Cat's Rants - Confessions of an Occult Mastermind: St Anthony of Padua

**Many of my readers request these articles. I do not believe you need to be Catholic or Christian to ask a saint's assistance, but if this type of article goes against your personal beliefs or lack thereof, please skip it and wait for another article. I am not trying to "Bible thump" to anyone. ;) **

Hello Occulties,

As St Anthony recently helped me with a big favor (as did, I believe, my dear friend St Dismas,) in finding a lost item, I was moved to write this post for all of you - and it's been a very much requested one among those readers of mine who strongly believe St Anthony is their patron saint.

A Brief History of St Anthony
We are fortunate in that we have a fair amount of written history about St Anthony that we can trust is reliable. We know he was born Fernando Martins de Bulhoes around 1195 in Lisbon to a noble family of Portugal. He originally took vows to belong to the Augustinian order, but around 1219, after coming across the bodies of 5 martyred Fransiscan monks, he meditated on the heroism of the martyrs and found himself moved to join their order. He obtained permission to do so from the Pope and took the name Anthony upon joining the Fransiscans, a new order at the time.

His first duty as a Fransiscan monk was humble. He was a hermit who worked in the kitchens, however one day, when there were visiting monks from a Dominican order present for an ordination, there had been some confusion as to who should preach. The head of the hermitage chose Anthony to speak to those assembled, suspecting he might be the best qualified. While Anthony tried to refuse, he was overruled. It is said the quality of his deep voice and it's intonations, the words he spoke and the way he wove them together that day were so moving to all assembled that from that day forward he was ordered by Brother Gratian to speak the gospel all over Lombardi. This soon attracted the attention of the very founder of Anthony's order, St Francis of Assisi, who entrusted Anthony with the teaching religious studies their young monks. Throught this time, Anthony continued to spread the gospel in Italy and in France as well. He was even commissioned to write a book of his sermons, Sermons and Feast Days in 1226.

In 1231, Anthony became ill with an edema, and on the way back to Padua in the Poor Clare monestary in Arcella, he passed away aged 36 on June 13, 1231. He was canonized less than a year after his death and is sead to be the "Fastest made" saint in history. His relics still remain in Padua where they are a tourist destination for many pilgrims to this day.

His feast day is celebrated today, June 13.

The Catholic encyclopedia is a great source for history regarding St Anthony, as well as stories (some perhaps more legend than fact,) if you would like to learn more about St Anthony.

You may also enjoy the Wikipedia article regarding St Anthony which goes over his many patronages. He is often revered as a saint to help locate lost items, many ask his intercession in reconciling broken relationships, but he's also often revered as an all purpose powerful saint. If you would like to see his offical patrongages, click here for his Wikipedia page.

Some basic popular prayers/novenas to St Anthony

Traditionally there are a few ways to pray to a saint. When I was young, I was taught to light a white candle in front of a statue or picture of the saint (suchas a holy card,) with a glass of fresh water next to it. This is still my general method, though sometimes I do use colored seven day candles instead, or blessed and dressed candles. Others simply light a candle in front of the picture of the saint. Some people light no candle and just say the prayer. Pick which of these is easiest for you. While some Saints are traditionally prayed to on particular days, some people only pray to them on Sunday or pray any day of the week. Please do not bombard me with 1000's of questions on this because I'm going to be writing an article discussing the Hoodoo and rootwork methods shortly in another article, but the length of this article is already prohibitive, hehe.)

This first one is a novena, so this means you are supposed to say it for 9 days in a row. This first prayer is prayed every day for each of the nine days, and the nine prayers following it are said 1 for each of the nine days. So you pray the prayers below then pray the proper prayers on the matching day.

The novena starts with a daily recital of the Prayer of St Anthony of Padua (which is also suitable to be prayed one time, or as you need it - it's it's own prayer and can be used independantly) given below:

Oh wonderful St Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of thy miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in thy arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. (Make your request here.) Thou who was so loving towards miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to thee, but the Glory of God that it may be once again magnified by this request (make your request here again) which I now request of you in earnestness. Amen

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be in honor of St Anthony*

Then each day (numbered here) you speak the above prayers each day 9 days, and say the prayers given below for the specific day.

Day one:
Oh holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited 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 the favor I seek in this novena (Make your request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. Oh gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and thee gratitude of my heart will always be yours. Amen

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be in honor of Saint Anthony.

Day two:
Oh miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you left without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to thee, Oh most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. Oh eloquent preacher of the divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (Make your request). Amen

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be in honor of Saint Anthony.

Day Three:
Oh purest St. Anthony, who through your angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold him in your arms and press him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. Oh glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (Make your request). Oh great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request. Amen

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be in honor of Saint Anthony.

Day Four:
I salute and honor you, Oh powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek you help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena (Make your request). Oh holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire. Amen