Mission Basilica San Buenaventura

06/14/2026

XI Domingo Ordinario Misa 10:45AM 6/14/26

06/14/2026

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass 9AM 6/14/26

06/14/2026

June 14th in the United States is Flag Day, an official observance in honor of the Star-Spangled Banner that represents the country.

A hundred years ago, President Woodrow Wilson established June 14 as a chance to “rededicate ourselves to the nation,” as he wrote in his proclamation. He wanted Americans to mark Flag Day to leave behind “every thought that is not worthy of our fathers’ first vows in independence, liberty and right” and instead “stand with united hearts, for an America which no man can corrupt, no influence draw away from its ideals, no force divide against itself.”

The United States flag is probably the most recognized flag. Whether it is small or big, it is easily recognizable. So apart from the fifty stars and the red and blue stripes, what else do you know? Here are some of the things you probably didn't know about the United States flag:

There is a designated name of the flag. The flag is correctly referred to as the 'flag of the United States of America'. Any other name including 'the American flag' is a nickname.

The flag of the United States of America has 13 stripes and 50 stars. At one point in 1795 the flag had 15 stripes, one for each state.

The rule about how many stars and stripes should be on the flag was laid down by the Congress in 1818. The thirteen are emblems of the thirteen British colonies that announced independence from Great Britain in 1776. The fifty stars represent the states in America.

Some states had rearranged the stars out of the grid in an attempt to standardize the flag. Nonetheless, President Taft introduced delimited proportions and standardization guidelines. One of the rules stated that all the stars had to be arranged with one point facing up.

The flag's colors represent American values. The colors have specific shades. The three colors are white, old glory red and old glory blue. The white color signifies hope and purity as well as the neatness of life. The red color signifies valor, fervency and zeal. The blue color stands as the color of heaven and represents a reference for God, loyalty, justice, awareness and truth.

There are many nicknames for the flag. Due to the long time the flag has been in existence, it has managed to pick various epithets. Among the common ones are:
- The Star Spangled Banner
-The American flag

There is a proper way to view the flag. The federal rules and regulations state that when viewing the flag the right hand over the heart. If the flag happens to pass near you and your arms are down by the side, that viewing is wrongly done. The same case applies when witnessing it is being hoisted or lowered.

The American flag is folded thirteen time to represents the initial 13 colonies. Each fold has a meaning and it is greatly honored by the military.

According to the federal laws, the flag should be put on show from sunrise to sunset. However, there is an exception when there is harsh weather.

It is not illegal to burn the US Flag. It is in fact recommended. Surprised? The first Amendment gives the right to burn the flag, contrary to what you might think. Thanks to the ruling of a US Supreme Court in 1989 we now have the right to burn the Flag.

The flag code also advised that the proper way to get rid of the US flag is to burn it. Yes, burn it, accompanied by a ceremony anyway. This is more preferable than just throwing it away. I guess the act of burning is like giving it a proper/decent burial.

History has no record to this day of proof that the first U.S. flag was designed by Betsy Rose nor did she had any input in its design. Instead, there is evidence that Francis Hopkinson, an author, composer and signer of the Declaration of Independence from Jersey actually designed the U.S. flag’s original look.

The current version of the U.S. flag is the 27th. The flag has changed over the years to represent the number of states that constitute America. However, there is an exceptional flag that had fifteen stripes. Probably the designers realized that adding the stripes just wouldn't work for additional colonies.

The current version was adopted for use officially in 1960 and has lasted for over 50 years - the only design of the U.S. flag to have survived that long. When the 49th State of Alaska and 50th State of Hawaii were established, the need for the flag to be revised arose. Remember the number of stars needed to correspond to the number of U.S. states present. The then-president, President Eisenhower requested and received thousands of proposed design for the new American Flag. The class project at Lancaster High School in Ohio was to submit a proposed design to the President. The high school student 17-year-old Robert G. Heft, sent in his design. It was accepted as the design for the United States flag and remains in use today.

The flag is always flying at the White House, Fort McHenry in Baltimore and the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Almost all American flags made today are produced in the U.S.

The Pledge of Allegiance was penned in 1892. It read, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Congress added the phrase “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.

There are five American flags still standing on the moon, but they’re all probably bleached white.

In 1776, the year the U.S. declared independence, there were about 2.5 million people living in the country. There are now about 322 million.

The U.S. flag over the years has enjoyed the love and sacrifice of the people, the two factors responsible for bringing the flag to where it is today. Presidents have sought for ways to make it better, citizens have laid down their lives for it. The US Flag boldly represents the strong spirit binding the American Citizens, responsible for bringing liberty and prosperity to the people.
[Excerpts from huffpost.com, compiled from History Channel, Mental Floss, ABC News and PBS]

06/14/2026

June 14th is the feast day of Bishop Saint Methodius I of Constantinople (788/800-847), Pastor.

Born in Syracuse, Sicily, Methodius first felt the call to enter religious life while in Constantinople, modern Istanbul, where he had gone to seek a position at court. He left for the island of Chios, where he built a monastery and started a monastic community.

However, his time at the monastery was short-lived since he was summoned by the Patriarch of Constantinople to help govern the diocese and create unity after a debate broke out on the use of icons in worship. After some time in Constantinople, he was sent to Rome in 815 as the representative of Patriarch Nicephorus, who was exiled by Emperor Leo V the Armenian for refusing to yield to the imperial decrees on the destruction of icons. While in Rome seeking the Pope’s help, he was scourged and imprisoned for seven years.

Finally, in 842, Empress Theodora arranged for his elevation as Patriarch of Constantinople. He returned to Constantinople and as Patriarch, he convened a council and promoted orthodoxy and the veneration of icons after the long years of iconoclasticism. He worked for unity and reconciliation in the Eastern Church and served as the Patriarch of Constantinople the last five years of his life. Patriarch Methodius was a prolific writer, being the author of a life of St. Theopanes.
[Compilation from catholicnewsgency.com & catholic.org]

St. Methodius I of Constantinople, pray for us.

06/13/2026

On this Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us consider an act of consecration…

Several popes in the last century have not only recommended the practice of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but have practiced it themselves. Pius XII and St. John Paul II even consecrated the peoples of the earth to her heart.

Most recently, Pope Francis has recommended this practice and followed the example of his predecessors by consecrating the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He related to the crowds gathered at St. Peter’s for the consecration how Mary “takes us with the hand of a mother to the embrace of the Father, to the Father of mercy.”

Consecration to the Blessed Mother reminds us of the close connection Mary has with Jesus, and how she treasured everything she saw, “in her heart” (cf. Luke 2:19,51). Pope Benedict XVI reflected on this profound mystery on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, where he said, “The heart that resembles that of Christ more than any other is without a doubt the Heart of Mary, his Immaculate Mother, and for this very reason the liturgy holds them up together for our veneration.” Marian consecration is an exterior way that speaks of our interior desire to follow God’s will and unite our heart with His.

However, few know what is involved in making such a consecration, or where to start. Here are some great resources; choose whichever one your heart feels most comfortable with.

Preparation

33 Days to Morning Glory – Currently one of the most popular methods of Marian consecration, this book by Father Michael Gaitley takes you through 33 days of 5-minute readings, to prepare your heart to be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a method based on St. Louis de Montfort’s writings and simplified so that anyone can participate.

True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration – St. Louis de Montfort is widely known as the principal advocate for what he calls, “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.” This is the traditional approach that has been used by many since the saint’s death. It includes numerous prayers, litanies and readings to be read in preparation for Total Consecration. St. John Paul II was an avid supporter of St. Louis de Montfort and even made Montfort’s words apart of his papal motto.

Consecration.com – Put together by the Militia of the Immaculata, this website has a great resource for total consecration to the Immaculate Mary that was central to the spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Prayers of Consecration

After you have prepared yourself and your family for the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, here are some prayers that you may use. Often these prayers are said in front of a statue or image of Mary.

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Pope Pius XI

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.

Family Consecration to Mary in the spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, on this day we the (Family Surname) family come before you to consecrate ourselves to you as your possession and property. We praise God because he has brought us together to give ourselves to you our Mother. We do this because Jesus said on the Cross, “Behold your Mother.”

We need you, Mother Mary, to help us to be a truly Catholic family. Enter into our family life. Repeat to us the words you spoke at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Help us to overlook one another’s faults, to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us, and to love one another as Our Lord has asked us to love.

Please use our family to crush the head of the serpent. Ask your Spouse, St. Joseph, Protector of the universal Church, to keep us one in mind and heart with your Son’s Vicar, Pope ___________. Today you have become the Queen of our hearts and home. May our home be a “City of the Immaculata,” where the Sacred Heart of Jesus reigns forever. Amen.

St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Consecration to Mary Immaculate

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and, “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for intro­ducing and increasing your glory to the maxi­mum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holi­ness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin.
Give me strength against your enemies.
St. Louis de Montfort’s Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

I, N., a faithless sinner– renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.

In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.
[From aleteia.com]

06/13/2026

🎂Join us in celebrating the Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND America’s 250th Birthday!

In the 3 weeks leading up to America’s birthday, we are inviting to go deeper into the heart of Jesus through prayer, encounter, and remembrance.

♥️Prayer: the Heart of Jesus
♥️Encounter: a Heart for Others
♥️Remembrance: the hearts that shaped ours

Learn more about this journey to the 250th anniversary 👇
https://lacatholics.org/america/

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Today is Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This feast is celebrated on the Saturday after the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (which is celebrated on the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi).

The attention of Christians was early attracted by the love and virtues of the Heart of Mary. The Gospel itself invited this attention with exquisite discretion and delicacy. What was first excited was compassion for the Virgin Mother. It was, so to speak, at the foot of the Cross that the Christian heart first made the acquaintance of the Heart of Mary. Simeon's prophecy paved the way and furnished the devotion with one of its favourite formulae and most popular representations: the heart pierced with a sword. But Mary was not merely passive at the foot of the Cross; "she cooperated through charity", as St. Augustine says, "in the work of our redemption".

It is only in the 12th or towards the end of the 11th century, that slight indications of a regular devotion are perceived in a sermon by St. Bernard (De duodecim stellis). Stronger evidences are discernible in the pious meditations on the Ave Maria and the Salve Regina, usually attributed either to St. Anselm of Lucca (d. 1080) or St. Bernard; and also in the large book De laudibus B. Mariae Virginis (Douai, 1625) by Richard de Saint-Laurent.

In St. Mechtilde (d. 1298) and St. Gertrude (d. 1302) the devotion had two earnest adherents. A little earlier it had been included by St. Thomas Becket in the devotion to the joys and sorrows of Mary, by Blessed Hermann (d.1245), one of the first spiritual children of St. Dominic, in his other devotions to Mary, and somewhat later it appeared in St. Bridget's Book of Revelations.

St. Ambrose perceived in her the model of a virginal soul. St. Bernardine of Siena (d.1444) was more absorbed in the contemplation of the virginal heart, and it is from him that the Church has borrowed the lessons of the Second Nocturn for the feast of the Heart of Mary. St. Francis de Sales speaks of the perfections of this heart, the model of love for God, and dedicated to it his Theotimus.

In the second half of the sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth, ascetic authors dwelt upon this devotion at greater length. It was, however, St. John Eudes (d.1680) brought people to love Christ and the Virgin Mary by speaking tirelessly about their Heart, the sign of the love God shows for us and the communion to which we are called. To offer them liturgical worship, he composed Masses and Offices in their honor and had the first Feast of the Holy Heart of Mary celebrated on February 8,1648, at Autun (France,) and the Feast of the Heart of Jesus celebrated on October 20,1672.

In 1799 Pius VI, then in captivity at Florence, granted the Bishop of Palermo the feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary for some of the churches in his diocese. In 1805 Pius VII made a new concession, thanks to which the feast was soon widely observed. Such was the existing condition when a twofold movement, started in Paris, gave fresh impetus to the devotion.

The two factors of this movement were first of all the Apparitions at Rue du Bac concerning the "Miraculous Medal" made to Catherine Labouré in 1830 and then the establishment at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires of the Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners, at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Paris in 1836 which spread rapidly throughout the world and was the source of numberless graces. On 21 July 1855, the Congregation of Rites finally approved the Office and Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary without, however, imposing them upon the Universal Church.

Since then devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, has gradually grown more widespread in the Church, particularly since the apparitions at Fatima. In the midst of the second world war Pope Pius XII put the whole world under the special protection of our Savior's Mother by consecrating it to her Immaculate Heart, and in 1944 Pius XII instituted today's feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the whole Church, so as to obtain by her intercession "peace among nations, freedom for the Church, the conversion of sinners, the love of purity and the practice of virtue" (Decree of May 4, 1944).

The main difference between the devotions to the hearts of Jesus and Mary is that the one concerned with Jesus emphasizes his Divine Heart as being full of love for mankind, but with this love for the most part being ignored or rejected, while devotion to Mary's heart is essentially concerned with the love that her heart has for Jesus, for God.

Therefore, it is not an end in itself, so the love of her heart is meant to be a model for the way we should love God. The fact that her heart is immaculate, that is sinless, means that she is the only fully human person who is able to really love God in the way that he should be loved.

Honoring Mary's Immaculate Heart is really just another way of honoring Mary as the person who was chosen to be the Mother of God, recognizing her extraordinary holiness and the immense love she bestowed on Jesus as his mother, the person who was called to share in and co-operate in his redemptive sufferings.

The aim of the devotion is to unite mankind to God through Mary's heart, and this process involves the ideas of consecration and reparation. A person is consecrated to Mary's Immaculate Heart as a way of being completely devoted to God. This involves a total gift of self, something only ultimately possible with reference to God; but Mary is our intermediary in this process of consecration.

Because of the strong analogy between Jesus and Mary, the consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart is closely linked to the consecration to Jesus' Sacred Heart, although it is subordinate and dependent on it. That is, although the act of consecration is ultimately addressed to God, it is an act that is made through Mary.
[Compilation from IBreviary.com, catholicculture.org & catholicnewsagency.com]

Let us pray,

O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of Your glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

From a sermon by Saint Laurence Justinian, bishop
"Mary stored up all these things in her heart"

While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth.

So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform one to a greater holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith.

It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice.

Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves.

Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters.

06/13/2026

June 13th is the Memorial of priest Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), Pastor and Doctor.

The Franciscan priest St. Anthony of Padua, although popularly invoked today by those who have trouble finding lost objects, was known in his own day as the “Hammer of Heretics” due to the powerful witness of his life and preaching.

Known to the Church as Anthony of Padua was not born in the Italian city of Padua, nor was he originally named Anthony. He was born as Ferdinand in Lisbon, Portugal during 1195, the son of an army officer named Martin and a virtuous woman named Mary. They had Ferdinand educated by a group of priests, and the young man made his own decision to enter religious life at age 15.

Ferdinand initially lived in a monastery of the Augustinian order outside of Lisbon. But he disliked the distraction of constant visits from his friends, and moved to a more remote house of the same order. There, he concentrated on reading the Bible and the Church Fathers, while living a life of asceticism and heartfelt devotion to God.

Eight years later, in 1220, Ferdinand learned the news about five Franciscan friars who had recently died for their faith in Morocco. When their bodies were brought to Portugal for veneration, Ferdinand developed a passionate desire to imitate their commitment to the Gospel. When a group of Franciscans visited his monastery, Ferdinand told them he wanted to adopt their poor and humble way of life. Some of the Augustinian monks criticized and mocked Ferdinand's interest in the Franciscans, which had been established only recently, in 1209. But prayer confirmed his desire to follow the example of St. Francis, who was still living at the time.

He eventually obtained permission to leave the Augustinians and join a small Franciscan monastery in 1221. At that time he took the name Anthony, after the fourth-century desert monk St. Anthony of Egypt. Anthony wanted to imitate the Franciscan martyrs who had died trying to convert the Muslims of Morocco. He traveled on a ship to Africa for this purpose, but became seriously ill and could not carry out his intention. The ship that was supposed to take him to Spain for treatment was blown off course, and ended up in Italy. Through this series of mishaps, Anthony ended up near Assisi, where St. Francis was holding a major meeting for the members of his order. Despite his poor health, Anthony resolved to stay in Italy in order to be closer to St. Francis himself. He deliberately concealed his deep knowledge of theology and Scripture, and offered to serve in the kitchen among the brothers.

At the time, no one realized that the future “Hammer of Heretics” was anything other than a kitchen assistant and obedient Franciscan priest. Around 1224, however, Anthony was forced to deliver an improvised speech before an assembly of Dominicans and Franciscans, none of whom had prepared any remarks. His eloquence stunned the crowd, and St. Francis himself soon learned what kind of man the dishwashing priest really was. In 1224 he gave Anthony permission to teach theology in the Franciscan order – “provided, however, that as the Rule prescribes, the spirit of prayer and devotion may not be extinguished.”

Anthony taught theology in several French and Italian cities, while strictly following his Franciscan vows and preaching regularly to the people. Later, he dedicated himself entirely to the work of preaching as a missionary in France, Italy and Spain, teaching an authentic love for God to many people – whether peasants or princes – who had fallen away from Catholic faith and morality.

Known for his bold preaching and austere lifestyle, Anthony also had a reputation as a worker of miracles, which often came about in the course of his disputes with heretics. His biographers mention a horse, which refused to eat for three days, and accepted food only after it had placed itself in adoration before the Eucharist that Anthony brought in his hands. Another miracle involved a poisoned meal, which Anthony ate without any harm after making the sign of the Cross over it. And a final often recounted miracle of St. Anthony’s involved a group of fish, who rose out of the sea to hear his preaching when heretical residents of a city refused to listen.

The reason for invoking St. Anthony’s help in finding lost or stolen things is traced back to an incident in his own life. As the story goes, Anthony had a book of psalms that was very important to him. Besides the value of any book before the invention of printing, the psalter had the notes and comments he had made to use in teaching students in his Franciscan Order.

A novice who had already grown tired of living religious life decided to depart the community and he also took Anthony’s psalter! Upon realizing his psalter was missing, Anthony prayed it would be found or returned to him. And after his prayer the thieving novice was moved to return the psalter to Anthony and to return to the Order, which accepted him back. And the stolen book is said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna.

After Lent in 1231, Anthony's health was in decline. Following the example of his patron – the earlier St. Anthony, who had lived as a hermit – he retreated to a remote location, taking two companions to help him. When his worsening health forced him to be carried back to the Franciscan monastery in Padua, crowds of people converged on the group in hopes of paying their homage to the holy priest. The commotion surrounding his transport forced his attendants to stop short of their destination. After receiving the last rites, Anthony prayed the Church's seven traditional penitential psalms, sung a hymn to the Virgin Mary, and died on June 13 at the age of 36.

St. Anthony's well-established holiness, combined with the many miracles he had worked during his lifetime, moved Pope Gregory IX – who knew the saint personally – to canonize him one year after his death. “St. Anthony, residing now in heaven, is honored on earth by many miracles daily seen at his tomb, of which we are certified by authentic writings,” proclaimed the 13th-century Pope. Shortly after St.Anthony’s death people began praying through Anthony to find or recover lost and stolen articles. And the Responsory of St. Anthony composed by his contemporary, Julian of Spires, O.F.M., proclaims,

“The sea obeys and fetters break
And lifeless limbs thou dost restore
While treasures lost are found again
When young or old thine aid implore.”
[From catholicnewsagency.com & stanthony.org]

Let us pray,

Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to Your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know Your help in every trial.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Anthony, pray for us!

From a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua, priest
"Actions speak louder than words"

The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves. Gregory says: “A law is laid upon the preacher to practice what he preaches.” It is useless for a man to flaunt his knowledge of the law if he undermines its teaching by his actions.

But the apostles spoke as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Happy the man whose words issue from the Holy Spirit and not from himself! For some men speak as their own character dictates, but steal the words of others and present them as their own and claim the credit for them. The Lord refers to such men and others like them in Jeremiah: So, then, I have a quarrel with the prophets that steal my words from each other. I have a quarrel with the prophets, says the Lord, who have only to move their tongues to utter oracles. I have a quarrel with the prophets who make prophecies out of lying dreams, who recount them and lead my people astray with their lies and their pretensions. I certainly never sent them or commissioned them, and they serve no good purpose for this people, says the Lord.

We should speak, then, as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech. Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as he infuses us with his grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the faith, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the Triune God.