Next Sunday 13th June is the Feast of St. Anthony. Our parishioners have a great devotion to St. Anthony, regularly visiting the shrine in Mary Immaculate Church and attending the weekly novena there each Tuesday morning. Lillies are famously associated with St. Anthony and you are welcome to bring a lilly or lillies to the Sunday masses next weekend to have them blessed.
Novena Prayer to St. Anthony
Come Holy Spirit, Creator blessed, And in our hearts take up Your rest;
Come with Your grace and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts which You have made.
St. Anthony, powerful in word and work;
Grant us what we ask of you.
St. Anthony, our patron and advocate,
Grant us what we ask of you.
St. Anthony, attentive to those who invoke you,
Grant us what we ask of you.
St. Anthony, whom the Infant Jesus so much loved,
Grant us what we ask of you.
O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for your neighbour,
made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers.
Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety.
encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me my request………….
(Pause)
The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the saint of miracles.
O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy,
intercede for me and whisper my prayer into the ear of the sweet Infant Jesus
who loved to linger in your arms and the gratitude of my heart will be yours. Amen.