R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.

Picture the shepherds on the night of the birth of our Lord … They were on the hillside on a cold, winter night, nurturing and protecting their sheep. The sheep were their livelihood. And they devoted much of their time to tending the flock. And it was only one angel who appeared to them to instruct them to go to the stable, and to the door, behind which was the newborn Savior of the World. Only one angel spoke, who was soon to be joined by a host of other angels. Then the shepherds went and adored and humbly bowed before the newborn child Jesus, laid in the manger. There was also the mother, Mary, and Joseph, his foster father, who also adored. And of course, our own Linguini reminds us not to omit the presence of the animals near the manger – they too adored! Yes! All heard the angels from on high, who joined them in adoration around the newborn Savior, Jesus Christ. This Christmas message, 2023, is about those angels we have heard.

One angel, Gabriel, spoke to Mary, that she would become the mother of God. An angel also told Joseph not to be afraid, and to take Mary as his wife.  Later an angel through a dream, told Joseph to take Jesus out of Bethlehem to Egypt so that King Herod could not slaughter this newborn, divine King, Savior of the World. Already, you can see how important the angels of God are in unfolding the message of salvation for our world. This Christmas Day, even as I speak to you, the host of angels is ever-present, ever announcing to our world today, the presence of Christ our Savior, right now. All the angels are powerful for our world as agents of God, promoting the grace and presence of Jesus.

Of course, also in our world, we recognize also that there are bad angels in countless numbers, with Satan as their head, ever at work to destroy. Their colleagues are evil men and women – not of good will – equally hellbent to destroy. Look no further than your cell phone. Look at Palestine and Israel. Look at Russia and Ukraine. Look at the disregard for the infant in the womb by so many! Look at the violence, even in our own country …

I firmly believe, this Christmas 2023, we need to recognize the ever-presence of the good angels that surround us. Look up at the mural of the host of angels that surround Our Lady of Mount Carmel in this sanctuary! It speaks volumes regarding the presence of the angels – the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Our own guardian angels are there! The angels who spoke to the shepherds are among them too! And despite the destruction that is plainly going on, we do hear, and we do believe – more than ever – in the presence of angels in our world today, that we might listen more closely, with our hearts and souls, to the hymn once again resounding, “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains … while our hearts in love we raise, angels we have heard on high, while our hearts in love we raise!”

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

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”

Hark!  Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.

R. (3c)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
 Let all the angels of God worship 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.