St. Anthony Novena - Day 9

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the grace of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart, (mention request here…) You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of my request which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen One Our Father, One Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony. Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke thee, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. May the Divine assistance remain always with us. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. O God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We did the 9 days Novena and prayed for successful visa application for our children. After a lot of uncertainty, they were granted their visas. Thank you St. Anthony!!! from E.U. I’ve been a devotee of St. Anthony for years now, and his intercession is truly wonderful. Just today, he granted my prayers and helped me get my dream car, which I almost gave up on and seemed impossible. But as the prayer says, The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, thou art the Saint of miracles. Thank you so much, St. Anthony. I will be forever grateful to you. from A.M. I looked where I normally stored my passport and it was not there. I couldn’t remember having moved it and had no clue as to it could be. I chanted the Dear Saint Anthony… verse several times. I looked some more and having no reason to look in the last place as there was no connection to my passport—I looked there anyway and there it was. Thank you St. Anthony. from G.H. What Did St. Anthony Do? Saint Anthony of Padua was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Lisbon, Portugal. His family was wealthy, but also faithful, and they had him instructed in the Cathedral school in his area. His First Religious Community He entered the Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross when he was just fifteen years old. But due to the distractions of frequent visits from relatives, he asked if he could be transferred to Coimbra, where the congregation’s mother house was located. He was ordained to the priesthood, but soon after the new religious community, the Franciscans, set up a hermitage near Coimbra, and attracted by their charism, he believed that he was called to join them. His superiors agreed, and it was then that he changed his name to Anthony. Anthony as a Franciscan Anthony began to travel to evangelize, but he became sick, and through various adventures arrived in Tuscany, Italy, where he lived in the hermitage of San Paolo, growing in prayer and wisdom. Some time later, in 1222, in Forli, Italy, some Dominican friars came to town to visit, but no one knew who was supposed to preach the homily for an ordination. His fellow Franciscans asked Anthony if he was willing to give the homily, in whatever way the Holy Spirit directed him. Anthony’s powerful homily surprised and pleased both the Dominicans and the Franciscans. His eloquence even reached Francis of Assisi, and the two met, becoming fast friends. Two years later, St. Francis made Anthony the director of studies for all the Franciscans. St. Anthony, Patron of Lost Things St. Anthony became the patron saint of lost things in this way: Anthony had a book of Psalms that he used for the purpose of study and teaching, but a Franciscan novice stole the book, departing from the community in the process. Anthony prayed that the missing book would be recovered, and miraculously, the novice returned the book he stole, as well as repented of leaving the Franciscan community. Saint Anthony is often portrayed holding the baby Jesus, due to this story: One night, Anthony was studying the Bible, when the Infant Jesus came to him. Jesus touched St. Anthony’s face, a gesture of great love for the saint who preached so eloquently about Christ. Saint and Doctor of the Church St. Anthony was 36 when he died. Pope Gregory IX canonized him within a year in Spoleto, Italy. He was declared to be a Doctor of the Church on January 16th, 1946.