On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, by Caravaggio, c. 1602.

Note from Scott Shulick prior to the beginning of Mass: The Italian Festival has been cancelled for 2021. In place of the festival this year, the 2021 Festa Italia Raffle (first prize of $10,000) will be drawn on October 11th (Columbus Day). An early-bird $1,000 drawing will be held also on July 16th. Our goal is 8,500 tickets which would help to generate the same level of income that the 2019 festival generated, and we look forward to bringing the festival back in 2022, God willing.

To all of you a blessed Divine Mercy Sunday and a buona Domenica!

It happened that a priest, speeding through town, was pulled over by an officer of the law. The priest, smiling brilliantly, quoted scripture to the officer, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall attain mercy!” and the police officer, handing the ticket to the priest, responded, “Father, go and sin no more!”

Today, Divine Mercy Sunday, is a reminder to spread mercy throughout the whole world.

A business man and Catholic by the name of Fred Beretta, frequently travelled for business. One day, Fred was trying to add something fresh to his spiritual life and decided to commit to the Divine Mercy chaplet. A week later, chaplet in-hand and the words of the prayer of Divine Mercy upon his lips, that Fred Beretta, boarded an Airbus jet from La Guardia to Charlotte on business, along with 159 other travelers.

At about 3,500 feet, a bird-strike occurred with a flock of geese, irreparably damaging both engines, and the plane began immediately to plummet. Fred continued to utter his prayer, “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world,” but with a fresh awareness of his own mortality. And it happened that Fred developed a very keen awareness of the words he was saying, and even that they would be his last. And then the doomed Airbus, rather than killing those aboard including Fred, instead landed safely upon the waters of the Hudson River. Not one passenger of the 159 aboard was killed. Fred would later reflect on his ordeal, as we should about our own lives today, that the way we make our petition for mercy matters greatly.

The fresco of Saint Thomas, in the Basilica, is right here [pointing upward, almost directly above the ambo] as a close reminder to always seek Divine Mercy. Christ mercifully encouraged Saint Thomas, as He encourages us: to touch His wounds, to see, and to believe.

Sometimes it is said to me, “You know, Monsignor, we really overdo it with this mercy stuff!”

We each want justice, yes, and we need to have justice in the Church, and we need justice in the home. But we also must temper justice with mercy … the Divine Mercy of Christ. Saint Thomas’s words are profound, indeed, as he touched the wounds of Christ: “My Lord and my God!” Reflect upon these words today in your own lives: “My Lord and my God!”

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

How the Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (Click for more – USCCB website)

Divine Mercy, by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski, 1934. Wikipedia Commons 4.0.

R.  (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R.  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R.  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R.  Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R.  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R.  Alleluia.

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

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.