R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

I recall that it was a Sunday …  

It was the Christmas Season. It was snowy and cold but still a sunny day, and it was also after a very nice, homemade spaghetti dinner at home with the family.  It was time for a walk, so I asked Mom and Dad if I could take my dog Tony, a white spotted beagle, for a walk. Our Catholic Church was only five blocks from home, and never locked.  I thought that my dog Tony should see the Stable, the Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the animals, the shepherds — and of course the three kings. 

Tony loved it, especially the big camel and elephant.  While we were praying, all of a sudden, in the sunlight and awesome poinsettias and decoration; it was as if the three kings were talking to us, saying that I needed to do something very special in my life ahead of me — to do something very special for God: give yourself to God in Jesus.  

Imagine the three kings talking to me, a twelve-year-old boy, healthy and sane. I could not have been in a better place — I and my dog, Tony.   Little did I know that fourteen years later at the age of 26, I would become a priest. The best thing I ever did.  The three kings talked to me — it seemed so very real.

It was thirty years later that the three kings talked again — when I became the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown.  I learned then for the first time about the famous Italian legend of La Befana. She was a housewife, mature in age so the speak, more frankly old. According to the legend she was in front of the house, sweeping the sidewalk, when the three kings were walking by. They told La Befana that they were following a star that was leading them to the Christ-child, to Jesus, to the newborn Savior of the World.  He was the long-awaited Savior. Come with them to see. She said that was nice, but she was too busy.  “Can you not see how busy I am?”

Later she heard all about it.  It was true. She missed it — to see the new born Savior.  She felt horrible but made a promise that every Epiphany of the Lord, she would bring gifts to all the good children of the world to make up for the day she did not gift the new born Savior of the World.  Look at the Stable today and see all the candy she brought us. Wow!  After Mass, children, come forward and get some candy and a blessing from the Three Kings.

But La Befana does something else … Each year she brings COAL to the bad children of the world — dirty, messy, filthy coal.  Three pieces were in our Church this morning — one for the kids who put up a fight with their parents about going to adore Jesus at Mass on Sunday; one for the kids who don’t pray to Jesus, through Mary and the Saints each day, and one for the kid who are not loving and are not forgiving. Lucky there are no names on the coal — we’re safe!

So here is the message for you on this epiphany 2023: Like the three kings who talked to me 66 years ago now (And, oh, they are still talking!) declared, Give yourself to God Who is Jesus, Savior of the World. Oh come, let us adore Him!

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

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

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.