Thirteen Blessed |Tuesdays  Novena
  
      
    NOVENA PRAYER  
     It is the practice to pray the Thirteen Tuesdays before the  feast of St. Anthony. 
     Begin in March, then end on the  Tuesday before June 13th.  
    You may conclude the Novena to St. Anthony  with the appropriate prayer for the respective Tuesday.  
     
      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) 
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