R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent and believe in the Gospel.
R.   Alleluia, alleluia.

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits
to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Buona Festa di San Antonio, and congratulations on the 125^th anniversary of this Church in Youngstown, Ohio. You made it with the help of this great Saint! May St. Anthony continue to shower his blessings on all the members of the Church.

There is a miracle that Saint Anthony worked during his life that I find especially relevant. It took place in Rimini, Italy between Saint Anthony and a wealthy and well-known man by the name of Bononillo who publicly mocked people who believed in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament. Bononillo was stubborn about his lack of belief — as stubborn as a mule, one might say.  Saint Anthony tried many ways to make Bononillo believe but it was no use; he continued to mock. Then Saint Anthony received inspiration: He asked Bononillo, “If your mule were to recognize Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament, would you also then believe?”

Bonillo replied, “Yes, but I will starve my mule for three days! And I will put two bails of hay in the piazza of the Cathedral, and you also put your Sacrament in the Monstrance in the piazza, and you watch where this starving mule goes …”

Then and there Bononillo starved his mule. He told everyone he encountered to be in the piazza in three days. Bononillo placed two bails of hay in the piazza just as he said he would. And the great Saint Anthony came out of the Cathedral with the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance, too.

The hungry mule was freed. And yes, the stubborn, starving mule marched right by two succulent bails of hay, right toward the Blessed Sacrament. And as this were not enough — exactly the sign Bononillo had been promised — the mule then bowed his head low, and bending his front knees, adored Christ truly present, before hundreds of witnesses, all of whom Bononillo had invited to see the results of his wager.  And Bononillo, the poor, stubborn and starving mule that he had been, bent his knees also and adored Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The miracle of Bononillo’s belief is relevant for today, especially, because each parish has been directed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to renew and to revive one another’s belief in the Blessed Sacrament as the center of our spiritual life.

We profess that after the words of consecration by the priest, “This is my Body, this is my Blood,” there remains only the appearance of bread and wine.  There is a change into the Body and Blood of the Lord, His Real Presence —upon the Altar, in the Tabernacle, in the Monstrance.  We receive the REAL PRESENCE IN HOLY COMMUNION. 

St. Anthony with his blessed tongue reminds us that when we leave Mass, because of the Mystery that we have received, we speak the language of humility, poverty, patience, and obedience — living through our actions the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Our actions speak louder than words. Ask the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Anthony of Padua, that you grow in the love of His Real Presence in the Eucharist, and let the Eucharist show for everyone you encounter, in the way you live. For, indeed, actions speak louder than words.

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

In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp.
While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,
Moses went up the mountain to God.
Then the LORD called to him and said,
“Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob;
tell the Israelites:
You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians
and how I bore you up on eagle wings
and brought you here to myself.
Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my special possession,
dearer to me than all other people,
though all the earth is mine.
You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.”

R. (3c) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
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.
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.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Brothers and sisters:
Christ, while we were still helpless,
yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

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.