First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 11/1/2014

The sacred relics of the Blessed Mother's veil...

and those of four Saints and a Blessed were

venerated in our parish's Day Chapel during

the First Saturday Rosary.

Happy Feast of All Saints!  Today's First Saturday Rosary gathering at St. Anthony of Padua Church was all about the Saints - five well-known and very loved Saints, spanning from the early years of Christianity to modern times, were represented in our Day Chapel by their respective relics: St. John Paul II (clothing relic), St. Peregrine Laziosi (bone relic), St. Philomena (clothing relic), St. Padre Pio Forgione (stigmata bandage relic), Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (clothing relic)... and, of course... Our Lady, the Queen of All Saints (veil relic).

Prior to our Rosary Prayer beginning, I briefly introduced the prayer participants to the different Saints whose Holy Relics were present... and emphasized to them that, through the lives of the Saints/Blesseds, God invites us to:

A) Be HOLY; sanctity is attainable for all people regardless of age, race, or vocation.  (Hebrews 12:15)

B) Live with HOPE and JOY anticipating that, if we persevere in following in the footsteps of Christ, we can also look forward to enjoying Heaven with the Saints/Blesseds who have gone before us.  (James 1:12)

After our prayer ended, many of us walked over to the main church for the Saturday evening Vigil Mass.  As I participated - praying and singing along with the rest of the congregation - I tried to imagine what Heaven was like today; all its inhabitants must be feasting, singing, and rejoicing exceedingly while the Church on earth paid them special honor.  I wished I could be there to witness the major party that was going in Heaven.

After each Mass, many parishioners stop

to say a prayer and/or light a candle at the

reliquary of our St. Anthony of Padua

Personally, I have been helped countless times through the intercession of Our Lady and such Saints, as St. Anthony of Padua and St. Gemma Galgani (my Patron Saints); St. Joseph; and St. Philomena... so today's Feast holds special meaning for me.  It was with deep gratitude that I thanked our Lord, in an extra-special way, for his abundant blessings manifested through the lives and good works of Our Lady and the Saints.  Click here to learn more about the lives of various Saints/Blesseds and allow yourselves to be inspired.  Grace and benediction will follow!  

The next First Saturday Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church will be prayed on December 6th.  Join us as we pray for World Peace in the spiritual company of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a featured Saint/Relic of the Month. 

"Love God, serve God;

everything is in that." 

~ St. Clare of Assisi