OPENING
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
ST. ANTHONY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, bind us to you
and to our neighbor with love.
May our hearts not be turned from you.
May our souls not be deceived
nor our talents or minds enticed by allurements of error,
so that we may never distance ourselves from your love.
Thus may we love our neighbor as ourselves with strength,
wisdom and gentleness.
With your help, you who are blessed throughout all ages.
Amen.
Pray for us, St. Anthony.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
God, our loving Father,
You are glorified in your servant St. Anthony,
whose glory is the crowning of Your gifts to him.
In his life on earth You give us an example.
In our prayerful communion with him
You give us his friendship.
In his prayer for the Church
You give us strength and protection.
We praise and thank You, Lord,
for these benefits through Jesus Christ, Your Son.
Amen.
PRAYER OF PETITION
Holy St. Anthony,
you are the consolation of so many people.
We come to invoke your help,
confident of experiencing your goodness and power.
Pray for us to the Father of mercies
that we may obtain the graces we need
for ourselves and for our loved ones.
(Pause for your Personal Petitions)
True follower of St. Francis,
put into our hearts the flame of your love
that we may love our merciful Father in heaven
and our neighbors as ourselves.
Pray that we may fulfill the will of God
and live the way Jesus shows us in the Gospel.
Be a guide for us this day
that we may recognize the opportunities God gives us to be helping and caring.
Assist us in keeping the promises we made at our Baptism.
Help us to obtain the grace to walk in the light of faith
and to proclaim that faith by the way we live.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR EACH TUESDAY
Conclude each Tuesday’s Novena with the appropriate prayer.
First Tuesday
Finding Quiet Time
St. Anthony, you found quiet time to retreat into private communion
with God to replenish your life with new strength.
Help me in the midst of my busy life
to seek the Spirit’s guiding presence within my heart.
Second Tuesday
A Spirit of Prayer
St. Anthony, you lived in the midst of storm and danger
and were exposed to evils,
yet you kept a prayerful spirit.
Keep me prayerful and surround me by your constant care.
Third Tuesday
Spirit of Renewal
St. Anthony, you were challenged by change and new experiences
so many times in the course of our life.
Help me not to be afraid of the changes
that will take place in my own life
and to realize that by dealing with them I grow in faith.
Fourth Tuesday
Sorrow for Sin
St. Anthony, in your preaching of the Gospel
you proclaimed that God forgives sinners
and understands our human frailty.
Help me to acknowledge my trespasses against God
and act as a compassionate and forgive person.
Fifth Tuesday
Forgiveness of Sin
St. Anthony, you experienced in your ministry as a priest
the power of God healing the wounds through your touch.
Heal me and my dear ones according to God’s will.
Sixth Tuesday
Living Faith
St. Anthony, you carried out the daily responsibilities
of your religious life with attention,
care and loving faith.
May I dedicate myself in the same spirit of love
to the tasks God has given to me in union with Jesus.
Seventh Tuesday
A Grateful Heart
St. Anthony, you felt grateful for the countless blessings
that flowed into your life from the hands of God.
May I also gratefully recognize God’s presence in the events of my daily life.
Eighth Tuesday
The Gift of Love
St. Anthony, you found that the companionship
of your Franciscan brothers and sisters gave you happiness
and support as you spread the Gospel of “love at work”.
May I be loyal and honest with my friends and respect their support.
Ninth Tuesday
Our Daily Bread
St. Anthony, each day you celebrated the Sacrifice of God’s Son,
the Living Bread broken and shared in love.
May I nurture others by sharing my daily bread unselfishly.
Tenth Tuesday
Gospel Living
St. Anthony, you walked in the footsteps of our Suffering Savior
by accepting with love the challenges of life.
Help me to live in your Gospel spirit
by accepting patiently whatever God permits for my own growth in holiness.
Eleventh Tuesday
Christ in the Poor
St. Anthony, you brought hope and comfort to the needy
and outcast people of your day.
Help me to view any problems as opportunities to grow
and share myself with those in need.
Twelfth Tuesday
Light to the World
St. Anthony, you led many from darkness to light
by your preaching and works of kindness.
May I also become light to others
and a radiant instrument of peace.
Thirteenth Tuesday
Reward of Eternal Life
St. Anthony, you rejoiced in God’s mysterious ways
and holy designs for your life here on earth.
I thank the Lord for my own unique existence
and for the people I alone can influence for good during my lifetime.
-from The Franciscans, St. Anthony’s Guild (Paterson, New Jersey)