God Bless His Holiness Benedict XVI

We send prayers of gratitude to God for our beloved Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, on this day that he leaves the Throne of Peter. We thank the Pope Emeritus for all of his sacrifices, and for the holy guidance he has given the Church these past 8 years; but most of all we thank him for Summorum Pontificum, freeing the use of the Traditional Latin Mass, the Holy Mass of Saint Anthony of Padua and countless other Saints and faithful throughout the ages.

Please join us in preparation for the upcoming election of a new Sovereign Pontiff, as we beseech heavenly graces via the following novena of prayers, to take place from March 1st. to March 9th.

Veni Creator Spiritus

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come. From Your bright heavenly throne! Come, take possession of our souls. And make them all Your Own!
You who are called the Paraclete, Best gift of God above, The Living Spring, The Living Fire, Sweet Unction, and True Love!
You who are sevenfold in Your grace, Finger of God’s right hand,
His Promise, teaching little ones
To speak and understand!
O guide our minds with Your blessed light, With love our hearts inflame, And with your strength, which never decays, Confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our hellish foe, True peace unto us bring, And through all perils guide us safe Beneath Your sacred wing.
Through You may we the Father know, Through You the Eternal Son, And You the Spirit of them both Thrice blessed Three in One.
Now to the Father, and the Son Who rose from death, be glory given, With You, O Holy Comforter, Henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.
V/ Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created:
R/ An You shall renew the face of the earth.

O Lord, with suppliant humility, we entreat You, that in Your boundless mercy You will grant the most holy Roman Church a pontiff, who by his zeal for us, may be pleasing to You, and by his good government may ever be honored by Your people for the glory of Your name. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
V/ Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
R/ pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
V/ Saint Anthony of Padua
R/ pray for us.

You can download the novena in pdf format here

I Credit Saint Anthony

I have written you several stories in the past. St. Anthony has helped me so many times, it's astounding. But now I have a new story, very incredible.
About 14 years ago my brother bought me a pearl necklace for Christmas. We are both single, and I never had a pearl necklace, and so I treasured this piece as something very precious from his heart. The following year my mother asked to wear my necklace for a wedding. Of course I said yes. I recall her giving it back to me and it being on her kitchen table, but the next time I wanted to wear it I could not find it. I prayed to St. Anthony, but nothing. I looked everywhere in my house for it, but could not find it. I prayed to St. Anthony every time I would think about it over these past 13 years. Last summer I was cleaning out a cabinet, and saw I had several bottles of vitamins I had not used in a long time, and I decided to throw them out since they were old. As I began to throw them away, I stopped and decided I would empty the bottles and dispose of the pills separately, because I didn't want children to find the bottles and perhaps take the pills. I opened the first bottle, and much to my shock and surprise, there were my pearls!!!!! I had apparently put them in the bottle because I was going out of town and wanted them not to be stolen, then I forgot they were there.
I credit St. Anthony for inspiring me to stop and decide to empty the bottles before throwing them away. If I had not, I would have thrown away my pearls and not even known it, so thank you again, wonderful, wonderful, St. Anthony!

Thank you B.B. for another great St. Anthony story. Need to find something that is lost? With prayer, patients, perseverance, and Saint Anthony's help, you will find what you need most - ask for his help today~

To Bombard Saint Anthony With Prayers

I have a doozie of a story of how Saint Anthony found an object very dear to me...My mom gave me her Graduation ring from High School (1926 vintage) when I was twelve. I am nearly 70. Last week it was gone! I looked again and again, especially where I normally keep it, but nothing...My students helped clean the shelves(I am a private piano teacher) yet NOTHING>>> So, I gave up and asked all my friends and students to bombard Saint Anthony with prayers, and on Saturday there was the ring EXACTLY where I always kept it.. We looked in that very place alllll week..Thank you, Saint Anthony.

A great 'thank you!' to one of our readers for emailing us this inspiring St. Anthony story. Have a St. Anthony story of your own to share? Email it to us and we will post it on our blog~

750 Year Anniversary Of The Feast Of St. Anthony's Tongue

The 15th. of February, 2013, will be the ‘Feast of St. Anthony’s Tongue’. This expression may sound a bit strange to modern ears, but it recalls a truly extraordinary event which took place in 1263 – thirty-two years after the Saint’s death.

St. Anthony’s remains were transferred from the Church of Sancta Maria Mater Domini, where he had originally been interred, to the adjacent and newly constructed Basilica of St. Anthony. Present at this ceremony was St. Bonaventure in his capacity as the Minister General of the Friars Minor. St. Anthony’s coffin was opened, and it was found to contain only bones and ashes with one exception: the Saint’s vocal apparatus was found to be intact, and in particular his tongue was still red and soft. At the sight of this miracle, St. Bonaventure exclaimed in awe “Oh blessed tongue, that ever praised the Lord, and led others to praise Him! Now it is clear how great are your merits before God!”

As a preacher and writer, Anthony had continuously praised the Lord with his tongue or with his pen. The first biography of St. Anthony written soon after his death, refers to the Saint’s tongue as “the writing reed of the Holy Spirit,” because it was with his tongue that he converted so many people through the operation of the Holy Spirit: “His powerful words and salutary doctrine so rooted themselves in the hearts of his listeners that large crowds of believers adhered faithfully to the Lord.”

This year marks exactly 750 years that have elapsed since that first recognition. Over the centuries, this precious relic has suffered some of the ravages of time, but it is still on display in the Chapel of Relics in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy.
Source: St. Anthony's Messenger

Click here if you would like prayers in honor of St. Anthony's blessed tongue on this momentous Feast day~

A Lost Car And A Lost Necklace

The first story was not mine but a dear friend of my Grandmother's, Josephine. Both are from back East and Catholic. Josephine had her only car stolen at a friend's home she was visiting. She thought she would never be able to buy another car, living on a fixed income, so she prayed to St. Anthony day after day. About three weeks or so go by and she is in her kitchen doing dishes and happens to look out the window, and there is her car driving by, parking 5 doors down from her home. She called the police and got her car back. I always remembered her story.

So my story - my Grandmother had given me a diamond necklace on a long chain. Somehow I lost it for over two years. I looked and looked, and thought about St. Anthony - I began praying for his help. Weeks go by and I was going on a trip, I took my luggage out of the closet and in one of the zippers I found the diamond necklace. Thank you St Anthony - I named my son after you.

Thank you G.T.L. for both of those great stories of St. Anthony's help, they are priceless. Have a St. Anthony story of your own to share with our readers? Email us to have it posted on our blog~