Monthly Archives: June 2012
What is St. Anthony Bread?
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Fr. John Bok, OFM, blesses the St. Anthony Bread at the Shrine with Br. Roger Lopez assisting.
St. Anthony Bread is a term used for offerings made in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of St. Anthony. Sometimes the alms are given for the education of priests. In some places parents also make a gift for the poor after placing a newborn child under the protection of St. Anthony. It is a practice in some churches to bless small loaves of bread on the feast of St. Anthony and give them to those who want them.
Our About St. Anthony page will tell you more the life and miracles of this Doctor of the Church.
St. Anthony Novena
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What is a novena? The word comes from the Latin word for nine, which is novem. Our month of November gets its name because November was the ninth month of the ancient Roman year which began with March. A novena gets its name from the tradition of praying for nine successive days or weeks. A novena is a prayer for a special intention that is repeated nine times.
Praying on nine continuous days or weeks arose from the tradition that Mary and the apostles prayed in the Upper Room for nine days between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Novenas contain the idea of perseverance in prayer.
On any Tuesday you may join those making a novena at the National Shrine of St. Anthony by reciting and continuing to pray the following St. Anthony prayers for nine consecutive Tuesdays. Mass is offered in the Shrine chapel every Tuesday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm, a St. Anthony Novena is at 2:30 pm, or you may wish to attend Mass on that day at any convenient church. In God’s own way, we are always blessed by this trust and perseverance.
Living and Working with the Poor
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Br. Clifford Hennings, OFM, holds his 'diploma' for completing the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in August 2011.
Friar Clifford Hennings, OFM, just completed his S.T.I.P (Supervised Time In the Province) year at St. Mary of the Angels Friary and Parish in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Years after Hurricane Katrina, “there’s still blighted housing and the No. 1 problem is crime.”
Leading a Bible study was his idea and it was well received by parishioners eager to study the Gospels.
Cliff now moves to Hazard, Kentucky, to spend the summer at Mother of Good Counsel Friary and Parish where he will face new challenges as he discerns life as a Franciscan friar.
Read about all our men in formation in the June Franciscan Vocations newsletter.
Happy Feast of St. Anthony!
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The Shrine has been a-buzz these past days in preparation for today’s conclusion of the Novena with the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.
Thousands of prayers have been submitted to St. Anthony for his intercession through our website, mailings, e-mails, telephone calls, and Face book.
Br. Gene has ordered over 500 loaves of bread to be blessed and distributed and hundreds of candles for prayer intentions.
Busloads of pilgrims are arriving from as far away as Detroit to celebrate with us.
Fr. John Bok OFM, Co-Director of the Friar Works Office, presides at today’s Novena at 2:30 pm and Novena Mass at 7:00 pm here at the St. Anthony Shrine Chapel.
The 2:30 Novena includes, Benediction, Blessing with the relic, and distribution of St. Anthony Bread. The evening service includes Prayers, Mass, Blessing with a St. Anthony relic, and distribution of St. Anthony Bread.
Please join us at the Shrine today! For private devotion, Novena prayers can be found in our Novena Prayer Section.
Don’t yet receive Father John’s e-newsletter? You can read his latest letter here:
St. Anthony Shrine E-Newsletter
‘Saint Anthony of Padua’ from Franciscan Media
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St. Anthony of Padua, His Life, Legends and Devotions is edited by Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM
The Feast of St. Anthony is right around the corner (Wednesday June 13). Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM, has edited a new book about the Saint. Saint Anthony of Padua, His Life, Legends, and Devotions provides a heartfelt look at the saint’s life, the legends he inspired, and the prayers and devotions dedicated to him. More than just the finder of lost articles, Anthony was renowned for his preaching and serves today as the patron of lovers and marriage. Charming stories of this Franciscan’s life are sure to inspire and enlighten. In this expanded edition, you will learn more about the beloved saint’s life in Italy and Portugal, as well as where he went to pray. http://catalog.franciscanmedia.org/Product.aspx?ProductCode=B36324
