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| Feast of St. Anthony Novena |
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Through the intercession of St. Anthony, may each of us carry
the warm embrace of the Child Christ with us every day.
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Dear Friend of St. Anthony,
It was an unusually warm morning in March, yet snow was predicted to fall before evening. The
unsettling, unpredictability of the grey, overcast skies seemed suited to the mood of the friars at St.
Anthony Shrine as we began our daily morning prayers. Today, we knew, would be difficult.
Immediately following prayer, the friars prepared for a special Lazarus Program Funeral Mass. The
Lazarus Program at St. Anthony Shrine is a ministry providing burial services for those who have no
one, those who are sometimes called, "the unwanted dead." Today would be even more difficult
because we would be burying not one, but four, babies. Four babies, each of whom had a heart
wrenching story... each of whom had no one...each of whom had nothing--not even a name.
As we entered the chapel, the shock of seeing tiny caskets and miniature sprays of white sweetheart
roses was painful and sad. We were reminded of the five other babies we buried only a few months
ago. Six little boys and three baby girls--now named by the friars after Franciscan saints. Truly,
these babies were our little Franciscan angels.
We were also reminded of St. Francis and St. Anthony, both of whom had great
devotion to the Child Jesus, the "Word made flesh, Who dwelt amongst us."
Next to Mary, St. Anthony is the saint most often portrayed in art holding the Christ Child. This
is true in almost every culture worldwide. Often the Christ Child is shown gently touching the
saint’s cheek in a return embrace. Many attribute the Madonna-like portrayals of St. Anthony to a
popular legend that told of a warm, glowing burst of light as the Christ Child appeared in a vision
to St. Anthony late at night. Whether the legend is historical fact or fiction is not as important as
the message of the image.
We Franciscans believe that the image of St. Anthony embracing the
Child Jesus speaks to each of us. It is a message of
Comfort, Hope, and Strength.
The fact that the Father sent His only Son--in the form of a vulnerable, helpless infant born in
poverty and seemingly abandoned--to live among us, share our lives, and die for our sins, is
absolute proof of our Father’s supreme, perfect love. We, too, are children of God receiving His
fatherly love every day.
So, as we looked at the tiny baby caskets in front of us on that very gray day, we knew that these
infants are not truly abandoned, just as we are never truly abandoned. As we, like St. Anthony,
embrace the Christ Child and carry Him with us everyday, we feel His comforting touch and gain
the hope and strength to meet whatever challenges we are forced to face.
The thirteenth day of June is generally celebrated as St. Anthony’s Feast Day because this is the day
on which he died in 1231. It is also a time that is particularly appropriate for us to pray for his
intercession to the Father and to the Christ Child, and to ask him to intercede on our behalf.
On June 5th, the Franciscan friars of St. Anthony Shrine will begin their Annual Novena, which
will continue for nine days, culminating on St. Anthony’s Feast Day. Please join us by sending us
your intentions and using the enclosed card to pray along with us, if you are able.
Through the intercession of St. Anthony, may you always find Comfort, Hope, and Strength.
Yours in St. Anthony,
Fr. David Convertino OFM
Guardian and Executive Director
P.S. Your donation to support the friars' work in their many ministries--including the Lazarus Program--will be greatly appreciated. Please be generous, as God has been generous with you.
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If you'd like the Friars to remember your intentions for the Feast Day, click here.
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| Saint Anthony Shrine, 100 Arch St. Boston, MA
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Please feel free to Contact Us anytime.
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