Was Anthony’s faith when he died in 1231 the same as when he became a Friar Minor in 1220? In many ways yes, but in other important ways no. In those intervening years, he had experienced God’s grace in new ways and encountered new challenges to faith.
Some people speak of their faith as though it is a diamond to be safeguarded in a bank vault. Other people speak of their faith as the result of incorporating the joys and sorrows of life into a seamless response to God’s inexhaustible grace.
Is my faith primarily an object or a relationship with God? How I answer that question determines the role of religious conversion in my life. As a disciple of Jesus, my faith has content—I believe some things and because of that don’t believe other things. But clarity about content arises from the growth of my relationship with Jesus. Without that growth, the content can easily become a hollow shell.
Every ministry led Anthony into some deeper conversion and openness to God’s grace. We follow Anthony not by replicating the details of his ministry but by allowing our faith to grow as much as his did.
Am I allowing my faith to grow as God wants it to grow?
In Anthony’s Own Words
“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.”
Did You Know?
According to one legend—and there are many—there was a Count Tiso who had a castle about 11 miles from Padua. And on the grounds of the castle the count had provided a chapel and a hermitage for the friars.
Anthony often went there toward the end of his life and spent time praying in one of the hermit cells. One night, his little cell suddenly filled up with light. Jesus, in the form of a tiny child, appeared to Anthony. Passing by the hermitage, the count saw the light shining from the room and St. Anthony holding and communicating with the infant.
The count fell to his knees on seeing this sight. And when the vision ended, Anthony saw the count kneeling at the open door. Anthony begged Count Tiso not to reveal what he had seen until after his death. Whether this story be legend or fact, the image of Anthony with the child Jesus has important truths to teach us.
—Jack Wintz, OFM, Saint Anthony of Padua: His Life, Legends, and Devotions
Prayer
Triune God, we thank you for
drawing us to yourself through
the gift of your grace and the
example of the saints, especially
Anthony of Padua.
Lead us to follow him in never
fearing that you might ask for
a conversion beyond what we
can offer you, our ever-gracious God.
Amen.
12 thoughts on “Saint Anthony Novena Day Nine: Model of Conversion”
Thank you Saint Anthony for your assistance. Thank You for answering my prayers with speed. You made my partner to realize my value and he took initiative to reunite with me. You are the most holy. I appreciate all the help and I hope you continue to help me with the rest of my request…Thank you Jesus. Thank you universe???????? Amen ????
As a 5 year old, my older cousin and I were a child’s game when one of the objects we needed to continue was lost.
I don’t know where I heard the legend, but I told him we could to St. Anthony, the Patron Saint of Lost and Found. We did. Moments later the lost or misplaced toy was found and we rejoiced.
Throughout my life, I tell people about St Anthony whenever the occasion calls for it. One time, as a Realtor then, I mentioned it to a Protestant couple who said: “But we’re not Catholic.” I chuckled and said, doesn’t matter. Just have faith and belief in God’s graces thru Anthony. Didn’t make a Catholic couple out of them, but did make then a believer, in St Anthony at least.
Thank you St. Anthony for answering more prayer request than I can count. I think of you as a dear friend.
Please help me in my quest to love Jesus more and more.
This St. Anthony novena has been an amazing Blessing for me, it has reinforced my relationship with Anthony as he has strengthen me & intereceded with others upon my prayers 🙏 ❤ to him. God’ Graces are showering upon us All 😇
Peace be with all of You ✌ pat
Sorrow for sins help me with interview tommorrow
Thank you St Anthony. I was losing my sight to diabetes and I had two doctor appointments today his feast day. Both doctors were amazed that my sight was back to normal (for me anyway) and the hemorrhaging had stopped completely.
My faith has also grown strong during this novena. After today I know that Jesus is listening.
Thank you Franciscan media. What a wonderful novena.
Thank you St Anthony for being such a faithful friend to my dad throughout his life, you were his patron Saint. I too, have prayed so many times for your intervention and have never been disappointed. Thank you, Jesus, for this beautiful Saint. St Anthony, pray for us!
My mother and her friend always asked Saint Anthony to help them when they lost something or misplaced something! I havre found myself doing that also as I’m getting older! He always helps me and that is awesome and I tell my family to ask him for help when they need it!! Saint Anthony is definitely special!! ❤️🙏
I have been devoted to St Anthony for years, he never fails to answer my prayers and I am very thankful for that. I always tell people to pray to him for lost things and impossibilities, he never fails!. I will be devoted to him til I give my dying breath!
Thanks to St. Anthony’s intercession, I had a successful surgery yesterday and early reports indicate that the cancer has not spread. Thanks be to God!
Thank you so much, St. Anthony. I call you my go to guy, you never fail. My Mom and I always lose things. I feel sorry for you because you always work overtime on us and never get paid. Thank you for answering my prayer novena. I went to the doctor yesterday. I’m still in remission, thanks be to you and the infant Jesus. Im doing well that I can eliminate one of my chemotherapy drugs, which I’m very thankful. Whenever anyone loses anything, I always tell them to pray to you, St. Anthony. Thank you for my many blessings.
What a wonderful role model is Saint Anthony, for my allowing God to grow my faith, letting Him be in charge of my continuing conversion!
I no longer wish to be in charge of my life; I don’t want “choices”; God is my Divine Master, my Father, who knows what is best, always has known, always will know.
Humbly, I adore thee!
Marelle