The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the Father

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever will be, world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead; the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from where he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.

V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let Us Pray
God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that we may be truly wise in the same Spirit and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Thirteen Days Prayers

In preparation for the feast of St. Anthony

The Thirteen-Days Prayers in preparation for the feast of St. Anthony may be used as a form of devotion on Tuesdays. They may even be shortened into a novena.

St. Anthony died on Friday, June 13, 1231, and his funeral took place on the following Tuesday, June 17. The four days were a continuous triumphal ovation on account of the many miracles granted through his intercession. Any who implored his aid and all who touched his humble tomb were delivered from their infirmities. The gratitude of the people consecrated Tuesday to the honor of St. Anthony.

This practice grew in a surprising way centuries later. In 1617, a noble lady of Bologna sought a favor from St. Anthony. For twenty-two years she desired that her marriage be blessed with offspring. One night she saw the Saint in a dream.

“For nine Tuesdays,” he said to her, “visit my statue in the church of St. Francis , and your prayers will be heard.”

The pious woman obeyed the Saint; and as reward for her fidelity and perseverance, she obtained the favor she so ardently desired.

First Day: The Word of God

“Willingness to hear the word of God is a sign of predestination. Just like the exile, who awaits and gladly hears news from his homeland, shows that he loves his country, so too the Christian who listens attentively to him who speaks of the heavenly fatherland may say that his heart is directed towards heaven.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, through the intercession of Anthony, the Evangelical Doctor and messenger of your word, make us hear your Gospel and faithfully live it our. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Second Day: The Wisdom of the Little Ones

“The poor, the simple, the humble and the lowly thirst after the words of life and the waters of wisdom; they who inebriate themselves with vice, and the counselors of the mighty refuse the divine message!” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, we give you thanks because you have hidden the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven from the wise and understanding of this world and revealed them to the simple; make us worthy to stand before you and serve you faithfully. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Third Day: The Doctrine of Christ

“Not many hear the Word of God willingly. The reason for this rests in the fact that the doctrine of Christ does not play a melody of adulation: it does not flatter the sinners and it does not promise earthly goods; instead it severely warns and teaches to mortify the flesh and despise the world.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, following the example of your saints, may we accept your inspiration with a pure soul and mortify our hearts to adhere to you the true God, who lives for ever and ever. Amen.

Fourth Day: Divine Wisdom

“The Old and New Testaments contain the fullness of that understanding which alone can produce wise men. The words of Scripture protect us from burning thirst for worldly prosperity, from carnal concupiscence, and from diabolical suggestions.This wisdom teaches us to love God, despise the world, and dominate the passions.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord God, through the intercession of Anthony of Padua, may we be filled with heavenly knowledge. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fifth Day: The Sweetness of God

“When a crystal is touched or struck by the rays of the sun, it gives forth brilliant sparkles of light. When the man of faith is touched by the light of God’s grace, he too must shine with his good words and deeds, and so bring God’s light to others.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
God, grant that with our holy Miracle Worker, we come to taste your sweetness and delight in doing your will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sixth Day: Christian Witness

“He speaks well who with his actions witnesses what he announces with his mouth. Whoever distributes faithfully the bread of the Word of God and does not hide the truth will be blessed now and in the future. Christ says: ‘I am the truth!’ Whoever preaches the truth affirms Christ; whoever conceals the truth, denies Christ.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, by means of your servants you give us the bread of the Word. May we receive it with a pure soul and witness to it in the world for your glory and for the salvation of our brothers. You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Day: The Suffering Christ

“The contemplation of the sufferings of Christ renders us indifferent to the joys and pleasures of the world. When, with the eyes of faith, I see my God nailed to the cross, and given gall and vinegar to drink, everything here below loses its attraction for me and I experience my nothingness.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus, you died and rose to a new life for us. May we share in your mystery and take part in the joy of your resurrection. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit. God forever and ever. Amen.

Eighth Day: The Value of Time

“The Lord gave you time so that you might work for your salvation, but you have made it a private property. The day will come when Lord will take back what you usurped. Do not waste the time that the Lord, in his goodness, gave you to find forgiveness, acquire grace, do penance and merit heavenly glory!” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
God, in your goodness, you gave us these years so that we might live and fill our time with those things which last forever. May we be faithful to your gift. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ninth Day: Ascetic Obligation

“We must work so that the proverb of Solomon may never be true: ‘I have passed through the field of the idle man and brambles covered it.’ Where laziness abounds, there thorns grow. Our souls must be fertile with the Word of God, planted with trees of virtue, made green with desires of eternal life and adorned with the example of the saints.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, through the intercession of your faithful servant, Anthony of Padua, may we produce fruit worthy of your message. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tenth Day: The Life of Grace

“Every action of a faithful person is called ‘grace’ because all good acts are a gift of grace and are preserved by it. Evil inclinations and unreasonable passions reject the name ‘grace.’ They would rather be called ‘pride,’ ‘impurity,’ or ‘personal affairs.’ But, in fact, every deed should b e filled with God’s grace.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, our God, through the intercession of Anthony of Padua, make our actions the fruit of your grace and sign of your love for us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eleventh Day: Self-Denial

“If someone wishes to follow and be united with Christ, he must deny himself. And, what does it mean to deny oneself? This: Do not place your trust in yourself, do not place yourself above anyone, keep yourself always before the eyes of your conscience, and esteem yourself always little, abandoning yourself completely to the hands of God.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Lord, may we learn to forget ourselves and remember only you, our true God. You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Twelfth Day: The Garden of Delights

“A garden, in whatever season, always produces something. Other fields, usually produce once a year; a garden is never without fruit. So too the soul of the just man is always productive, and never without some good fruit.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Almighty God, you prepare in the hearts of your faithful a worthy dwelling place for yourself. May you always live in us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thirteenth Day: The Heavenly Jerusalem

“Do not turn to the right or to the left, but walk along the ‘golden road.’ Fix your attention on the heavenly Jerusalem , towards which you are heading. Keep this hope alive in your heart and you will always be a friend of God.” (St. Anthony)

Let Us Pray
Almighty God, you made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. May we, your children, be faithful pilgrims towards our heavenly fatherland. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Sign of the Cross