R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.”

This past week, for three days, I was a part of a special meeting with our bishop and all the other priests of the Diocese of Youngstown.  As 100+ priests of the Diocese, we had not been together for over two years due to the pandemic, and this was the very first time that we met in an extended meeting with our new Bishop David Bonnar.

I thought it was a very good meeting.  I was very moved to witness again our priests’ desire to serve the Lord Jesus and his Church with a total confession of Faith and Dedication. This gathering was marked by a true sense of unity among the priests and bishop serving you, the people of God.  Like St. Peter in the Gospel, “You are the Christ.”  Jesus to us priests: “Take up your cross, and follow me.”

Three trees growing up fast in the forest were talking: The first said “I want to be part of a great building for people to come and admire its magnificence. The second announced, “I want to be part of great sail boat to travel the great oceans of the world.”  The third tree replied, “I want to be part of a great national monument for millions to come and visit.”

The first tree was cut into pieces to become the manger for the stable in Bethlehem.  The second was cut down and the trunk was scooped out to become a boat for the apostles as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. The third was cut into sections and two of them were put together to form the cross on Calvary.

So it was, that the grandiose ambitions of the three trees did not come to be. But they ended up having a great part to play in the history of Salvation of the World.   

Saint Peter’s Confession speaks to each one of us, whether we are the bishop, your priests, the congregation of the faithful, or even three trees in a forest.

Jesus asks each of us: But who do you say that I am?” Like Saint Peter, let our confession be clear and quick: “Lord, You are the Christ.” And may the faith we confess be evident in our daily work. Surely, our Savior also says, “Take up your Cross daily, and follow me.”

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

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

R. (9)    I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.

Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

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.