Saint Anthony of Padua is the first saint I remember studying and admiring when I was a teenager. I wrote about him here. Ever since then, I have had a strong devotion to St Anthony. This year my wife and I were in Venice, Italy and took a train ride to Padua to visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. It’s a beautiful church completed in 1310. In a side chapel, his remains lay under an altar. The chapel has reliefs depicting miracles performed by St Anthony while he was alive. I felt excited and giddy as we walked closer to the place where he rested knowing we could touch the side of the altar base where he was. As soon as I touched the wall, my giddiness disappeared and I felt a powerful and warm wave over my body, I felt a strong feeling of love, I was bombarded by many memories of times in my life when I prayed to Saint Anthony for his help, and I was overcome with tears. I had forgotten the vast majority of those requests, but he had not. And he was always there for me. My wife was also in tears, as were the people before us and after us. I wonder if they had a similar experience. I was not expecting this. It has been over 800 years since his death and we still feel his love for humanity and for Jesus this strongly.

We, on Earth, are united with the saints in heaven because as St Paul says in 1 Corinthians, we are all united in the body of Christ and not even death can break this bond. In James 5:16, St James says that the prayer of righteous people are powerful in their effect. Those in heaven are the most righteous and their prayers are the most fruitful. To pray is to ask, and thus, every morning I ask St Anthony to pray for my inner peace with this prayer:

St. Anthony, faithful servant of Christ, you offered comfort and consolation to all who came to you in times of trouble. Pray for me now, that I may know true peace of mind, heart and soul. Help me grow in faith, so that I may be free from all useless and needless anxiety in this life.

Fill me with a complete and lasting confidence in God’s healing graces. Grant me the serenity known by those who let go of resentments, bitterness, and anger. Reassure me that Our Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, is with me every step of the way, every day of my life, and that in his gracious love I need not worry or fear any of life’s difficulties. Amen.

St Anthony, pray for all the people reading this blog post and their families.