Greg Friedman, OFM

“We beg you, Lord Jesus,
bind us with the love of you and our neighbor
so that we can love you deeply with our whole heart,
and not be separated from you.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

Saint Anthony’s words from eight centuries ago hit close to home in these days when so many of us are physically distanced from one another. He prays that the Lord will empower us to love deeply—“and not be separated” from him.

“No one is closer to us than he who healed our wounds.
For the Head is one with his members.
Let us therefore love him as our Lord and God.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

“During the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it as a sign that his body would be broken, too, through his freely accepted death. The humanity of Christ is like the grape because it was crushed in the winepress of the cross so that his blood flowed forth over all the earth….How great is the charity of the beloved! How great the love of the Bridegroom for his spouse, the Church!”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

“When a crystal is touched or struck by the rays of the sun,
it gives forth brilliant sparks of light.
When the man of faith is touched by the light of God’s grace,
he too must shine with his good words and deeds, and so bring
God’s light to others.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

“Today Christ stands at the door and knocks in the person of his poor.
It is to him that we open when we give aid, when we give ourselves to those in need.
For he tells us plainly, ‘Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members
of my family, you did it to me.'”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection