Alleluia - Cf. Lk 8:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel - Lk 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Let us refresh how this great feast of the Blessed Mother came about …
It was in the year 1251 on the day of July 16th that Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to St. Simon Stock. He was a member and the superior of the great Carmelite Order of Priests that was growing by leaps and bounds. Our Lady gave him the famous brown scapular — made of brown cloth, on it her image, and with the promise that she would protect the person who devoutly wears it in this life and, at the moment of dying, grant the assurance of all the blessings and graces of Her Son Jesus for eternal life in Heaven.
Usually, as is our practice, at the time of First Communion the priest blesses the brown scapular for the child and enrolls the child in the Confraternity of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Additionally, our practice here has been to always make the scapular available in the vestibule of the Basilica. We must promote devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel through the Brown Scapular.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Mother of the Church is also the Patronesses of the Basilica, established in 1908. And so this is her 114th year as a parish, named a basilica in 2014 by Pope Francis. I am grateful for the many blessings bestowed on us by Mary the Mother of God.
There is another Mary in the Gospel today who is Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. They were all devout followers of Jesus. Mary was content to just listen to the Lord and his teachings, to just be in His Presence — while Martha, her sister was committed to preparing their home and the food for Jesus. Martha was busy and hard-working, but the Lord could not refrain from stating that what her sister Mary was doing was more important: just listening to Him in prayer and in adoration. Our work, our duties are always important, very important. But our time with God is more important.
The truth of the matter is that when you take the time to make a Holy Hour each day in prayer, your work, your duties, your life is more filled with purpose and meaning. At Saint Anthony of Padua Church, June will open the church for you during office hours anytime. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, you may make a Holy Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. See the bulletin for details on how to spend time with our Lord in this way.
Mary! Mother of the Church! Mother of God! Our Lady of Mount Carmel! We celebrate her today because she is the perfect example: she did the will of God, busy for God. And she was also always coming to God in prayer too, everyday — even and especially before His Cross — always imploring Him, consulting Him prayerfully, and adoring Him in adoration.
Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish
First Reading - Gn 18:1-10a
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
and bowing to the ground, he said:
“Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
and afterward you may go on your way.”
The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
“Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.”
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
He replied, “There in the tent.”
One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son.”
Responsorial Psalm - Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Second Reading - Col 1:24-28
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his body, which is the church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Spiritual Communion
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.
Catholic Resources for the Homebound Parishioner
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Youngstown Diocese resource for at-home catechesis.
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Donations made to the general collection are used to offset the costs associated with day-to-day operations of our parish and its programs. Additionally, your contribution will benefit our sacramental preparation services, liturgical programs, and Religious Education programs. Parish members are encouraged to set up an account and manage their contributions. You will have complete control over your contribution amount and frequency of payments. Thank you for your investment and continued support of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Church.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica 343 Via Mount Carmel, Youngstown, OH 44505 Ph. 330-743-4144 | Office of Religious Education: 330-743-3508
Saint Anthony of Padua Church 1125 Turin Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44510 PO Box 1256, Youngstown, OH 44501 Ph. 744-5091
