Prayer To Saint Anthony of Padua: A Novena To The Wonder-Worker

Have you ever heard of Saint Anthony of Padua? He is known as "the saint of miracles" because of the amazing things God did through him.

Saint Anthony, the Wonder-Worker of Padua came from a rich and noble family. But he gave up everything to follow Jesus more closely. He dedicated his entire life to spreading Jesus' Good News.

History
Born of Portuguese nobility, Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1195, and baptized Ferdinand. His father was knight at the court of King Alfonso II,

Anthony first joined the Augustinian Order. But he became a Franciscan in 1221, when he was 26 years old when five Franciscans (St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus) died in martyrdom in Morocco in 1220, in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr.

Anthony was a gifted preacher, and was called upon to teach his fellow Franciscans. Crowds gather when he spoke. His teachings were simple and resounding and even the common man understood the message. He was regarded as another St. Francis.

Saint Anthony was holy man. He had apparitions of the Infant Jesus, and of St. Francis. His miracles included filling the wine barrel of a poor woman who left the tap open, and making whole the wine glass, which had earlier, broke.

In another miracle attributed to St. Anthony, a young man named Leonardo, in a fit of anger kicked his own mother. Repentant, he confessed his fault to St. Anthony who said to him: "The foot of him who kicks his mother deserves to be cut off." Leonardo ran home and cut off his foot. Learning of this, St. Anthony took the amputated member of the unfortunate youth and miraculously rejoined it.

Anthony died on June 13, 1231, at the age of 36. Saint Anthony was canonized (declared a saint) less than one year after his death. St. Anthony was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

To learn more about Saint Anthony of Padua or your favorite saint, please read:
Saint Anthony, the Wonder-Worker of Padua by Charles W. Stoddard

Lives of the Saints You Should Know by Margaret R. Bunson, Matthew E. Bunson

New Illustrated Book of Saints

One Hundred Saints: Their Lives and Likenesses Drawn from Butler's

A Prayer To Saint Anthony of Padua,
the Wonder Worker (Feast–June 13)

St. Anthony of Padua,
Glorious for your miracles
And for the condescension of Jesus
In coming as a little child
To repose in your arms,
Obtain for me from his bounty
The grace which I ardently desire.

You who were so compassionate
Towards sinners,
Regard not my unworthiness,
But the glory of God,
That it may be magnified by you
In connection with
The particular request
Which I now earnestly present to you.

(Name the request.)

As a pledge of my gratitude,
I beg you to accept my promise
To live more faithfully
In accordance with
The teachings of the Church,
And to be devoted
To the service of the poor
Whom you loved
And still love so greatly.

Bless this my resolution,
That I may be faithful to it
Even until death.

St. Anthony,
Consoler of all the afflicted,
Pray for me.

St. Anthony,
Whom the infant Jesus
So much loved and honored,
Pray for me.

Amen.

Please send comments to:

webmaster@mycatholictradition.com