Blessed Feast of Saint John the Baptist , the Forerunner of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the one who was destined to pave the way for the Lord.
Saint John’s birth marks the beginning of the great events of humankind Salvation.
Saint John built up anticipation and hope that the Messiah was coming very soon, and would be revealed to the people at any moment.
Saint John came first to help not only prepare for the ministry of Jesus, but also to prepare the hearts of the people.
Let us remember these words from the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” Like every child, St. John had a mission and his mission is also our mission and that is pave the way for the Lord.
In addition to the most holy Nativity of the Lord, we find celebrated in the Gospel the birth of only one other, namely, that of blessed John Baptist

Today's celebration of the birth of John the Baptist reminds us of two important things:
One is that in order to first encounter Christ, we must first humble ourselves, admit that we sin and do wrong and acknowledge that we need Him. Saint John came into this world to proclaim the Savior, to give people hope, and to help people recognize their faults and their need of Christ.
The second thing that we are reminded of is that each of us has been placed here for a purpose. We are the "hidden double edged sword", the "arrows in the quiver" and the Lord has great plans for each of us. Maybe we realize our purpose and calling now, and we know that we are where God has placed us. Perhaps we are not sure of our purpose and calling, if this is the case then do not worry, because God is just waiting until you are in the right place to begin revealing His plan to you. We must always have patience and trust in God's plan for us, just as John the Baptist did.
Let us faithfully pray :

Eternal God, You raised up St. John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people for Christ our Lord . Fill Your people with the joy of possessing His grace, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of Peace and salvation.
Grant that as St. John was martyred for truth and justice, so we may energetically profess our Faith in You, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life. Amen.

Novena for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul , I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates , you blessed Saint Peter - Prince of the Apostles , because you are the Rock upon the Almighty God has build His Holy Church ; you blessed Saint Paul , because you were chosen by God as vessel of election and preacher of the truth to the whole world .
Obtain for me , I humbly pray you , lively Faith , firm Hope and burning Love , complete detachment from myself , contempt of the world , patience in adversity , humility in prosperity , attention in prayer , purity of diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life ,constancy in my resolutions , resignation to the Will of God and perseverance in the Grace of God even unto death , so that by the means of your intercession and your glorious merits , I might be able to overcome the evil and I be made worthy of the Promises of Christ , enjoy His Presence and love Him forever in time and eternity .

Our Father , Hail Mary , Glory Be . Amen

June 29 th the Holy Church commemorates the martyrdom of the two great Apostles, assigned by tradition to the same day of June in the year 67. They had been imprisoned in the famous Prison of Rome and both had foreseen their approaching death. Saint Peter was crucified; Saint Paul, a Roman citizen, was slain by the sword.
The two great Apostles, Peter and Paul are the solid rock on which the Church is built. They are at the origin of her faith and will forever remain her protectors and her guides.

~Saint Peter the Apostle~
All Scripture is alive with Saint Peter; his name appears no fewer than 160 times in the New Testament. But it is after Pentecost that he stands out in the full grandeur of his office. He sees to the replacement of the fallen disciple; he admits the Jews by thousands into the fold and in the person of Cornelius, opens it to the Gentiles; he founds and for a time rules the Church at Antioch.
Saint Peter is the author of two profoundly doctrinal epistles. He still lives on in his successors who maintain the same holy and immutable doctrine; he still rules and feeds the flock committed to him. The reality of our devotion to him is the surest test of the purity of our faith.
Saint Peter meeting his brother Simon, Andrew said "We have found the Messias", and brought him to Jesus, who, looking upon him, said: "Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter". Already, at this first meeting, the Saviour foretold the change of Simon's name to Cephas (Kephas; Aramaic Kipha, rock), which is translated Petros (Latin, Petrus) a proof that Christ had already special views with regard to Simon. Later, probably at the time of his definitive call to the Apostolate with the eleven other Apostles, Jesus actually gave Simon the name of Cephas (Petrus), after which he was usually called Peter, especially by Christ on the solemn occasion after Peter's profession of faith (Matthew 16:18
~Saint Paul~
Saint Paul has left to the Church fourteen Epistles, which have been a fountainhead of doctrine, elucidating the most basic truths taught by Christ, and constituting the consolation and delight of her greatest Saints. His interior life, insofar as words can express it, lies open before us in these divine writings; it is the life of one who has died forever to himself, and risen again in Christ Jesus. Saint John Chrysostom, his imitator, wrote: “The heart of Paul is the Heart of Christ!” Nor will his labor cease while the race of man continues. Paul was the creator of theology, the founder of the Holy Church . Through Saint Paul we have seen that fallen man being unable to arise again unaided, God in His mercy sent His Son to save him. It is an elementary and often repeated doctrine of St. Paul that Jesus Christ saves us through the Cross, that we are "justified by His blood", that "we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:9-10) .
"Thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart unto that form of doctrine, into which you have been delivered. . . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end life everlasting (Romans 6:17, 22).

Every Tuesday with Saint Anthony of Padua ( from the richness of catholic devotions )

1. O glorious St. Anthony, you who have received from God the power to raise the dead, awaken my soul from its apathy and obtain for me a fervent and holy life. Glory be to the Father
2. O wise St. Anthony, you who were light for the Holy Church as well as for the entire world through your teaching, enlighten my soul and open it for divine truth. Glory be to the Father
3. O pious Saint, always ready to help those devoted to you, help me and my family in our present needs. Glory be to the Father
4. O generous Saint, you who by accepting divine inspiration have consecrated your life to the service of God, grant that I may hear the voice of the Lord with submissiveness. Glory be to the Father
5. O St. Anthony, true lily of purity, do not permit that my soul be stained by sin but obtain for me purity of heart from our Lord. Glory be to the Father
6. O dear Saint, through whose intercession so many sick people have found health, help my soul to heal from sin and evil inclinations. Glory be to the Father
7. O St. Anthony, you who have given yourself to save your brothers, lead me through the sea of life and give me your help in order that I may reach the safe harbour of eternal salvation. Glory be to the Father
8. O compassionate St. Anthony, you who have freed so many condemned prisoners during your life, obtain for me the grace that I be freed from the bonds of sin and live in the grace of God for all eternity. Glory be to the Father
9. O holy Thaumaturge, you who have had the gift of reuniting to the body limbs that have been cut off, grant that I may never be separated from the love of God, and the unity of the Church. Glory be to the Father
10. O Saint Anthony, you who have always helped to find lost objects, grant that I may never lose God's friendship, but that I may conserve it faithfully throughout my life. Glory be to the Father
11. O patron of the poor, you who listen to those who turn to you, receive my prayer and present it to God that He might grant me His assistance. Glory be to the Father
12. O St. Anthony, you who were the untiring apostle of the word of God, grant that I may bear witness to my faith with words and deeds. Glory be to the Father
13. O most beloved St. Anthony, you who have your blessed tomb in Padua, look upon my needs, may your miraculous tongue speak to God for me, that my prayers may be heard. Glory be to the Father
Pray for us St. Anthony. Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty and Eternal God, You who in St. Anthony of Padua have given to Your people an illustrious preacher of the Gospel and a patron of the poor and the suffering, grant to us, through Your intercession, to follow Your teachings on Christian life and to experience, in trials, the help of Your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn to Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony Shrine, Sampaloc

The Story of St Anthony of Padua

Blessed and happy Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

Today is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, called “Ark of the Covenant” for his profound knowledge of Scriptures and “Hammer of Heretics” for his skill in applying that knowledge in polemics . He knew everything in Scriptures and used to quote it by heart , he was not only able to quote such texts, but used to comment on them and draw concrete consequences from them to smash the heretics and to encourage the faithful.

St. Anthony was born into this old world with a fervor to obtain heaven. His ancestors were knights and crusaders. Promises and messengers from heaven have favored his country, Portugal. He lived during the time of St. Frances of Assisi and St. Dominic of the rosary .
Anthony was a simple and humble friar who preached the Good News lovingly and with fearless courage. The youth whom his fellow friars thought was uneducated became one of the great preachers and theologians of his day. He was a man of great penance and apostolic zeal. But he is primarily a Saint of the people and the patron saint of the poor, Saint Anthony is most known as Wonder Worker. But he also can help when something important is lost. In any prayer to Saint Anthony asks his intercession to Our Lord for help.

When we pray to a saint, it is not the same thing as praying to God. God made everything and everyone that is in the world, God made the world and is real in all time and in everyplace. God makes miracles, or answers prayers. Saints are people who we know have gone to Heaven and live with God there. They were very close to God while they lived and are now in Heaven with God, as close as anyone can possibly be. They know the Will of God. So, when we ask a saint for help in something, like passing a test, or finding our best shoes, we are asking the saint to pray with us for help to God. Someone who loved God so well, and knows God so well, can surely help us learn to love God and know His will better, don't you think? That's what intercession means.

Saint Anthony spent his whole life learning how to be closer to God, and to love God.

He lived a quiet life as a monk and didn't attract much attention. All he wanted to do was pray, and work, help the poor and offer his life to Jesus.
He attracted crowds wherever he went. Some legends about his skill in speaking say that when a crowd did not seem interested in what he had to say, a school of fish came to the surface to listen to him. Another time, a hungry donkey ignored food, and knelt before the Blessed Sacrament after listening to Saint Anthony preach.

He is often shown holding the Infant Jesus. This is because once, when he was staying in a town, his host looked into his room and saw him standing there holding the Christ Child. What a great friend of Jesus!

Let us end with prayer of praise, or responsorial, in honour of Saint Anthony was composed by friar Giuliano da Spira. The responsorial is part of the Officium rhythmicum S. Antonii, which dates back to 1233, two years after Saint Anthony's death. It is sung at Saint Anthony's Basilica and many other churches every Tuesday.

If then you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities,
Leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.

The sea obeys and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs you do restore;
While treasures lost are found again,
When young and old your aid implore.

All dangers vanish at your prayer,
And direst need does quickly flee;
Let those who know your power proclaim,
Let Paduans say: these are yours.

To Father, Son may glory be
And Holy Spirit, eternally. Amen