Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.

On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.

To all of you a blessed Easter! Buona Pasqua! Joining me in that expression: Scott Cross, MC today, Theresa Ivinisin on behalf of our young people, and Craig Ziobert, music minister.

Why look for the living among the dead? The angel tells the women at the tomb, “He has been raised!” He is truly risen! In Italian, Cristo e risorto! Alleluia! Alleluia!

It happened that the activity director of an Alzheimer’s wing decided to show the film, Jesus of Nazareth to the residents. The director wasn’t sure if the patients would grasp what was happening. And it seemed that they were calm, and it seemed that they were enjoying the film, but there was no way to say for sure whether the patients were enjoying it.

Then it came to the part where Mary Magdalen ran to the upper room and told the apostles that she had seen the empty tomb – told them the good news the angel told her. And it was that Mary said to the apostles, “You don’t believe me,” and it was at that moment one of the residents stood up and proclaimed, “We believe you, Mary! We believe you!”

A Tibetan Monk said to a Catholic Priest in his journeys abroad, “I like the Catholic faith very much. But I would not like it without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I want to see the resurrection in YOU. What does it mean to you?”

I want to thank Nicholas Capone in his faithfulness in making the Mass available online for those who are still not able to participate fully. This past year has been a dark night of the soul – very real indeed. But you are here. I am here. And we believe you, Mary Magdalen. We believe you.

A fourth grader made a display of Legos. And it takes a certain art and science background to make a good display of Legos like this. His Lego display was this: a scene of the crucifixion. Then came the tomb. It was open in his Lego design. It was open, rolled back.

[STREAMING FEED BREAK UP] … Bread.

Oh Mary Magdalen, He is alive! We believe you! Yes, a dark night of the soul, yes, Corona Virus. But He is risen! And like the message of the Tibetan monk to the Catholic priest, show what this resurrection means in your life. Show it. Amen.

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

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, fresco by Piero della Francesca, 1463

R.  (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.”
R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or:
R.  Alleluia.

Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?
Clear out the old yeast,
so that you may become a fresh batch of dough,
inasmuch as you are unleavened.
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.
Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,
not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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.