christ the Good Shepherd. After all, this Mass belongs to Christ the Good Shepherd. Amen.

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

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

R.(3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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.