About St. Anthony
Perpetual Novena to Saint Anthony
Why Tuesdays?
The answer is – because St. Anthony himself gave us the devotion. In 1617, he appeared to a pious lady of Bologna, Italy, who earnestly asked his help in an important matter and said to her, “Visit my statue in the Franciscan Church on nine consecutive Tuesdays and your prayers will be answered”. She did so, and to her great joy, her request was granted. The fame of the miracle became widely known, and devotion to Tuesdays spread throughout the world.
Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon in Portugal in 1195. He was the son of wealthy parents who had him christened Ferdinand. When he was 15 years old he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, in the convent of Saint Vincent, just outside the city walls (1210). In order to study and pray in more seclusion, he moved to the Convent of Santa Croce in Cóimbra. While he was there the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs, killed in Morocco while preaching the Faith, and brought to Santa Croce for burial. Ferdinand was inspired by their story. He decided to join the Friars Minor so that he too could preach and suffer for Christ. Having received permission he became a Franciscan, taking the new name of Anthony.
He was prevented by shipwreck on the coast of Sicily from going to Morrocco to preach to the Saracen. He remained in Italy living a life of solitude and penance. Then one day he was asked to preach because at a nearby monastery and spoke with such fervour and understanding of the Scriptures that all were amazed. His fame spread. He became known as a profoundly learned man, inspired by God who also gave him the power to perform miracles. He could no longer live in retirement. He resumed his original mission, to preach the Faith. He did much of his holy work in and around Padua, hence he is known today as St Anthony of Padua.
Exhausted by years of preaching and travel, Anthony died in 1231 AD at the age of 36 and was canonized one year later. In 1946 A. D. Saint Anthony was declared a Doctor of the Church.
Novena Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
And in our hearts take up Your rest;
Come with Your grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which You have made.
St. Anthony, powerful in word and work;
Grant us what we ask of you.
St Anthony, our patron and advocate
Grant us what we ask of you.
St. Anthony, attentive to those who invoke you,
Grant us what we ask of you.
St. Anthony, whom the Infant Jesus so much loved,
Grant us what we ask of you.
1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be To The Father
Prayer to St. Anthony
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for your neighbour made you worthy, when on earth, 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 (mention it). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, intercede for me, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
Students Prayer to St. Anthony
O Glorious St. Anthony, divinely filled with the science of the saints, I place my studies under your powerful protection. After your example let my knowledge be grounded in the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary.
With the aid of your prayers, I propose to perform my studies as a matter of duty, with a pure intention and in a spirit of penance. Implore the Father of Light to grant me a ready understanding, a sound judgement and a faithful memory. Obtain for me the grace to work with constancy, patience and method. Help me to develop the gifts I have received from God, and to employ them for His greater glory. Pray God to bless my efforts, granting me success in my studies and keeping me humble in the midst of success. Amen
Prayer to St. Anthony
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for your neighbour made you worthy, when on earth, 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 (mention it). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, intercede for me, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
Personal Prayer to St. Anthony
Dear St. Anthony, I turn to you to ask for your protection. Remember me, you who have always helped and consoled whoever asked your intercession in their time of need. Animated with great hope and with the certainty of not praying in vain, I turn to you who are so rich in merits before the Lord. Grant that my petition may, through your intercession, reach the Father of Mercy. Come to my aid and obtain for me the graces that I ardently implore if they are for the good of my soul. Bless my work and my family, keep far away all dangers to soul and body. Grant that in the hour of sorrow and being tested, I may remain strong in the faith and in the love of God. Amen
Hymn to St. Anthony
St Anthony, our father dear,
We meet around thy feet once more,
Your boundless graces to proclaim,
And make them sound from shore to shore.
St. Anthony, O hear our prayer,
Thy loving children ask thy care.
Oh, ye who for great wonders seek,
Go visit once his sacred shrine,
Ah, there you’ll find that even death,
Has yielded to his power sublime.
St. Anthony, O hear our prayer,
Thy loving children ask thy care.
