From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, hear him.

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.

Being a priest, people ask me if I have ever been to the Holy Land. I have been there two times, and it was, for me, awesome. Actually, I am thinking about leading a pilgrimage in 2023. A highlight for me is the Mount of the Transfiguration.

Up the mountain I went with a crazy driver! But once at the top, on a clear day, you can see forever.  Both times were clear days, blue skies and an endless mountain view of the blue waters of sea of Tiberius. On top of the mountain there is a beautiful Catholic Church in honor of the Transfiguration and no doubt a perfect space for Jesus to transfigure Himself, dazzling white before the patriarch and the apostles and show His glory.  On that mountain I felt fully alive, knowing what it is like to experience God’s glory. I of course prayed, and in prayer I was aware that I was in touch with the Glory of God — on the top of the mountain!

And then it was done — back down the mountain (with the same crazy driver), back into the earthly city. And I realized that I needed to bring with me the glory of God and help build a better world in what is often a valley of tears. I think that the mountain of the Transfiguration is all about prayer and the glory of God, but it is also about building a better world. It could be a better home, a better family, a better school, a better parish, and better out-reach (such as for the people of the Ukraine).

But make no bones about it! It is only in going to the top of the mountain of prayer that we become better, especially as we prayerfully ascend God’s holy mountain, the Mass, given to us by Christ Himself. I think that many of our Catholic Faithful need to re-dedicate themselves to Sunday Mass.

The Mass is different from a mere Sunday Service that other Churches have.  It is not just a Service — the Mass is the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus: offering to the glory of God the Father the very Body and Blood of His Son on the Cross for the salvation of our immortal souls and the salvation of whole world.

We come to Church on time or before. We bless ourselves with Holy Water. We genuflect (or bow if your knees are not flexing). We kneel and prepare for Mass in quiet, not socializing before Mass, and we break out of that silence when we participate in the Mass in dialogue, and in song. That’s why we bow when we receive Holy Communion, and we say Amen. That’s why we pray in thanksgiving when we return to the pew.  It is because we are in the glory of God — on the mountain — the Mass. The bells, the stained glass, the incense, the sacred music, the sacred art — all of it points only to the glory of God.

We must always remind ourselves and never forget that after the words of the consecration (using the very words of Jesus and through the validly ordained priest) the bread is no longer mere bread! The wine is no longer mere wine! Rather, it is the very Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is His Real Presence, not merely a symbol. It is transubstantiation: the substance is now changed into his real Body, his real Blood, and now bread and wine are but mere appearances. So, the glory of God is now on this very altar of Sacrifice.

When the mountain of the Mass is over, we go back into the Valley but having tasted God’s glory, back into the City of Life, but let us make a better world — bringing with us the glory of God — both for ourselves and for those we love.

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

The Lord God took Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

He then said to him,
“I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans
to give you this land as a possession.”
“O Lord GOD,” he asked,
“how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
He answered him,
“Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat,
a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Abram brought him all these, split them in two,
and placed each half opposite the other;
but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,
but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,
and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.

When the sun had set and it was dark,
there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,
which passed between those pieces.
It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,
saying: “To your descendants I give this land,
from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”

R. (1a)  The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Brothers and sisters:
Our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

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.