Feast of St Anthony of Padua

Feast of St Anthony of Padua
13 June

St Anthony of Padua, also known as St Anthony of Lisbon, was a Portuguese Catholic Priest and Friar of the Franciscan Order.
He was born on 15 August 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in Padua, Italy on 13 June 1231.
In 1946 Pope Pius XII named Anthony of Padua the “Doctor of the Church” for his knowledge of scripture and gift of preaching.
Today Anthony, son of a nobleman and Teacher of Friars, is known as the Patron Saint of the illiterate and the poor, the finder of lost things, and the Saint of Small Requests.

Blessing of Bread:
St Anthony’s Bread is an expression of devotion reminding us of St Anthony’s love and aid to the poor when he was alive.

THE MIRACLE PRAYER TO SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
O Holy St Anthony, the gentlest and kindest of Saints, your burning love of God, your exalted virtue, and your great charity towards your fellow creatures, made you worthy, when on earth to possess miraculous powers such as were given to no other saint.

Miracle waited on your word, and that word you were ever ready to speak at the request of those in trouble.

The anxious prayer of bitter trial was never addressed to you in vain.

To the sick you gave back health; you restored what was lost; the sorrow stricken were the objects of your tender compassion; even the dead you raised to life when the wounded heart cried out to you from the depths of its bitter anguish.

When on earth nothing was impossible with you, except not to have compassion on those in distress and sorrow.

Encouraged by this thought, and convinced of the efficacy of your holy intercession, we kneel before your holy image, and full of confidence, we implore you to obtain for us (here mention your request).

The answer to this our prayer may require a miracle. Even so, are you not the Saint of Miracles, who, when on earth, had but to speak the mightiest wonders were wrought!

O gentle and loving St Anthony, you whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whispers our prayer into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to linger in your arms.

One word from you and our prayer will be granted. O, speak but that word and the gratitude of our heart will ever be yours!
Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.