St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most famous disciples of St. Francis of Assisi. He was a famous preacher and worker of miracles in his own day, and throughout the eight centuries since his death he has so generously come to the assistance of the faithful who invoke him, that he is known throughout the world.
St. Anthony's Youth & Conversion
St. Anthony was born in the year 1195 A. D. at Lisbon (Portugal) where his father was a captain in the royal army. Already at the age of fifteen years, he had entered the Congregation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine and devoted himself with great earnestness both to study and to the practice of piety in the Monastery at Coimbra (Portugal).
About that time some of the first members of the Order of Friars Minor, which St. Francis has founded in 1206 A. D. came to Coimbra. They begged from the Canons Regular a small and very poor place, from which by their evangelical poverty and simplicity they edified everyone in the region. Then in 1219 A. D. some of these friars, moved by divine inspiration, went as missionaries to preach the Gospel of Christ to the inhabitants of Morocco. There they were brutally martyred for the Faith. Some Christian merchants succeeded in recovering their remains; and so brought their relics in triumph back to Coimbra.
The relics of St. Bernard and companions, the first martyrs of the Franciscan Order, seized St. Anthony with an intense desire to suffer martyrdom in a like manner. So moved by their heroic example he repeatedly begged and petitioned his superiors to be given leave to join the Franciscan Order. In the quiet little Franciscan convent at Coimbra he received a friendly reception, and in the same year his earnest wish to be sent to the missions in Africa was fulfilled.
St. Anthony's Arrival in Italy
But God had decreed otherwise. And so, St. Anthony scarcely set foot on African soil when he was seized with a grievous illness. Even after recovering from it, he was so weak that, resigning himself to the will of God, he boarded a boat back to Portugal. Unexpectedly a storm came upon them and drove the ship to the east where it found refuge on coast of Sicily. St. Anthony was greeted and given shelter by the Franciscans of that island, and thus came to be sent to Assisi, where the general chapter of the Order was held in May, 1221 A. D..
Since he still looked weak and sickly, and gave no evidence of his scholarship, no one paid any attention to the stranger until Father Gratian, the Provincial of friars living in the region of Romagna (Italy), had compassion on him and sent him to the quiet little convent near Forli (also in Italy). There St. Anthony remained nine months as chaplain to the hermits, occupied in the lowliest duties of the kitchen and convent, and to his heart's content he practiced interior as well as exterior mortification.
St. Anthony, Preacher and Teacher
But the hidden jewel was soon to appear in all its brilliance. For the occasion of a ceremony of ordination some of the hermits along with St. Anthony were sent to the town of Forli. Before the ceremony was to begin, however, it was announced that the priest who was to give the sermon had fallen sick. The local superior, to avert the embarrassment of the moment, quickly asked the friars in attendance to volunteer. Each excused himself, saying that he was not prepared, until finally, St. Anthony was asked to give it. When he too, excused himself in a most humble manner, his superior ordered him by virtue of the vow of obedience to give the sermon. St. Anthony began to speak in a very reserved manner; but soon holy animation seized him, and he spoke with such eloquence, learning and unction that everybody was fairly amazed.
When St. Francis was informed of the event, he gave St. Anthony the mission to preach throughout Italy. At the request of the brethren, St. Anthony was later commissioned also to teach theology, "but in such a manner," St. Francis distinctly wrote, " that the spirit of prayer be not extinguished either in yourself or in the other brethren." St. Anthony himself placed greater value in the salvation of souls than on learning. For that reason he never ceased to exercise his office as preacher despite his work of teaching.
The number of those who came to hear him was sometimes so great that no church was large enough to accommodate and so he had to preach in the open air. Frequently St. Anthony wrought veritable miracles of conversion. Deadly enemies were reconciled. Thieves and usurers made restitution. Calumniators and detractors recanted and apologized. He was so energetic in defending the truths of the Catholic Faith that many heretics returned to the Church. This occasioned the epitaph given him by Pope Gregory IX "the ark of the covenant."
In all his labors he never forgot the admonition of his spiritual father, St. Francis, that the spirit of prayer must not be extinguished. If he spent the day in teaching and heard the confession of sinners till late in the evening, then many hours of the night were spent in intimate union with God.
Once a man, at whose home St. Anthony was spending the night, came upon the saint and found him holding in his arms the Child Jesus, unspeakably beautiful and surrounded with heavenly light. For this reason St. Anthony is often depicted holding the Child Jesus.
St. Anthony's Death
In 1227 A. D., St. Anthony was elected Minister Provincial of the friars living in northern Italy. Thus he resumed the work of preaching. Due to his taxing labors and his austere penance, he soon felt his strength so spent that he prepared himself for death. After receiving the last sacraments he kept looking upward with a smile on his countenance. When he was asked what he saw there, he answered: "I see my Lord." He breathed forth his soul on June 13, 1231 A. D., being only thirty six year old. Soon the children in the streets of the city of Padua were crying: "The saint is dead, Anthony is dead."
Pope Gregory IX enrolled him among the saints in the very next year. At Padua, a magnificent basilica was built in his honor, his holy relics were entombed there in 1263 A. D. From the time of his death up to the present day, countless miracles have occurred through St. Anthony's intercession, so that he is known as the Wonder-Worker. In 1946 A. D. St. Anthony was declared a Doctor of the Church.
NOVENA PRAYER TO SAINT ANTHONY
We Salute thee, Saint Anthony lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. We rejoice at the favors God has so liberally bestowed on thee. In humility and confidence we entreat thee to help us for we know that God has given thee charity and pity as well as power. Then behold our distress, our anxiety, our fears concerning [Here mention your intentions.] We ask if of thee by the love thou didst feel for the divine Child when he loaded thee with caresses. Tell Him of our wants. Remember thy rapture when thou didst clasp Him to thy heart when thou didst press thy cheek to His and didst listen to His divine whispers. One sigh from thee whom He honors will crown our success and fill us with joy. Think of this and hear our prayer. Obtain for us all that we desire and we will publish thy greatness thereby to glorify Him by whom thou were so highly favored. Amen
O Holy Saint Anthony, Gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy when on earthy to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me my request
[Here mention your intentions.]
The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the Saint of miracles. O Gentle and Loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, Who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.
Saint Anthony, loved and honored by the divine Child Jesus, Obtain what we ask of thee. Saint Anthony, powerful in word and work, Obtain what we ask of thee. Saint Anthony, attentive to those who invoke thee, Obtain what we ask of thee.
INVOCATIONS
If miracles thou vain would see; Lo, error, death, calamity. The leprous stain, the demon flies, From beds of pain the sick arise.
The hungry seas forgo their prey, The prisoner's cruel chains give way; While palsied limbs and chattels lost Both young and old recovered boast.
And perils perish, plenty's hoard, Is heaped on hunger's famished board; Let those relate who know it well, Let Padua of her patron tell.
The hungry seas forgo their prey, The prisoner's cruel chains give way; While palsied limbs and chattels lost Both young and old recovered boast.
Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The hungry seas forgo their prey, The prisoner's cruel chains give way; While palsied limbs and chattels lost Both young and old recovered boast.
V: Pray for us, blessed Anthony, R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray
O God, let the votive commemoration of Blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy in Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and may deserve to possess eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THIRTEEN SALUTATIONS TO SAINT ANTHONY
Glorious St. Anthony, you who were born under the protection of Mary and consecrated to her from the age of five – the lily of your virginity, you who put the demon to flight by the Sign of the Cross, obtain for us a tender devotion to our Blessed Mother and the strength to triumph over all the attacks of our eternal enemy.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who to escape from the dangers and temptations of the world, disdaining greatness, riches and comfort – entered the Institute of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, obtain for us a true contempt for sin.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who, burning with the desire to suffer martyrdom, entered the order of the Seraphic St. Francis, obtain for us the spirit of penance and mortification.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who guided by sentiments of profound humility did all in your power to hide yourself from the eyes of the world when God suddenly showed you forth as an ark of science and sanctity, obtain for us the grace and practicing of that virtue,humility.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who were chosen by God to preach His word, received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working most wonderful miracles, obtain for us the grace to listen willingly to the divine Word.Glorious Saint, you who, to confound the heretics, proved to them the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist by making a dumb beast kneel down and adore Him obtain for us the grace of adoring Jesus with a lively faith in the Blessed sacrament.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious St. Anthony, I come to you in my present need with supreme confidence. Your great generosity impels you to listen attentively to anyone who turns to you. Your influence with God is every effective in obtaining divine graces and favors. Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who on the refusal of me to come and hear the word of God called together the fishes of the sea and preached to them, obtain for us perfect submission of our minds and hearts to the divine truths.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who as protector of the innocent made a baby speak to save the honor of its mother, obtain for us the grace of being strong in the midst of the persecution of the world and to preserve intact the purity of our souls. Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who, while preaching at Padua showed yourself at the same time at Lisbon by a marvelous miracle, for the purpose of saving your father from calumny and death, obtain for us that we may pardon all injuries from the bottom of our hearts and love our enemies.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who, by your prayers, zeal and heavenly wisdom converted thousands of heretics and sinners, obtain for us the grace of true conversion that we may give ourselves entirely to God.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you who in the imitation of your Divine Redeemer spent all your life for the salvation of souls, obtain for us the great grace of seeing Jesus as you saw Him when you breathed your last and of being saved with you in heaven for all eternity.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
Glorious Saint, you whom God has endowed with the power of unceasing miracles and who answers the prayers of those that invoke you, obtain for me what I beg of you through Jesus Christ and Mary, His blessed mother so ardently – if it is for the good of my soul.
Our Father,Hail Mary,Glory Be
LITANY TO SAINT ANTHONY
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God, the Holy Spirit,have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God,have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us. Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us. Saint Anthony, ark of the testament, pray for us. Saint Anthony, beauty of paradise, pray for us. Saint Anthony, conqueror of heretics, pray for us. Saint Anthony, conqueror of impurity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us. Saint Anthony, defender of innocence, pray for us. Saint Anthony, destroyer of worldly vanity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, disperser of devils, pray for us. Saint Anthony, example of humility, pray for us. Saint Anthony, example of obedience, pray for us. Saint Anthony, exterminator of vices, pray for us. Saint Anthony, finder of lost things, pray for us. Saint Anthony, gem of proverty, pray for us. Saint Anthony, generator of charity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, glory of the Friars Minor, pray for us. Saint Anthony, guide of pilgrims, pray for us. Saint Anthony, horror of hell, pray for us. Saint Anthony, keeper of the Scriptures, pray for us. Saint Anthony, liberator of prisoners, pray for us. Saint Anthony, lily of virginity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, lover of the Cross, pray for us. Saint Anthony, martyr in desire, pray for us. Saint Anthony, mirror of abstinence, pray for us. Saint Anthony, model of conduct, pray for us. Saint Anthony, model of perfection, pray for us. Saint Anthony, performer of miracles, pray for us. Saint Anthony, planter of virtues, pray for us. Saint Anthony, preacher of grace, pray for us. Saint Anthony, restorer of health. pray for us. Saint Anthony, restorer of hearing to the deaf, pray for us. Saint Anthony, restorer of lost things, pray for us. Saint Anthony, restorer of sight to the blind, pray for us. Saint Anthony, restorer of speech to the mute, pray for us. Saint Anthony, reviver of the dead. pray for us. Saint Anthony, sanctuary of heavenly wisdom, pray for us. Saint Anthony, searcher of consciences, pray for us. Saint Anthony, star of sanctity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, tamer of tyrants, pray for us. Saint Anthony, teacher of truth, pray for us. Saint Anthony, terror of infidels, pray for us. Saint Anthony, terror of the devils, pray for us. Saint Anthony, vessel of purity, pray for us. Saint Anthony, zealous for justice, pray for us.
Saint Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for us.
Be merciful, Spare us, Lord. Be merciful, Hear us, Lord.
From the snares of the devil, Saint Anthony deliver us. From thunder, lightning and storms, Saint Anthony deliver us.
From pestilence, famine, and war, Spare us, Lord. From eternal death, spare us, Lord.
From all evil of body and soul, Saint Anthony deliver us.
From all sin, Saint Anthony deliver us.
Through your intercession, Saint Anthony protect us.
Throughout the course of life, Saint Anthony protect us.
Through the merits of Saint Anthony, hear us, Lord.
Through his ardent charity, hear us, Lord.
Through his zealous preaching, hear us, Lord.
Through his desire of martyrdom, hear us, Lord.
Through his strict observance of obedience, poverty, and chastity, hear us, Lord.
On the day of judgment, hear us, Lord.
That You grant to lead us to true penitence, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant to inflame us with divine love, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant to let us ever enjoy the protection of Saint Anthony, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant to give us, by the merits of Saint Anthony, the gift of true contrition, humility, and contemplation, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant us the grace, through the intercession of Saint Anthony, to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant the assistance of Saint Anthony to all who invoke him in their necessities, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
That You grant graciously to hear us, Son of God, WE BESEECH YOU,HEAR US
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.
Christ,hear us. Christ,graciously hear us.
V: Saint Anthony, pray for us. R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Almighty and eternal God, Who did glorify 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 through his intercession. O my God, may the pious commemoration of Saint Anthony, your Confessor and Proctor, give joy to your Church, that she may ever be strengthened with your spiritual assistance and merit to attain everlasting joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.