Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Nicodemus Talking to Jesus, Henry Ossawa Tanner, c. 1899 , Public Domain Mark 1.0, No Copyright.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, blessed Domenica, a blessed Lord’s Day.

Be Joyful! Laetare Sunday, in Latin, means this: Be joyful! We are now halfway through the season of Lent, halfway to the glory of Easter Sunday. We have much to be joyful about. Permit me this morning to have a conversation with you as we approach Easter 2021.

Some items are on my mind and in my heart as your pastor and rector of this Basilica:

There will be an extra Mass on Easter Sunday 8:00, 10:00, and Noon, and an 8pm Vigil Mass to observe darkness for the Paschal candle – representative of the light Christ Himself come into our midst.

Number two: From 7pm to 8pm Wednesdays throughout the month of March, here in the Basilica, there will be the Sacrament of Penance with a number of priests including myself. Bring the family.

Number three: In a commitment to the health norms set forth by the state of Ohio, we look forward to a future opportunity to celebrate unrestricted. However, we will continue to celebrate the Mass in keeping with these norms set forth by the state so that all may enjoy a healthy and joyful Easter Season.

Number four: The recent desecration of the blessed statues has been a great heart-break, and I thank you for your prayers. Our surveillance cameras, meant to catch a host of potential criminal acts, instead caught a sad individual also in need of your prayers. And rest assured that we are working to further increase safety around the grounds in the days ahead.

Number five: Christ is the light come into our dark world. We are to prefer in every way the light of Jesus Christ over this darkness. I think of the billions of people in our world experiencing deep darkness. I think of them and I pray. I think of those coming into the Church, seeking the Light of Christ, and I pray.

And I pray that you continue your penances; continue your sacrifices as we walk towards Easter Sunday together. You will know the joy of Jesus Christ, His Light!

Number six: Please be generous in responding to the Bishop’s Appeal, sent to you from our bishop, David Bonnar.

Number seven: I express my deep gratitude to our Director of Religious Education Therese Ivinisin and Melissa Vargo, Assistant DRE, for reaching out to families in our parish in these seemingly impossible times. I know that Our Lady is well pleased with their efforts to involve the young people of our community.

Number eight: Last week after one of the masses, a parishioner reached out to me and said in this way, “Thank you for the Choir, for the servers, for the efforts of the streaming team, for our deacons, and for all who sacrifice for the Mass. And thank you, Monsignor!” I responded in this way, “For the glory of God alone!”

I extend that thanks also to the first responders, doctors, nurses, paramedics, those in nursing homes … your are helping the infirm! We thank them and we pray for them. Oh, and I must thank Saint Rocco, too, who has become a close friend in these days of the pandemic. He has become a close friend! To think, I have made a new friend!

Number nine: One Call is now set up so that I may make a call to you as a household for urgent matters, pastoral matters, and things of true and urgent importance. For example, weather providing, next week the Mass will be celebrated outdoors at the Shrine of Saint Anthony. And should something like what happened a year ago, God forbid it, I can reach out to you and to our whole community with just one call.

Please. Please! Be joyful in God our Lord, Jesus Christ – Laetare! Be joyful! Let no one take that from you! Laetare!

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

In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests, and the people
added infidelity to infidelity,
practicing all the abominations of the nations
and polluting the LORD’s temple
which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers,
send his messengers to them,
for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God,
despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets,
until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed
that there was no remedy.
Their enemies burnt the house of God,
tore down the walls of Jerusalem,
set all its palaces afire,
and destroyed all its precious objects.
Those who escaped the sword were carried captive to Babylon,
where they became servants of the king of the Chaldeans and his sons
until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah:
“Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths,
during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest
while seventy years are fulfilled.”

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!”

R. (6ab)  Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
For there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
“Sing for us the songs of Zion!”
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved —,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.

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.