Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

To all of you a very blessed Sunday and a Buona Domenica. Today is the anniversary of the institution of the Mothers of The Crucifix in 1917, their 104th anniversary. Today’s Mass intention is for all of their members, living and deceased.

Because of social distancing, we’re keeping the first pew open. But this empty first pew reminds me of a joke … It’s about a senior woman who came to her parish church, and she approached the usher, and she said to him, “Please escort me down the aisle. I would like to sit in the first pew.”

The usher stopped her a third of the way and warned, “You know, our priest is the worst preacher in the world. Are you sure you would like to sit in the front?”
“That preacher is my son!” the woman exclaimed.
“Ma’am do you know my name?!” the usher demanded.
“No, sir, I don’t,” she replied.
“Good!” And the usher walked away!

A few brief announcements (announcements occur here, see bulletin for full details – click here).

April 29th, this past Thursday, was the feast of Saint Catherine of Sienna. She was from a wealthy family, a family with 23 children. Her father arranged a marriage for her as was customary. She chose instead to follow a call by God to follow a religious vocation. She was given the title Doctor of the Church because of her dedication to proclaiming the truth of the love of God.

She had in her life a keen sense for a love of God: the way that love liberates us, frees us. And she spent her life preaching about that unspeakable love of God. She spoke and worked with people in such a powerful manner, that even the pope left Rome to go to her, and she encouraged him to return to Rome where he belonged, and the pope listened!

Saint Catherine spoke frequently about how sin enslaves us, turns our lives toward darkness, and how our unwillingness to turn away from sin keeps us from feeling truly liberated the way God wants.

Today, we live in a world that denies the very existence of sin. For example, there is the lie that it is okay to take life through abortion, to recognize same-sex marriage, to take life in general, to turn toward drugs, and all manner of falsehood. Sin enslaves. Sin oppresses. But we must realize that it is sin, this terrible thing in all of our lives, that enslaves each of us unless we turn away from sin.

The lifeline for us as members of the Church is Christ, Who is out very lifeline, our vine that nourishes us.

The title of minor basilica has been bestowed upon Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Pope Francis, as the vicar of Christ on Earth for the purpose of freeing us from temporal sin on several occasions throughout the year, following the usual conditions for receiving an indulgence, and details may be found on [this] website (click here).

We must acknowledge sin in our lives, our sinfulness, and we must take every opportunity to allow Christ to free us in our own lives.

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

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts live forever!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.

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.