Day Two – St. Anthony of Padua, Worker of Miracles

Quotes of St. Anthony:

"The spirit of humility is sweeter than honey, and those who nourish themselves with this honey produce sweet fruit." 

"Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins.  All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart.  Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty.  If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death.  Know that, according to nature, you too are susceptible to death, and that every soul sheds its body as its final garment." 

When was the last time you were angry at someone or some circumstance?  You might even have taken your anger and resentment out on a family member or loved one. Or even gossiped about the person you are angry with and belittled them, telling others of their faults.  Do you think St. Anthony had it easy with gigantic crowds, up to 30,000 coming to hear him preach, with most bringing their problems to him?  He had to practice and teach both patience and humility. St. Anthony spent countless hours in the confessional advising men and women to enter into the joy of the Lord by means of this holy door. 

Words of St. Anthony on the Sacrament of Confession:

“O house of God! O gate of heaven! O confession of sin! Blessed is he who dwells in you! Blessed is he who enters by you! Blessed is he who humbles himself in you! My beloved brothers, be humbled and enter by the gate of confession. As you have been taught, confess your sins and their circumstances, because now is the acceptable time for confession, now is the day of salvation for making amends.”

Let us ask St. Anthony to give us the grace to make a good confession, so that the virtues of patience and humility may increase, combating our faults and failings, while breaking our habits of vice. 

Dearest St. Anthony, I salute you, great saint, for you are the cherub of wisdom and the seraph of divine love. I rejoice at all the favors God has so liberally bestowed upon you. I beg you to help me, for God has given you charity and pity as well as power. You already know the many needs of my soul and body, my distress, my anxieties and my fears. Please come to my aid, I beseech you, by the love you have felt when the Child Jesus laid in your arms and when He covered you with His caresses. Tell Him now of my needs! Remember how complete your happiness was when you held Him to your breast and pressed your cheek to His and listened to His sweet voice!

I salute you in spirit, O glorious favorite of God, and bow my guilty head before you in humble reverence, while I raise my sad heart, full of hope towards heaven and to you, for He who placed Himself in your arms will now fill your hands with all I ask of you. Give me then what I ask for, dear St. Anthony and I will make known the wondrous miracles of your intercession, for the honor and Glory of God. (Mention your intentions now and especially ask for an abundance of grace to be bestowed upon Cardinal Burke.)

O Good St. Anthony, pray for us.
O Good St. Anthony, help us.
O Good St. Anthony, keep us from sin.
O Good St. Anthony, heal the sick.
O Good St. Anthony, console the afflicted.
O Good St. Anthony, convert the poor sinners.
O Good St. Anthony, have pity on the needy.
O Good St. Anthony, bless our homes and families.
O Good St. Anthony, guide and protect us.
O Good St. Anthony, teach us to love God better.
O Good St. Anthony, we love thee.
O Good St. Anthony, Bless us in life and in death.

AMEN.