Today is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. The following prayer is a traditional prayer to this beloved saint, asking for his assistance and intercession:
“O Saint Anthony, my faithful advocate and protector! I rejoice for thy unspeakable happiness in the contemplation of the Most Holy Trinity, in which the soul possesses all that it could ever desire. I earnestly and humbly beg thee to regard not my sins and ingratitude, but, in thy tender compassion, beg Our Lord Jesus Christ to grant me His grace, without which I can do nothing. With this divine gift I shall be strengthened to overcome my evil desires, to discipline the sensibility of my soul, to resist the temptations of the evil one, and amend my bad habits; it will enable me to advance in the love of God, to fulfill the divine will of God as perfectly as possible, to walk in the way of a true Christian life, to recognize and discern between good and evil counsel, to accept with a joyful heart interior as well as exterior admonitions, and to love and serve my neighbor as the divine will decrees.
I also pray thee, O Saint Anthony, to protect me against the hands of my enemies, to save me from an unprovided death; above all, implore God that I may not be surprised by death and depart this life without the sacraments of Church, which Our Lord Jesus Christ has instituted to strengthen and comfort us in that dread hour, and that thou and our blessed Mother may be present at my side; and finally that, through the bitter passion of Our Saviour and thy intercession, I may, with thee and all the saints and elect of God, rejoice and praise Him forever in the heavenly country.” — from Saint Anthony- The Saint of the Whole World, by Father Thomas F Ward, 1898
Today is also the 101st anniversary of the second apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, and the following is a transcript of the conversation between Sr. Lucia of Fatima and Our Lady on that day:
After having said the rosary with Jacinta and Francisco and other people who were present, we (the three children, and this is Sr. Lucia reporting the information, added by SF) saw again the reflection of light nearing us, (we used to say it was lightening), and following, Our Lady on the holm oak as in May.
“Please tell me, Madam, what it is that you want of me?”
I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month. I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. And after each one of the mysteries, my children, I want you to pray in this way: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell. Take all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need. I want you to learn to read and write, and later I will tell you what else I want of you.
“Will you take us to heaven?”
Yes, I shall take Jacinta and Francisco soon, but you will remain a little longer, since Jesus wishes you to make me known and loved on earth. He wishes also for you to establish devotion in the world to my Immaculate Heart.
“Must I remain in the world alone?”
Not alone, my child, and you must not be sad. I will be with you always, and my Immaculate Heart will be your comfort and the way which will lead you to God.
The moment she said the last words, opening her hands, She transmitted to us, for the second time, the reflection of that intense light. In it we felt we were submerged in God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in that part of the light which was rising to Heaven, and I in the part spreading over the earth. In front of the palm of Our Lady’s right hand was a heart encircled with thorns which appeared to pierce it. We understood it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary offended by the sins of mankind, craving reparation. source
“My Immaculate Heart will be your comfort and the way which will lead you to God.”
There is much to think about on this day!
