ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA Patron Saint of Lost Things
The reason for invoking St. Anthony’s help in finding lost or stolen things is traced back to an incident in his own life. As the story goes, Anthony had a book of psalms that was very important to him. Besides the value of any book before the invention of printing, the psalter had the notes and comments he had made to use in teaching students in his Franciscan Order. A novice who had already grown tired of living religious life decided to depart the community. Besides going AWOL he also took Anthony’s psalter! Upon realizing his psalter was missing, Anthony prayed it would be found or returned to him. And after his prayer the thieving novice was moved to return the psalter to Anthony and to return to the Order, which accepted him back.
Legend has embroidered this story a bit. It has the novice stopped in his flight by a horrible devil, brandishing an ax and threatening to trample him underfoot if he did not immediately return the book. Obviously a devil would hardly command anyone to do something good. But the core of the story would seem to be true. And the stolen book is said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna. In any event, shortly after his death people began praying through Anthony to find or recover lost and stolen articles. And the Responsory of St. Anthony composed by his contemporary, Julian of Spires, O.F.M., proclaims, “The sea obeys and fetters break/And lifeless limbs thou dost restore/While treasures lost are found again/When young or old thine aid implore.”
St. Anthony has been pictured by artists and sculptors in all kinds of ways. He is depicted with a book in his hands, with a lily or torch. He has been painted preaching to fish, holding a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in front of a mule or preaching in the public square or from a nut tree. But since the 17th century we most often find the saint shown with the child Jesus in his arm or even with the child standing on a book the saint holds. A story about St. Anthony related in the complete edition of Butler’s Lives of the Saints (edited, revised and supplemented by Herbert Anthony Thurston, S.J., and Donald Attwater) projects back into the past a visit of Anthony to the Lord of Chatenauneuf. Anthony was praying far into the night when suddenly the room was filled with light more brilliant than the sun. Jesus then appeared to St. Anthony under the form of a little child. Chatenauneuf, attracted by the brilliant light that filled his house, was drawn to witness the vision but promised to tell no one of it until after St. Anthony’s death. Some may see a similarity and connection between this story and the story in the life of St. Francis when he reenacted at Greccio the story of Jesus, and the Christ Child became alive in his arms. There are other accounts of appearances of the child Jesus to Francis and some companions. These stories link Anthony with Francis in a sense of wonder and awe concerning the mystery of Christ’s incarnation. They speak of a fascination with the humility and vulnerability of Christ who emptied himself to become one like us in all things except sin. For Anthony, like Francis, poverty was a way of imitating Jesus who was born in a stable and would have no place to lay his head.
In Portugal, Italy, France and Spain, St. Anthony is the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. According to some biographers his statue is sometimes placed in a shrine on the ship’s mast. And the sailors sometimes scold him if he doesn’t respond quickly enough to their prayers. Not only those who travel the seas but also other travelers and vacationers pray that they may be kept safe because of Anthony’s intercession. Several
stories and legends may account for associating the saint with travelers and sailors. First, there is the very real fact of Anthony’s own travels in preaching the gospel, particularly his journey and mission to preach the gospel in Morocco, a mission cut short by severe illness. But after his recovery and return to Europe, he was a man always on the go, heralding the Good News. There is also a story of two Franciscan sisters who wished to make a pilgrimage to a shrine of our Lady but did not know the way. A young man is supposed to have volunteered to guide them. Upon their return from the pilgrimage one of the sisters announced that it was her patron saint, Anthony, who had guided them.Still another story says that in 1647 Father Erastius Villani of Padua was returning by ship to Italy from Amsterdam. The ship with its crew and passengers was caught in a violent storm. All seemed doomed. Father Erastius encouraged everyone to pray to St. Anthony. Then he threw some pieces of cloth that had touched a relic of St. Anthony into the heaving seas. At once, the storm ended, the winds stopped and the sea became calm.
Among the Franciscans themselves and in the liturgy of his feast, St. Anthony is celebrated as a teacher and preacher extraordinaire. He was the first teacher in the Franciscan Order, given the special approval and blessing of St. Francis to instruct his brother Franciscans. His effectiveness as a preacher calling people back to the faith resulted in the title “Hammer of Heretics.” Just as important were his peacemaking and calls for justice. In canonizing Anthony in 1232, Pope Gregory IX spoke of him as the “Ark of the Testament” and the “Repository of Holy Scripture.” That explains why St.Anthony is frequently pictured with a burning light or a book of the Scriptures in his hands. In 1946 Pope Pius XII officially declared Anthony a Doctor of the Universal Church. It is in Anthony“s love of the word of God and his prayerful efforts to understand and apply it to the situations of everyday life that the Church especially wants us to imitate St. Anthony. While noting in the prayer of his feast Anthony’s effectiveness as an intercessor, the Church wants us to learn from Anthony, the teacher, the meaning of true wisdom and what it means to become like Jesus, who humbled and emptied himself for our sakes and went about doing good.
NOVENA
(To be prayed everyday during the Novena) Holy Saint Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy when on earth, to possess miraculous power. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or in distressed. Encourage by this thought, we implore of you to obtain for us(mention the request.
The answer to our prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the saints of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper our petition into the ears of the sweet infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of our hearts will ever be yours.
PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY
Glorious Saint Anthony(To be prayed everyday during the Novena), God accompanied you I your childhood with a ray of heavenly light and gave you the grace to resist from every sensual attraction. Come and help us to control our senses so that we may not be deceived by earthly delights. Despite our promises how half – hearted we still are! With all God’s goodness to us and with the many proofs we’ve had of his love, how often we hesitate and doubt Him. Please procure for us some of your steadfastness and determination to resist evil and do good. Help us to give up our desire for power and control. Keep us from a merely intellectual faith and may we be totally dependent on Jesus as you were. Let us know clearly all the other benefits which are hidden so that we may seek Him in all things and find Him as the only joy of our lives.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR SECOND DAY
Good St. Anthony servant of God, You were inflamed with the desire to sacrifice your life for the cause of Jesus’ message. The Lord made the Scriptures a glowing flame in your mind and heart. Your sermons were filled with the words of the Lord. May we listen to the same Lord speaking to us in the Bible with the same reverent openness as you had. Let the same flames of your love set our hearts ablaze and cause tears of repentance upon listening to God’s Word. May we feel the presence of Jesus in the Scriptures just like the people of your day when you preached that word of God to them. Let the fire of your tongue inspire our cold hearts and embrace Him who gave His life to us.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE THIRD DAY
Dear St. Anthony, seraph of love and extraordinary example of Christian life, help us to be strong like you. In search of God’s infinitely sweet presence, you often lived in solitude and silence to enjoy a foretaste of paradise. Our special protector we are often discourage in this valley of tears. In our continuous struggle against our passions vain desires, come to our aid so that we too may enjoy that serene and sweet inner peace which is a reward for Christian living and powerful invitation to seek union with all of God’s saints in heaven.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE FOURTH DAY
St. Anthony, glorious light of the Franciscan Order, your wisdom, inspired by the Holy Spirit was always clothed in humility. You did not display your gifts in pride. But inspired from high, you set an example of Christian learning for the Glory of God and the instruction f his people. O most faithful advocate obtain also for us a spark of that divine knowledge which can enlighten our lives, lead us to experience eternal joys and, fix our attention on Our loving Saviour. May we never grow proud because of the gifts of God bestowed on us. Let us use them for the benefit of our neighbor and for our final reward in heaven.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE FIFTH DAY
St. Anthony, you raise the cross before sinners and saints to be a sign of the price God paid to show us His love to be our only hope of salvation and to give us salvation and to give us courage in suffering. You always preached penance a turning away from anyone and anything that separates us from God, even slightly. You put the First Thing First, the dying of Jesus given to us that we might enter into His spirit as he died and His resurrection , which He wants to share with us. Help us to die to sin large and small and by this dying to be lifted up in grace once for all as we die and many times throughout our days.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SIXTH DAY
Glorious St. Anthony, through your holy life, you merited to have our prayers heard and answered by our Lord and Saviour. Through your intercession, may our prayers be heard and answered by Him frequently and for long hours you were intimately united with Christ in meditation and contemplation. Neither earthly joys nor human honors could satisfy the longings of your heart set aflame by the infinite beauty of Christ’s glorified humanity. Our heavenly patron may your powerful intercessions obtain an answer to all our prayers.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVENTH DAY
Sweet Anthony, your innocent love merited for the singular privilege of holding the Infant Jesus in your arms. This unusual favor was your foretaste of heavenly glory. Since we are unworthy to be blessed with a similar gesture of Christ’s love help us to see and love Jesus in all the poor and suffering of the world. Move us to clothe, feed and help Jesus in all unwanted, abused and abandoned children and people. Lead us, for the sake of Jesus who became a child like one of us to respect, protect all human life from its beginning to its end. Help us to live in such a way now that we may be worthy of Christ’s embrace in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE EIGHT DAY
Oh St. Anthony, we marvel at your enthusiasm you were a light in the Church through your teaching, enlighten our souls and open it to the divine truth. You said, that not many hear the Word of God willingly. The reason for this rests, in the fact that the doctrine of Christ does not play a melody of adulation it does not flatter the sinners and it does not promise earthly goods instead it severely warns and teaches to mortify the flesh and despise the world. We pray that our devotion may awaken our cold hearts full with the creature comforts and distractions of or day. May the spirit of your teaching inflame our hearts that we may live the gospel faithfully and be living witnesses of His Kingdom here on earth.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE NINTH DAY
St. Anthony, during your life you imitated St. Francis of Assisi in his love for Gospel poverty and for the poor. While you desired little for yourself you were constantly alive to the needs of the poor and little people of the world. You shared what you had with them and demanded justice for them. We ask now, in your name that we may not be overly desirous of wealth or possessions. May we share what we have with other less fortunate. Make us always instruments and voices for peace and justice in our world.
Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us St. Anthony to be our model who lived the gospel faithfully. We thank you father for the blessing we have received through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. With complete trust in You like our saint, may we always seek your face in our brothers and sisters that we may serve and love one another and build the heavenly kingdom here on earth where You live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
THE MIRACULOUS RESPONSORY OR “SI QUAERIS”T
This prayer of praise in honor of St. Anthony was composed by St. Bonaventure. It is sung frequently in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua and every Tuesday throughout the world.
If then you ask for miracles,
If then you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities,
Leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.
The sea obeys and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again,
When young and old your aid implore.
All dangers vanish at your prayer,
And direst need does quickly flee;
Let those who know your power proclaim
Let Paduans say: these are yours.
To Father, Son, may glory be
And Holy Spirit, eternally.
V. Pray for us Blessed Anthony.
R. Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.
Leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.
The sea obeys and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again,
When young and old your aid implore.
All dangers vanish at your prayer,
And direst need does quickly flee;
Let those who know your power proclaim
Let Paduans say: these are yours.
To Father, Son, may glory be
And Holy Spirit, eternally.
V. Pray for us Blessed Anthony.
R. Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
O GOD! May the votive commemoration of Blessed Anthony, the Confessor and Doctor be a source of joy to your Church that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance and may deserve to possess eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(After the responsory an indulgence of 300 days once a year. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions, if this responsory together with its versicle, and collect be said daily. S.P. Ap. Jan. 30, 1936.)PRAYER TO RECOVER LOST OR STOLEN THINGS
O Blessed St. Anthony, The grace of God has made you a powerful advocate in all necessities and the patron for the restoration of things lost or stolen. To you we return today with child-like love and heartfelt confidence. How many thousands have you miraculously aided in the recovery of lost goods. You are the counselors of sinners, the comforter of the afflicted, the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the deliverer of the captive, the refuge of the afflicted. To you do we hasten O Blessed St. Anthony. Help us in our affliction. We entrust what we have lost to your care, in the secure hope that you will restore it to be the greater glory of God and to the benefit of our soul. Amen.
LITANY OF ST. ANTHONY
Lord, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us!
Holy Mary, Pray for us!
Holy Father Francis,
St. Anthony of Padua,
St. Anthony, Glory of the Order of Friars Minor,
St. Anthony, Martyr in desiring to die for Christ,
St. Anthony, Pillar of the Church,
St. Anthony, Worthy priest of God,
St. Anthony, Apostolic Preacher,
St. Anthony, Teacher of Truth,
St. Anthony, Hammer of Heretics,
St. Anthony, Terror of Evil Spirits,
St. Anthony, Comforter of the Afllicted,
St. Anthony, Helper in Necessities,
St. Anthony, Deliverer of Captives,
St. Anthony, Guide of the Erring ,
St. Anthony, Restorer of the Lost Things,
St. Anthony, Chosen Intercessor,
St. Anthony, Continuous Worker of Miracles,
Be merciful unto us, (Spare us, O Lord)
Be merciful unto us (Hear us, O Lord!)
From all evil, O Lord deliver us!
From all sin,
From all dangers body and soul,
From the snares of the evil,
From pestilence, famine and war,
From eternal death,
Through the merits of St. Anthony,
Through his zeal for the conversion of sinners,
Through his desire for the crown of martyrdom,
Through his fatigues and labors,
Through his preaching and teaching,
Through his tears of penance,
Through his patience and humility,
Through his glorious death,
Through his wonderful deeds,
In the day of judgment,
We sinners, graciously hear us!
That we may be brought to true penance,
That we may be granted patience in our trials,
That we may be assisted in our necessities,
That our petitions be granted,
That divine love may be kindled within us,
That we may be favored with the protection and intercession of St. Anthony, Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (Spare us, O Lord!)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (Graciously hear us, O Lord!)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (Have mercy on us, O Lord!)
Christ, hear us! (Christ, graciously hear us!)
Christ, hear us! (Christ, graciously hear us!)
V. Pray for us St. Anthony
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAYAlmighty and eternal God, who glorified your faithful confessor Anthony with the perpetual gift of working miracles graciously grant that what we confidently seek through his merits we may surely receive by his intercession. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Feast Day: June 13
0 comments:
Post a Comment