R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

I like to remind myself to remember the Holocaust of Adolf Hitler that brought to the gas chamber somewhere between six and nine million Jews. His intent was to extinguish a race and a religion, borne out of hatred. I think it was one of the most notorious acts of injustice in all human history – hatred at the highest level.

Love and justice are the key realities of God’s word to us today as we offer this Sunday Mass. We live in a world that is, unfortunately, unjust on too many levels. Even in our country, which often gets good ratings for being a people who promote justice and a people who are caring and loving, we often instead find injustice and hatred.

We know from our knowledge of the world that there are nations and people who are gravely unjust to one another and filled with hate. Even in the political world, I observe an enormous amount of corruption that breeds injustice and hatred.

That is where the Catholic Church comes in … We must be in the world, and to the world, outstanding examples of what it means to love –

as individuals, as married couples, as family, and as a community.  All of us are disappointed when the Church is a bad example.

In the midst of this Easter season, celebrating the Word of the Risen Christ – for Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! – let us lift up true justice and true love, for we cannot celebrate the Risen Jesus without celebrating the great realities of true love and justice. And shame on you if you are not committed to justice and to love in your daily life!

At Mass, I say to you, dearly beloved, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father. Mine is a sacrifice as priest – offering the body and blood of Jesus, the Son of God, to His Father in Heaven at every Mass until the end of time for the salvation of the whole world. Yours is to place on the altar all your sacrifices to bring about love and justice in this our world.

That’s it – I as priest am about to offer the sacrifice of Jesus to the Father, and you as people, offer your daily sacrifices of love and justice. This we do together for the salvation of our souls and the souls of others and the whole world. Amen.

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

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
“Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.”

While Peter was still speaking these things,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter
were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit
should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
Then Peter responded,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people,
who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

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.