Showing posts with label St. Anthony of Padua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Anthony of Padua. Show all posts

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua


Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request  (State your intention)  which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY ONE
O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and thee gratitude of my heart will always be yours.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY TWO
O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you left without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to thee, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. O eloquent preacher of the divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention).

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY THREE
O purest St. Anthony, who through your angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold him in your arms and press him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (State your intention). O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY FOUR
I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek you help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY FIVE
I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you did feel toward the Infant Jesus as you held him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek through your intercession in this novena (State your intention).

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY SIX
O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach his Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention).

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY SEVEN
O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this novena (State your intention) . O holy St. Anthony, ever attentive to those who invoke you, grant me that aid of your powerful intercession.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY EIGHT
O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself so powerful in your intercession, so tender and so compassionate towards those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress. I beseech you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessities and to obtain for me the favor I desire (State your intention). Recommend my request to the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of her Divine Son.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!


DAY NINE
Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly see in this novena (State your intention).

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and 
Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!

May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

O God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, your confessor, be a source of joy to your Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Chaplet of Saint Anthony


Chaplet of Saint Anthony

This chaplet is composed of 13 decades of 3 blue beads each. 

On the first bead of each decade is said 1 Our Father, on the second the Hail Mary, and on the third the Glory be.  At the end the Miraculous Responsory is recited.

The Miraculous Responsory (by St. Bonaventure)


If miracles thou vain would see;
Lo, error, death, calamity.
The leprous stain, the demon flies,
From beds of pain the sick arise.
The hungry seas forgo their prey,
The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

And perils perish, plenty's hoard,
Is heaped on hunger's famished board;
Let those relate who know it well,
Let Padua of her patron tell.
The hungry seas forgo their prey,
The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The hungry seas forgo their prey,

The prisoner's cruel chains give way;
While palsied limbs and chattels lost
Both young and old recovered boast.

V/. Pray for us, blessed Anthony,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray

O God, let the notive commemoration of Blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy in Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and may deserve to possess eternal joy.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Image Credit Kevin Dooley

Monday, July 1, 2013

Prayer to Saint Anthony, Zealous for Justice


Prayer to Saint Anthony, Zealous for Justice

Dear Saint Anthony, you were prompt to fulfill all justice. You gave God and His creation the service He required from you. You respected other people's rights and treated them with kindness and understanding. Saint Anthony, Zealous for Justice, teach me the beauty of this virtue. Make me prompt to fulfill all justice toward God and toward all creation. Help me also in my pressing needs. (name them)

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Prayer to Saint Anthony, Consoler of the Afflicted


Prayer to Saint Anthony, Consoler of the Afflicted

Dear Saint Anthony, comforting the sorrowful is a Christian duty and a work of mercy. By word, attitude, and deed I should try to brighten their days and make their burden easier to bear. Saint Anthony, Consoler of the Afflicted, may I remember when helping someone in sorrow that I am helping Christ Himself. Kindly mention my pressing needs to Him. (name your special intentions)

Image Credit Kevin Dooley

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Restorer of Speech to the Mute


Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Restorer of Speech to the Mute

Dear Saint Anthony, how tongue-tied I can be when I should be praising God and defending the oppressed. My cowardice often strikes me dumb; I am afraid t o open my mouth. Saint Anthony, Restorer of Speech to the Mute, release me from my fears. Teach me to praise God and to champion the rights of those unjustly treated. Please remember also all my intentions. (name them)

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Restorer of Sight to the Blind


Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Restorer of Sight to the Blind

Dear Saint Anthony, you recall the Gospel episode about the blind man who, partly healed, could see men "looking like walking trees." After a second laying-on of Jesus's hands, he could see perfectly. Saint Anthony, Restorer of Sight to the Blind, please sharpen my spiritual vision. May I see people, not as trees or numbers, but as sons and daughters of the Most High. Help me in my pressing needs. (name your special intentions)

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Performer of Miracles


Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Performer of Miracles

Dear Saint Anthony, your prayers obtained miracles during your lifetime. You still seem to move at ease in the realm of minor and major miracles. Saint Anthony, Performer of Miracles, please obtain for me the blessings God holds in reserve who serve Him. Pray that I may be worthy of the promises my Lord Jesus attaches to confident prayer. (mention your special intentions)

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Disperser of Devils


Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Disperser of Devils

Dear Saint Anthony, it is still as Saint Peter said: The devil prowls about, lion-like, looking for someone to devour. I confess that I don't always resist him; I sometimes toy with temptation. Saint Anthony, Disperser of Devils, remind me of my duty to avoid all occasions of sin. May I always pray in temptation that I may remain loyal to my Lord Jesus. Pray for my other intentions, please. (name them)

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Saint Anthony's Blessing


Saint Anthony's Blessing

Behold, the Cross of the Lord!
Begone, all evil powers!
The Lion of the tribe of Judah,
The Root of David, has conquered!
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Image Credit Waiting for the Word

Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit


Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

by Saint Anthony of Padua

Image Credit Waiting for the Word

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Prayer to Find What Is Lost


Prayer to Find What Is Lost

St. Anthony, when you prayed, your stolen book of prayers was given back to you. Pray now for all of us who have lost things precious and dear. Pray for all who have lost faith, hope or the friendship of God. Pray for us who have lost friends or relatives by death. Pray for all who have lost peace of mind or spirit. Pray that we may be given new hope, new faith, new love. Pray that lost things, needful and helpful to us, may be returned to our keeping. Or, if we must continue in our loss, pray that we may be given Christ’s comfort and peace. Amen.

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Prayer to the “Wonder Worker”


Prayer to the “Wonder Worker”

After you died, St. Anthony, God chose to make your holiness known to the world and to draw people by working miracles in answer to prayers made in your name. Since then, people have asked God to continue to honor you by working wonders through your intercession. Those who have experienced the power of prayers offered in your name have told how God has answered them. God has healed the sick, restored peace of mind, relieved poverty and granted favors of all kinds. 

Now in this time of need, I ask you, St. Anthony, to pray with me for the things I desire. I pray that God may again give me a sign of loving care and providence, and that through you, God may draw us all to the fullness of life and love in eternity. Amen. 


Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

The Miraculous Responsory of Saint Anthony


The Miraculous Responsory of Saint Anthony

If then you ask for miracles, 
Death, error, all calamities, 
The leprosy and demons fly, 
And health succeeds infirmities.

The sea obeys, and fetters break, 
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore, 
Whilst treasures lost are found again, 
When young and old thine aid implore.

All dangers vanish at thy prayer, 
And direst need doth quickly flee; 
Let those who know thy power proclaim, 
Let Paduans say: "These are of thee." 

The sea obeys, and fetters break, 
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore, 
Whilst treasures lost are found again, 
When young and old thine aid implore.

To Father, Son, may glory be, 
And Holy Spirit eternally.

The sea obeys, and fetters break, 
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore, 
Whilst treasures lost are found again, 
When young and old thine aid implore.

Pray for us, St. Anthony,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray
O God! May the votive commemoration of St. Anthony, 
Thy Confessor and Doctor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, 
that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance 
and may deserve to possess eternal joy. 
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

By St. Bonaventure
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

13 Tuesdays Novena to Saint Anthony


13 Tuesdays Novena to Saint Anthony

One of the Church’s most popular saints, St. Anthony of Padua is Called the “Wonder Worker” because of the many miracles with which graced his life.  He was a gifted preacher, attracting crowds and speaking in multiple tongues.  Named a Doctor of the Church, He is well known for his patronage of recovery of lost articles..  To express devotion to the beloved Saint may faithful practice the devotion of the Novena of the Thirteen Tuesdays, or of nine consecutive days made in honor of the Saint.

First Tuesday
O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven and consecrated to her at a tender age; thou didst vanquish the demon by the Sign of the Cross, which thy finger impressed on the marble of the church where thou wert praying.  Oh, we beseech thee, obtain for us a tender devotion to our Blessed Mother, and the strength to triumph over all the attacks on our infernal enemy.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Second Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Thou didst escape from the dangers and temptations of the world by disdaining greatness, riches and the comforts of life, and by joining the Canons Regular of St. Augustine; we beseech thee, obtain for us detachment of the heart and a true contempt for the world.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Third Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Thou didst feel a burning desire in thy youthful heart to suffer martyrdom for the faith, and for this purpose didst enter the Order of the Seraphic Saint Francis; we beseech thee, obtain for us the spirit of penance and mortification.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Fourth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Guided by sentiments of the most profound humility, thou didst all in thy power to hide thyself from the eyes of the world, when God suddenly made thee known as an ark of science and sanctity; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace of practicing humility and of loving a life hidden in God.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Fifth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Chosen by God to preach His Word, thou didst receive from Him the gift of tongues, and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace to listen willingly to Divine inspirations and to hear with fruit the Word of God.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Sixth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Thy ardent love of God merited for thee the happy privilege of receiving and caressing in thy arms the Divine Infant Jesus; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace of receiving Him in the Blessed Eucharist with love and fervent devotion.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Seventh Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Thou didst confound the heretics and prove to them the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament by causing a dumb animal to kneel down and adore the Sacred Host; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace of a lively faith in the Holy Eucharist.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Eighth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! When men refused to come and hear the Word of God, thou didst call the fishes of the sea to the shore and preach to them; we beseech thee, obtain for us the perfect submission of our minds and hearts to Divine truths.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Ninth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! As protector of the innocent , thou didst make a child only a few days old speak to save the honor of its mother; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace of being strong and submissive to the Will of God in unjust persecutions and of preserving intact the peace and purity of our souls.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Tenth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! Once, while preaching at Padua, thou didst find thyself at the same time at Lisbon, by a marvelous miracle, to defend thy father against calumny and to save him from death; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace that we may pardon all injuries and love our enemies.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Eleventh Tuesday
O glorious Saint! By thy prayers, thy zeal, and thy heavenly wisdom thou didst convert thousands of heretics and hardened sinners; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace of true conversion, that we may give ourselves entirely to God.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Twelfth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! In imitation of our Divine redeemer, thou didst spend thy life for the salvation of souls; we beseech thee, obtain for us the grace to become saints, to die a happy death, and to praise God forever with thee  and all the saints and angels in Heaven.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Thirteenth Tuesday
O glorious Saint! God has given thee the power of working miracles continually, and the favor of answering the prayers of those who invoke thy assistance in misfortune, anxiety, and distress; we beseech thee, obtain for us from Jesus, through Mary, His Blessed Mother, what we beg of thee so fervently and hopefully, if it be for the glory of God and the good of our souls.

. . . Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be


Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Saint Anthony Preaches to the Fishes



Saint Anthony Preaches to the Fishes

Christ, the blessed one, was pleased to show forth the great sanctity of his most faithful servant St Anthony, and how men ought devoutly to listen to his preaching, be means of creatures without reason. On one occasion, amongst others, he made use of fish to reprove the folly of faithless heretics: even as we read in the Old Testament that in ancient times he reproved the ignorance of Balaam by the mouth of an ass.

St Anthony being at one time at Rimini, where there were a great number of heretics, and wishing to lead them by the light of faith into the way of truth, preached to them for several days, and reasoned with them on the faith of Christ and on the Holy Scriptures. They not only resisted his words, but were hardened and obstinate, refusing to listen to him.

At last St Anthony, inspired by God, went down to the sea-shore, where the river runs into the sea, and having placed himself on a bank between the river and the sea, he began to speak to the fishes as if the Lord had sent him to preach to them, and said: "Listen to the word of God, O ye fishes of the sea and of the river, seeing that the faithless heretics refuse to do so."

No sooner had he spoken these words than suddenly so great a multitude of fishes, both small and great, approached the bank on which he stood, that never before had so many been seen in the sea or the river. All kept their heads out of the water, and seemed to be looking attentively on St Anthony's face; all were ranged in perfect order and most peacefully, the smaller ones in front near the bank, after them came those a little bigger, and last of all, were the water was deeper, the largest.

When they had placed themselves in this order, St Anthony began to preach to them most solemnly, saying: "My brothers the fishes, you are bound, as much as is in your power, to return thanks to your Creator, who has given you so noble an element for your dwelling; for you have at your choice both sweet water and salt; you have many places of refuge from the tempest; you have likewise a pure and transparent element for your nourishment. God, your bountiful and kind Creator, when he made you, ordered you to increase and multiply, and gave you his blessing. In the universal deluge, all other creatures perished; you alone did God preserve from all harm. He has given you fins to enable you to go where you will. To you was it granted, according to the commandment of God, to keep the prophet Jonas, and after three days to throw him safe and sound on dry land. You it was who gave the tribute-money to our Saviour Jesus Christ, when, through his poverty, he had not wherewith to pay. By a singular mystery you were the nourishment of the eternal King, Jesus Christ, before and after his resurrection. Because of all these things you are bound to praise and bless the Lord, who has given you blessings so many and so much greater than to other creatures."

At these words the fish began to open their mouths, and bow their heads, endeavouring as much as was in their power to express their reverence and show forth their praise.

St Anthony, seeing the reverence of the fish towards their Creator, rejoiced greatly in spirit, and said with a loud voice: "Blessed be the eternal God; for the fishes of the sea honour him more than men without faith, and animals without reason listen to his word with greater attention than sinful heretics."

And whilst St Anthony was preaching, the number of fishes increased, and none of them left the place that he had chosen. And the people of the city hearing of the miracle, made haste to go and witness it. With them also came the heretics of whom we have spoken above, who, seeing so wonderful and manifest a miracle, were touched in their hearts; and threw themselves at the feet of St Anthony to hear his words. The saint then began to expound to them the Catholic faith. He preached so eloquently, that all those heretics were converted, and returned to the true faith of Christ; the faithful also were filled with joy, and greatly comforted, being strengthened in the faith.

After this St Anthony sent away the fishes, with the blessing of God; and they all departed, rejoicing as they went, and the people returned to the city. But St Anthony remained at Rimini for several days, preaching and reaping much spiritual fruit in the souls of his hearers.

From "The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi," 1476

Image taken from Kevin Dooley
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Monday, June 3, 2013

Actions Speak Louder than Words


Actions Speak Louder than Words

The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. Gregory says: “A law is laid upon the preacher to practise what he preaches.” It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.

But the apostles spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself! For some men speak as their own character dictates, but steal the words of others and present them as their own and claim the credit for them. The Lord refers to such men and others like them in Jeremiah: So, then, I have a quarrel with the prophets that steal my words from each other. I have a quarrel with the prophets, says the Lord, who have only to move their tongues to utter oracles. I have a quarrel with the prophets who make prophecies out of lying dreams, who recount them and lead my people astray with their lies and their pretensions. I certainly never sent them or commissioned them, and they serve no good purpose for this people, says the Lord.

We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfilment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendour of the saints and to look upon the triune God.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings 
From A sermon by St Antony of Padua
Photo taken from nosha

Sunday, June 2, 2013

St. Anthony of Padua Quotes


St. Anthony of Padua Quotes

The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ.

Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul.

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of action, and therefore are cursed by the Lord since He Himself cursed the fig tree when He found no fruit but only leaves.

Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it can they derive peace, grace, and truth.

The Lord manifests Himself to those who stop for some time in peace and humility of heart. If you look in murky and turbulent waters, you cannot see the reflection of your face. If you want to see the face of Christ, stop and collect your thoughts in silence, and close the door of your soul to the noise of external things.

We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith so our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the triune God.

But the apostles “spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.” Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself!

Image taken from Wikimedia Commons