R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

A member of the parish approached me, asking why and what is a Jubilee Year?  Answer: Every 25 years in the Church, the Pope declares a special year of Grace, forgiveness and reconciliation for all the members of the Catholic Church in the world in the name of Jesus Christ. The Popes have been doing these Jubilee Years since the 16^th century. They base them on the Jewish Faith tradition every 25 years to remind on another of God’s grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

In Rome at the beginning of 2020 the Holy Door of the four major basilicas:

Saint Peter’s, Saint Mary Major, Saint John Lateran, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls have been opened, beginning the Jubilee Year 2025 for the one-point-three billion Catholics of this world of ours.  The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope,” in Italian, “Pellegrini della Speranza.”

A million or more members of the Catholic Church will be walking through those Holy Doors in Rome seeking grace, forgiveness and reconciliation as countless faithful have done before them.

On this, the feast of the Lord Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, He simply gives an example to us to be baptized in Him the Savior of the world, giving us Sanctifying Grace – forgiveness of original sin and reconciliation.

This Jubilee Year 2025 is, for us the baptized, to take to heart that we each are baptized in Christ and sincerely be pilgrims of Hope in a world of almost

eight billion people in need of God’s Grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.   

Our minor basilica parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Saint Anthony of Padua Parish emphasizes this Jubilee Year.  You are invited warmly to participate in the spiritual exercises as we announce them. For example, as a minor basilica in Youngstown we enjoy a very special bond with the major basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. We will keep you in touch with the days of grace and favor that are tied in with our special bond.

Behind the Altar of Repose, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, there is a time capsule containing memorabilia from the past jubilee year at the turn of this new millennium. Soon, we will open it at one of the Sunday Masses and share it with you. Its contents, I think, will point out how concretely we go Along the Way in the spirit of Pilgrims of Hope, baptized in Christ … Pellegrini della Speranza in Cristo …

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

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

R. (11b)  The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”

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.