Author Archives: The Shrine Staff
Tony, Tony, Turn Around…
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Last week on Facebook we asked our friends:
“What has St. Anthony helped you find?”
Here are a few responses out of the 128 comments:
St. Anthoy Shrine in Cincinnati
My wedding ring…and I do believe it was a miracle because I KNOW I had it on at work and found it a few days later in my bed.
Many things!!!!! I love St. Anthony. He’s my favorite. I’m blessed I was born on June 13, St. Anthony’s Day, very proud to be named after him. He’s always in my heart
An unfailing prayer, I’ve FOUND !!!!
Everything! He has helped me find keys – important papers – shoes – my sanity – patience. St. Anthony rocks!
I visited the St. Anthony Shrine in Boston at the request of my mother-in-law, who had lost some very dear jewelry and who was in Florida for several months. I didn’t tell her what day or time I would go to the shrine. At the very time I was praying, she felt she needed to go look for the jewelry in a particular spot one more time, and she found it – we know it was St. Anthony!
I needed a receipt to prove that a part that was put on my car had gone bad before the 1-year warranty, but I was at a loss of where it could be. I prayed to St. Anthony and immediately I felt I had to look in this old cookie jar and there it was.
My cat Midnight had been lost for 12 days. Then one morning he just reappeared in my apartment. I believe St. Anthony let him in.
Many things. Just say, “Dear St. Anthony do your stuff.” He helps you every time.
My keys, phone and money LOL… let’s not forget my glasses
Glasses are usually on top of my head… LOL
I first learned of St. Anthony when I was boarding in a convent and lost my doll at age 6. The nun told me to pray to St. Anthony; “St. Anthony, St. Anthony come around, a ____ has been lost and can’t be found.” He always finds what I ask for and I have even converted some non-Catholics to pray to him. When they come to me and say he helped them, I always say be sure to say a prayer to him giving thanks. I have one of his candles that I light quite often in thanksgiving.
St. Anthony by Franciscao de Zurbaran (1640) Public Domain.
The best find was my christening gown that I thought I lost in a move. I cried when my grand daughter wore it. Now I need his help in finding a special rosary. Help me if you can!
Not a lost item, but the miracle of my son, Anthony. I prayed to St. Anthony while pregnant with a child my doctor said wouldn’t live. He’s now almost 9 years old and doing great!
Almost 1 item a day for as long as I can remember
A loving wife and family
I had just taught my 6 year old grandson this little prayer last week, not realizing my oldest son had lost his St. Michael’s medal my Mom gave him years before. While we were walking in my parking lot we spotted something shiny – it was my son’s medal he was looking for!
My patron found me and brought me back to the faith.
My blind, deaf dog, in the rain and it was dark. TY St. Anthony!
My camera… just this morning! Thank you, St. Anthony.
My maternal grandmother loved St. Anthony of Padua (there is another famous St. Anthony from whom this one was most likely named after – St. Anthony the Great who is better known in the Eastern Church, whom I also love) and my mother continued the devotion to St. Anthony (of Padua) and so I grew up knowing about St. Anthony’s prayers for all lost objects. I can’t recall how many things he has found but have always believed this: those ‘things’ he does not find for us are simply not meant to be and something we don’t truly need if they are not found. (Remember he is, after all, only our ‘intercessor’ before a “greater power” who ultimately grants us what we desire or need.) St. Anthony of Padua, let us not forget was called a “wonderworker” (thaumaturgos’ in Greek) not just for missing objects but for many miracles, healing sick and dying people as well as animals, and most of all restoring lost faith. Now my grandmother has passed away, as well as my mother, and recently my oldest brother whose patron saint was St. Anthony of Padua. I continue to find strength, comfort and a great friend in Heaven through St. Anthony of Padua. “Mirabilis Deus in Sanctis Suis” (“God is wondrous in His saints.”)
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Praying Forward to the Feast of St. Anthony
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Join us for the Solemn Novena in Honor of St. Anthony of Padua every Tuesday April 16 through June 11 culminating with his Feast Day on Thursday, June 13
2:30 PM – Novena Prayers, Benediction, Blessing with the Relic of St. Anthony
7:00 PM – Mass, Followed by Novena Prayers and Blessing with the Relic of St. Anthony
Dates & Presiders for the Solemn Novena
April 16 – Fr. Jack Wintz, OFM
Author & Senior Editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine
April 23 – Fr. Daniel Kroger, OFM
CEO of Franciscan Media, LLC
April 30 – Fr. Fred Link, OFM
Pastor of St. Clement Parish
May 7 – Fr. Thomas Speier, OFM
Sacramental Minister at St. Monica-St. George Parish
May 14 – Fr. David Kohut, OFM
Sacramental Minister at All Saints Parish
May 21 – Fr. Hilarion Kistner, OFM
Scripture Scholar and Editor of Homily Helps
May 28 – Fr. Pat McCloskey, OFM
Author and Franciscan Editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine
June 4 – Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM
Associate Postulant Director
June 11 – Fr. Joseph Ricchini, OFM
Spiritual Director and Counselor
The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua
June 13, - Fr. John Bok, OFM
Co-Director of the Friar Works office
St. Anthony Novena Prayers
A Caring Plan For Your Loved Ones
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Simplify your life with our estate-planning organizer
Few ordinary tasks express the Franciscan virtues of simplicity and self-sufficiency better than creating an effective estate plan. Simplify your life and the lives of those you love by requesting our free Estate Planning Organizer, available in hardcopy or a computer-friendly version.
St. Francis wrote that preparing a will is one of the first duties of a person living in the world. But leave it to St. Anthony to help you find a way to get it done. You can instantly access our basic introduction to estate planning in our clear and concise video series, Estate Planning Help. The series takes you through the pros and cons of probate, wills, living trusts, advance health care directives, and other basic estate planning tools.
To receive your organizer, contact Colleen Cushard at 513-721-4700 or at ccushard@franciscan.org. Or download the organizer at www.stanthony.org by going to Estate Planning Organizer under Support the Friars.
Once you have met your obligations to yourself and those you love, consider remembering The Franciscans of St. John the Baptist Province in your estate plan.
Colleen Cushard
Colleen Cushard is Co-Director of Friar Works for the Province of St. John the Baptist.
Holy Week Schedule at St. Anthony Shrine
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Please join us this week at St. Anthony Shrine.
Holy Thursday
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Adoration to follow until
10:00 PM Night Prayer and chapel closes
Good Friday
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
1:30 PM Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday
5:00 PM Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday
8:00 AM Morning Prayer
5:15 PM Evening Prayer
8:30 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
10:00 AM Mass of the Resurrection
‘Resurrection’ woodcut by Albrecht Durer (1510) Public Domain
Location
St. Anthony Friary and Shrine
5000 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45223
May the peace of the Lord be with you. Happy Easter. He is risen!
Fast, Pray, Give: A Franciscan Journey Through Lent
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“This year will be different” is the pledge we make to ourselves each year when Lent looms before us like a desert we must cross to get to Easter. Perhaps your using some of the resources we suggested in a previous post to guide you in your Lenten journey. Lent is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to enhance our prayer life, to share our blessings, to think before we eat.
Fast, Pray, Give is a series we’re doing on our Face book page to help and encourage our followers to make this their best Lent ever. We share video reflections from Fr. Don Miller, OFM, on Mondays and quotes from inspirational authors on Tuesdays. Each Wednesday, friars will tell us about their community observances. Thursdays we give you fuel for fasting, with recipes from our favorite cooks. Week’s end is all about gratitude: On Fridays, learn where needs are greatest and how you can help, and on Saturdays, adopt a suggestion for anonymous acts of kindness. The reflections of Fr. Greg Friedman, OFM, from Lent With The Saints: Daily Reflections, are posted Sunday morning’s on this blog and then shared with our Face book followers.
Join us as we continue our journey to Easter and the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Alleluia! He Is Risen!
I Must Tell Someone My Saint Anthony Story
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Today as I started out on my walk, I crossed our half acre field pulling my rosary (a red beaded rosewood rosary) from my pocket to begin walking. It was all intact. I crossed two roads and toddled down the country road to visit a small lake while praying. About one third of the way by the woods, I stopped to breathe deeper and enjoy the deer tracks. Fingering my rosary, I notice something missing—the whole beginning crucifix, Our Father and Hail Mary beads gone. Oh my. How sad! When? Where?
My walk is slow and in the snow, so I turn around and backtrack looking intensely for red beads and a crucifix asking St. Anthony to help me find it. Nearly back to the street, I’m ready to give up so I turn around and saying my “Angelus” I hear the noon church bells and continue my rosary and aim for the lake area. It is so calm and peaceful and starting to freeze over now. On my way back when I finish the rosary, I do intercessions to Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and many saints. Then turn once again to St. Anthony. In the country, we always walk against traffic as a safety measure but about two thirds of the way through the wooded area, the Holy Spirit and St Anthony told me to cross over and retrace the remainder of my route. In only 8-10 steps, intensely interceding “St. Anthony, help me find the crucifix and beads please,” there they were in the snow by my boot. Breathlessly I said, “Thank you St Anthony, thank you, thank you.”
Dolores, Michigan
Share your prayers with us and people around the world at our Prayer Page.
Prayers For A Blessed Lenten Journey
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At the Shrine, we are praying that your Lenten path will be one marked by growing closer to Our Savior. We will have daily inspirations on our Facebook page. Franciscan Media offers many resources for personal and family growth. We’ve compiled a list for your convenience. May your journey through Lent to Christ’s Resurrection on Easter be a blessing to you and your family. Share your prayers with us for your hopes this season.
Online Event – Lent with Fr. Don Miller, OFM
Fr. Don will help you make the most of Lent by explaining not only the “rules” but the deeper call to conversion. A live chat area will allow you to ask questions of Fr. Don during his LIVE Ash Wednesday presentation. Franciscan Media’s video with Judy Zarick will tell you more about it.
Lent with the Saints
With insightful reflections, Fr. Greg Friedman draws on his love of the saints to offer daily inspiration during this season of repentance, forgiveness, and hope. We will post Fr. Greg’s Sunday reflections on this blog.
Fast, Pray, Give: Making the most of Lent
Fast, Pray, Give, looks at Lent through the lens of discipleship, encouraging us to adopt practices that bring us more fully into an appreciation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Author Mary Carol Kedzia discusses her book in the Franciscan Media video.
Lent with St. Francis
The cross is at the center of the lives of both Jesus and Francis. It is the ultimate symbol of letting go of everything that gets in the way of a life lived for God and God alone. Take a fresh look at Lent with St. Francis as your guide. Author Diane Houdek shares this video about her book.
Wondrous Encounters, Scripture for Lent
Fr. Richard Rohr’s meditations on the daily readings of Lent are not for the sake of mere information, or even for academia (although the author hopes it will satisfy both), but for the sake of our transformation into our original “image and likeness,” which is the very image of God. What always and finally matters for all of us is encounter!
Franciscan Way of the Cross
Unlike any other Way of the Cross, the Franciscan Way of the Cross: The Peace Prayer by Teresa Baker, is framed not only by the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, but by the Franciscan Peace Prayer.
Visit Franciscan Media Books to view all of their excellent books, DVDs, and much more.
St. Anthony ‘Miraculously’ Comes Through Again!
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While painting an outdoor plant shelf attached to the house I had to lie on my back in the dirt and squirm my way around for about 24 feet. In the process I lost my Miraculous Medal from the chain from around my neck, which I highly treasured.
As it was getting dark I put off searching for it to the following day, reminding myself that St. Anthony would surely help me find it. The following day I spent a great deal of time on my knees searching through the dirt and leaves, to no avail.
Rising to my feet I exclaimed out loud “Okay St. Anthony, where in the heck is it!” At that moment I looked down and there it was, on its edge, which made it hard to see. St Anthony again came through with finding a lost item! Guy B, California
Share your prayer requests with us and others around the world. Visit our Prayers page now.
Fiscal-Cliff Bill Brings Good News
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Fiscal-Cliff Bill Restores Tax-Free IRA Distributions
If you are 70½ or older and care about the work of the Franciscans, we have good news for you. The fiscal-cliff bill, known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), restores your ability to make tax-free transfers of IRA distributions up to $100,000 in 2013 and retroactively in 2012.
Here are four types of IRA donors affected positively by ATRA:
1.Those who in 2012 made Qualified Charitable Distributions directly from their IRA to charities with the hope that the law would make their distribution tax-free retroactively. If you did so, you guessed correctly. Your 2012 qualified charitable distribution from your IRA is tax-free retroactive to January 1, 2012.
2.Those who did not make a qualified tax-free IRA distribution to a charity in 2012 can do so during January of 2013. As long as you complete the distribution before February 1, 2013, your IRA will be considered a tax-free event in 2012.
3.Those who received their IRA required minimum distribution in December, 2012, may make the December distribution partially or completely tax-free by making a cash gift to the Franciscans during January of 2013, or using a December 2012 cash gift made after they received their required minimum IRA distribution, to lower or eliminate the tax on the December Required Minimum Distribution. The cash gift must be made before February 1, 2013.
4.In 2013, ATRA allows tax-free distributions up to $100,000 from IRAs to charity until December 31, 2013. The same rules in force since 2006 to qualify your IRA transfer as tax-free apply: You must be at least 70 ½ at the time of the transfer, the transfer must be made directly by your IRA custodian, the tax-free transfer cannot exceed $100,000.
If you fall into any of these four categories, we encourage you talk with your tax adviser soon.
Br. Colin King, OFM, and Br. Richard Goodin, OFM, on a recent mission trip to Jamaica.
For help with any of your questions about supporting the Franciscans, you may call Colleen Cushard, at 513-721-4700 or ccushard@franciscan.org.
Colleen is the Co-director of Friar Works, Franciscan Ministry & Mission.
Holiday Wish List For Our Troops
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The aircrew on duty at dinner: Nobody gets a long weekend.
On Thanksgiving Day, while folks in the States were still asleep, military personnel at an airbase in the Arab Emirate of Qatar were sitting down to a dinner that sounded just like the one back home. The difference was, instead of being surrounded by their families, they were surrounded by thousands of other troops for whom this was just another active-duty day.
Franciscan friar Chaplain Col. Bob Bruno, OFM, reports,
Staff Sergeant Norma Johnson and Chaplain Col. Bob Bruno serve the troops on Thanksgiving Day.
“The observance of holidays is primarily by means of a very festive meal. Otherwise, it is a standard duty day. There are no four-day holiday weekends over here. Most everyone gets one day off a week – when they can. A standard crew day is 12 hours, sometimes up to 14 hours depending on mission requirements. The days are very long, and the weeks are even longer. Periodically, the troops can get off base to experience the local culture and cuisine. These service personnel are young, highly motivated, dedicated and self-sacrificing. They keep us older guys young in spirit!”
Fr. Bob will be home for Christmas, but more that a million other Americans at military bases around the world will not. All of them love getting mail and packages, especially around the holidays. We asked Fr. Bob what items are most in demand among service personnel. Some of the most popular gifts are:
- Pre-packaged cookies/candy/hot chocolate/coffee
- Toiletries: shaving gear/hand cream/toothpaste/tooth brushes/floss/tissue/
bar soap /deodorant - Canned soups
- Writing stationery
- Phone cards
- Magazines
- NO BOOKS
“ In addition to the stable population assigned here, this installation is also a transient center, which means that we get lots of folks passing through here in route to somewhere else,” Fr. Bob says. “Because of that, we go through tons of the items recommended above.”
If you would like to send a gift to service personnel in Qatar, the mailing address is:
379th AEW/HC
APO AE 09309
And of course, they always appreciate your prayers.
Fr. Bob Bruno, OFM, is the Senior Staff Chaplain for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He recently was deployed to an air base in the Arab Emirate of Qatar for four weeks this fall.
Photos © Master Sergeant Brendan Kavanaugh, USAF
Holiday Wish List For Our Troops was an excerpt from the SJB News Notes by Ms. Toni Cashnelli
British troops joined American allies for the feast.
