Novena to St Anthony of Padua
Feast: 13 Jun
When to pray: Begin on 4 Jun and finish on 12 Jun, the eve of the feast, or pray it on Tuesdays. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Anthony, friend of the poor and finder of what is lost, help me find what I need and above all keep me close to Jesus. Amen.
Said every day
Responsory of St Anthony (Si quaeris)
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 or 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 or old thine aid implore.
To Father, Son, may glory be,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
The sea obeys, and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;
Whilst treasures lost are found again,
When young or old thine aid implore.
V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, Thy Confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Responsory of St Anthony (Si quaeris miracula): The Raccolta, tr. Ambrose St John (1880), pp. 313–314. The refrain, abbreviated in print, is written out in full. The day prayers were written for The Crusade.
Day by day
Day 1: Leaving comfort to follow God
And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
Matt 19:29, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, you left a life of comfort and honour to follow Christ more closely as a poor friar. Give me the grace to let go of whatever keeps me from God, and to trust that whoever leaves all for the sake of his name receives a hundredfold. Amen.
Day 2: Preacher to fish when people would not listen
And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, our Lord sent his disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature. Tradition tells that when people would not listen to you, you preached to the fish, and the people were moved to hear the word of God. Give me patience when my words are not heard, and perseverance in bearing witness to Christ. Amen.
Day 3: Finder of lost things: and lost souls
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. You are invoked to find lost things; help me to find what I have lost, if it is God's will. Above all, pray for souls who are lost to God, and lead them back to him. Amen.
Day 4: Love for the poor
He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.
Prov 19:17, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, friend of the poor, the Scripture says that he who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord. Make me generous to those in need, attentive to the hungry and the forgotten, and grateful for every good thing God has given me to share. Amen.
Day 5: Holding the Child Jesus
For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:6, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, you are often shown holding the Child Jesus in your arms. A child is born to us, a Son is given to us. Obtain for me a tender and childlike love for Jesus, and the grace to carry him in my heart wherever I go. Amen.
Day 6: Wisdom of the Scriptures
All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice:
2 Tim 3:16, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, Doctor of the Church, you knew and loved the Holy Scriptures and preached them with power. All Scripture inspired by God is profitable to teach and to instruct in justice. Give me a love for the word of God, and help me to read it, understand it and live it. Amen.
Day 7: Courage before the powerful
But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak:
Matt 10:19, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, you preached the truth fearlessly, even before the powerful. Our Lord promised that when we are called to give an account, it will be given to us what to speak. Give me courage to speak the truth with charity, and never to deny Christ out of fear. Amen.
Day 8: Humility in fame
Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation:
1 Pet 5:6, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, though crowds followed you, you remained a humble friar. Teach me to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, to seek his glory rather than my own, and to give him the credit for any good I do. Amen.
Day 9: Thanks for gifts found
Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.
James 1:17, Douay-Rheims
St Anthony, every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. On this last day I thank God for every grace and every lost thing found, and I ask you to keep me close to Jesus, the greatest treasure of all. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Pet 5:6; 2 Tim 3:16; Isa 9:6; James 1:17; Luke 19:10; Mark 16:15; Matt 10:19; Matt 19:29; Prov 19:17. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources